Page 35 of Dropping the Ball

“Do not fear,” Lady Gladys announced to them all. “I have arrived to put an end to this madness. I will take charge of it all and ensure that everyone here is safe and happy.”

Chapter Twelve

Alden had never been simultaneously so glad and so anxious to see Lady Gladys. His attention had been fully on Bernadette and the way she’d handled Phyllis so expertly, but the moment Lady Gladys entered his house and reassured everyone that all would be well now that she was there, Alden felt as though the real viper had entered his lair. And yet, she calmed his anxious guests immediately, restoring order to a situation that had grown volatile.

“Lady Madeline, how lovely to see you again,” Lady Gladys greeted one of the middle-aged ladies who was cowering against the side of the grand staircase with her young, raven-haired daughter. “And you as well, Lady Wendine. You are looking fresh as a flower as always.”

Lady Gladys moved deeper into the slowly relaxing throng of guests, the very picture of ease and grace.

“Lord Devon, you are looking as dashing as ever,” she said to one of the young bucks who Alden was certain Bernadette hadn’t invited. “How are you settling into your estate in Worthing?”

“Quite well, Lady Gladys,” the young man said, taking Lady Gladys’s hand and bowing over it with a mischievous look.

“Who is that woman and what is she doing?” Cedric murmured at Alden’s side.

Alden hadn’t noticed his cousin enter his house, much less make his way through the crowd to his side. Lawrence was with him as well, which meant the entire family, save Dunstan, was there to attend the ball and its festivities. He was glad to have reinforcements, especially now.

“That is Lady Gladys Minstead,” Alden said in a low voice, knowing what his cousins’ reactions would be.

“No!” Lawrence hissed. “NotthatLady Gladys.”

“The one who threw you over for Edward Minstead?” Cedric asked, looking alarmed.

“The very one,” Alden said gravely. “She still resides at Edward’s estate down the hill.”

“Lady Cosgrove, what a delight,” Lady Gladys continued on, greeting Alden’s guests as though she were the mistress of the house. “And this must be dear Tamsin. You’ve grown quite a bit, my dear.”

“What would you like me to do?” Bernadette asked, moving closer to Alden once more. She still wore Phyllis around her shoulders, like a stole, as Lady Gladys’s arrival had interrupted him in his attempts to take the snake from her.

Alden gave Bernadette his full attention at once. “First and foremost, Phyllis must be returned to the terrarium,” he said, taking the snake from her shoulders at last. Bernadette looked relieved. “Then we must clear out the front hall and direct everyone to their guestrooms so that we can avoid a crush.”

Bernadette nodded as if she agreed entirely. “Mr. Smythe,” she called out to the butler, who was near enough to hear her as he attempted to herd the confused guests in the hall like sheep. “Please see to it that whichever guests have already been shown their rooms for the weekend gather in the rose garden for tea.”

“Yes, my lady,” Smythe answered her, looking relieved to be given an order.

“Mrs. Pettigrew?” Bernadette turned to where the housekeeper had arrived on the scene from the other end of the hall.

“Yes, my lady?”

“I know it is earlier than planned, but tea is required immediately,” Bernadette said.

“Understood, my lady.”

“Is there anything we can do to help?” the rather morose, dark-haired lady dressed all in black, who Alden assumed was one of Bernadette’s dearest friends, asked.

“We need to take everyone out to the rose garden as swiftly as possible,” Bernadette told her.

As if they were all commanders in the king’s army, Bernadette and her friends went to work, along with Smythe, shuffling and directing the anxious crowd where they wanted them to go.

Alden stood and watched for a moment, his heart swelling with painful affection for Bernadette. How he wished that none of this were necessary and he could make Bernadette the mistress of his house and the queen of his heart immediately without any fuss. Instead, he was left standing in the hall holding a six-foot boa constrictor, his home filled with noise and fuss, as his guests eyed him dubiously and moved in the other direction.

It was more likely Phyllis they were eyeing dubiously, but it didn’t matter either way to Alden.

“She is formidable,” Cedric said, clapping a sympathetic hand on Alden’s shoulder.

Alden sent him a regretful look, knowing Cedric would understand all that look implied.

“Lord Alden, it is so good to see you again,” Lady Gladys said as she approached him. Approached him gingerly, eyeing Phyllis the entire time.

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