Page 422 of From Rakes to Riches

She emphasized “parties” as if they were a forbidden pleasure.

“My young cousin Humphrey attended. Such stories he brought home—” She leaned forward, blinking eagerly through her eyepiece. “The women—so scantily clad!”

More scantily clad than tonight’s ladies—like Victoria herself—with necklines that displayed so much? Perhaps Lord Banstead’s guests had not beenproperwomen? Her eyes sought out her husband again. She could only imagine how he felt having such things occur in his own house.

He was speaking to a tall young woman, with very dark hair and very pale skin, who was staring up at him intently with a look that Victoria found…confusing.

Lady Walcot was still talking, but Victoria only caught the end.

“And the piano! Surely it was burned afterward.”

“The piano in the drawing room?” Victoria said, remembering Miss Fogge’s similar conversation. “I cannot be certain, but surely it is old enough to be the original. Burned, you say?”

To Victoria’s regret, Lady Walcot reddened and excused herself. As Victoria turned to watch the older woman leave, she realized why—another woman was approaching.

The woman David had just been speaking to.

Victoria smiled up at her, suddenly feeling very short and very plump. But very intrigued.

“Good evening, Lady Thurlow,” the woman said. “I know I should have waited to be introduced, but David—Lord Thurlow—would surely want us to meet. I am Lady Sarah Palmer.”

“How pleasant to meet you,” Victoria said, hoping that it would be.

They curtsied to each other.

“It’s good to see that Lord Thurlow has finally married,” Lady Sarah said in the sweetest voice. “I did worry about him after…well, you understand.”

Victoria smiled. “I’m afraid I don’t.”

Lady Sarah tilted her well-coifed head, and feathers fluttered. “You did not know that my father adamantly refused when Lord Thurlow asked permission to wed me?”

“No, I did not,” Victoria said, wondering how David felt that this woman even dared to speak to him again. Or were they both still heartbroken over her father’s decision? There were so many ways that she could act on such news. “It must have been dreadful for you.”

“It was far worse for Lord Thurlow,” the woman said.

She oozed a compassion so sugary that it set Victoria’s teeth on edge.

“For I was the second woman to have to refuse him.”

Victoria must be falling in love, because her heart hurt for poor, proud David. What would make any family refuse a future earl, especially someone as wonderful as he was?

But Lady Sarah was no lady, to discuss such things with David’s new wife. The woman was waiting patiently like a spider for Victoria’s reaction.

“Lady Sarah, though it was such a dreadful thing to happen to you, do tell me you have found a husband at last.”

The woman’s smile grew faintly pinched. “I have. I’m engaged to the Marquess of Cheltenham.”

“Then I hope you are as happy as I am with my dear husband. No man could be as sweet. Do thank your father for saving David for me.”

“Did I hear that someone saved me?”

Victoria gave a start as David took her elbow. He looked between her and Lady Sarah with interest.

Lady Sarah only curtsied and moved away at a pace that tried for languor but only showed speed.

David looked down at Victoria, one brow raised in question.

Victoria smiled. “I told her to thank her father for saving you for me.”

---