Page 390 of From Rakes to Riches

“Just do your duty and get me a grandchild,” the old man said.

“You’re making damn sure Victoria won’t ever let our child near you.”

His father froze, his glance wintry. “Is that a threat, David?”

“No, just a prediction.”

“The girl can’t already be carrying a child, is she? Is that why you married such a plain thing?”

David thought of Victoria pregnant with his child, and something deep inside him went cold. He stalked to the door. With his hand on the knob, he said over his shoulder, “Unlike you, I controlled myself.”

He didn’t wait to hear the reply, just opened the door and asked for Nurse Carter.

When his father had gone, David paced his study. His father had hurt Victoria—but so had he.

He hadn’t planned on hurting her. Yet he’d allowed his mistress into the house yesterday.

His father had brought home a mistress, too.

David felt disturbed to even consider that what had happened with Damaris and Victoria was in any way like his father bringing Colette to live with them.

Yet if anyone but Victoria had discovered Damaris in his home, it could easily have been a terrible scandal. How close had he come to being the center of controversy, instead of just the innocent son?

On the carriageride to the Bannaster home, Victoria tried to quell her nervousness. She’d had luncheon with some of these people, but that didn’t make her feel better. Lord Thurlow had told her there would be eleven other couples—twenty-two people! Victoria assumed that Miss Lingard wouldn’t be there, because she wasn’t a railway director.

Victoria was still so bothered by the fact that her husband might run into his former mistress for business reasons.

The Bannaster town house was larger than even Lord Thurlow’s home, and Victoria knew that Mr. Bannaster must have very successful investments to be able to afford it. The drawing room they were shown to was large enough for them to dance in, but instead a dozen couples mingled between groupings of furniture scattered through the room beneath frescoed ceilings.

After meeting the Bannasters, they were greeted by the Huttons, their hosts from the luncheon, and soon Lord Thurlow went off with Mr. Hutton, leaving Victoria with his wife.

Mrs. Hutton introduced her to other wives, and Victoria found herself in the middle of a friendly group. Her fears that her old shy ways would surface came to naught, and she started to enjoy herself. When needlework became a topic, she even had a lot to say.

During a lull in the conversation, their hostess, Mrs. Bannaster, turned the attention to Victoria, speaking with the faintest accent of a poorer section of London.

“Lady Thurlow, I don’t know if ye remember, but we met many years ago.”

Victoria studied the older woman. “I’m sorry, I don’t.”

“You were much younger, closer to my daughters’ ages than mine. But I wanted to tell ye how impressed I am with how ye’ve grown into a lovely young woman.”

Victoria glanced across the room at her husband, knowing what they all must think about her marrying into the nobility.

“No, my lady, you misunderstand me,” Mrs. Bannaster said. “I remember ye as a very shy girl who seemed frightened to converse with women, let alone men.”

Victoria blushed.

Mrs. Bannaster put her hand on Victoria’s arm. “Please do not be embarrassed. You are to be commended on how ye conquered your weaknesses. One of my daughters is very shy. I will hold ye up as an inspiration for her.”

“Mrs. Bannaster, please, I don’t feel like anyone’s inspiration,” Victoria said. “You’re all being very kind to me, but as you all know, life is what matures us. And having to face situations we never thought we could.”

They looked at her with such kindness. Of course they all knew that her father had died leaving the family nothing. But they didn’t seem to judge her for it, and she was grateful. She knew that wouldn’t happen with theton.

“And how are your sisters?” Mrs. Wilton asked.

She was much closer to Victoria’s age, and even looked a bit familiar.

“I knew Louisa well,” Mrs. Wilton continued. “She is a sweet young woman.”

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