Page 39 of Dropping the Ball

“I would so much rather live on my own or with a friend or two,” Lady Bianca sighed, glancing over to where Lady Gladys had just escorted Alden to a group of young women. “Women are so far superior to men when it comes to amiable companionship.”

“I heartily agree with that.”

Bernadette turned to find Minerva, who had spoken, striding toward them. She looked utterly out of place in the assemblage of brightly colored young women with her sleek, black gown and severely styled hair. The other young ladies looked instantly terrified of her.

“See if you cannot convince your mamas to allow you to enroll at Oxford University,” Minerva instructed the young ladies, even as she grabbed Bernadette’s arm and started to lead her away. “Independence is the only safe choice for a woman.”

The young ladies gasped and stared at Minerva in shock. Lady Alyce looked like she agreed with Minerva. As Minerva walked Bernadette away from the table, she got up, searched around, likely for her mother, then slipped off around the corner of the house.

“Whatever do you need, Minnie?” Bernadette asked her friend. “I am meant to be leading Lord Alden’s guests in activities that will enhance tomorrow evening’s ball.”

Minerva shook her head tightly. “You’re meant to be convincing the love of your life to break with that odious Lady Gladys and to rescue you from your fate.”

Bernadette tugged Minerva to a stop once they’d climbed the steps to the terrace. Several young ladies were engaged in painting the vista of Lyndhurst Grove, as led by the painting instructor Bernadette had suggested Alden hire for the weekend. They had stopped before approaching so closely that any of the ladies might overhear what the two of them said.

“I’ve written to Hethersett, confessing all and begging him to release me,” Bernadette said, quietly and insistently. “But that does not change the fact that I am married. I do not have the power to change those circumstances on my own, and Hethersett has been completely silent since I wrote to him over three weeks ago. I could give Alden my entire heart, but that would neither help his need to find a wife or my need to continue on with an unsullied reputation.”

Minerva scoffed. “What good is an unsullied reputation if you are not happy?”

“A great deal when your livelihood depends upon organizing parties for theton,” Bernadette answered at once, her eyes wide.

“And why is Hethersett not providing you with an income and a place, as I hear husbands are supposed to do?” Minerva demanded.

Bernadette flushed. She’d wondered the same thing herself on more than one occasion. “Father says that Hethersett needs his entire income to maintain his place abroad.”

Minerva arched one eyebrow. “Have you investigated your father’s own finances to see whether Hethersett has sent you money that you have not seen?”

“I do not want to know,” Bernadette said, lowering her head. “I am content to make my own way in the world.”

A pause followed. Minerva still did not look convinced. “I will concede that you have painted yourself into something of a corner,” she said, glancing to the painters standing near them. “I still say, as I have always said, that there must be a way for you to extract yourself from a marriage you did not enter into willingly to a man you have not seen in nearly ten years.”

“But I did enter it willingly,” Bernadette said, lowering her head. “I wish I could go back and stomp my foot or shout with outrage about my fate, but young ladies are constantly beinggiven away in marriage, whether they want to be or not, in East Anglia. I would have had no recourse.”

Minerva made an impatient sound. “Very well. If you will not stand up and fight for yourself, I will–”

“Ladies.” Alden’s voice from the steps leading to the terrace cut Minerva’s declaration short.

Bernadette nearly jumped as her heart lifted, then began to pound with anxiety, at the sight of Alden climbing the stairs with his cousin, Lord Lawrence. Lady Gladys was not with them. A quick search showed Bernadette that Kat had waylaid Lady Gladys on the other side of the garden. Lady Gladys looked like she wished to escape whatever conversation the two were involved in and to return to Alden, but Kat clearly would not let her.

“Lord Alden, what a brilliant and interesting entertainment you have provided for us all this weekend,” Minerva said, drawing Bernadette’s attention back to where it should have been.

“Thank you, Lady Minerva,” Alden said. He bowed to Minerva, but when he rose, his gaze fell on Bernadette, filled with wistful longing.

The expression nearly broke Bernadette’s heart. She wanted to throw her arms around Alden, shield him from both of their fates, and insist that all would be well for them if they could just suffer through the indignities of the ball.

Instead, Bernadette smiled graciously and addressed Lord Lawrence. “My lord, have you been introduced to my dear friend, Lady Minerva Llewellyn of Wales, yet?”

“I do not believe I have been granted that honor, no,” Lord Lawrence said, his smile bright and cheery as he turned to Minerva.

“This is my cousin, Lord Lawrence Godwin,” Alden made the introduction. “You will not find a better man or more cheerful company than him.”

“Is that so?” Minerva asked, putting on her most severe expression and lowering her voice to a dusky and cool alto.

Bernadette wanted to roll her eyes. Minerva was prone to theatrics when introduced to new people.

“It is an outstanding pleasure to meet you, Lady Minerva,” Lord Lawrence said, reaching for Minerva’s hand so that he might bow over it. “My cousin has told me everything he knows about the delightful raven-haired beauty I singled out from across the garden–”

“That cannot have been much, as he does not know me from a fig,” Minerva said in a low, dry voice.

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