Page 2 of The Duke of Aces
“I believe we’ve stood near the wall long enough.” Minerva looped her arm through Isadora’s. “Let’s retire for the night and resume our efforts in the morn. I have a feeling that the next two weeks shall prove rather interesting for the both of us.”
Isadora peered back over her shoulder at the ballroom full of guests. Minerva was correct. There was a shroud of mystery that enveloped the group behind her. As they made their way to their chambers, a premonition formed in Isadora’s mind. The upcoming Season would most likely prove to be both entertaining and enlightening, but she wasn’t sure for whom—her or Minerva?
Chapter One
Three months later…
London
The clink ofglass brought Lady Isadora Malbury back to the present. Lady Sutherland’s drawing room was filled wall to wall with unmarried ladies, all dressed in richly colored silk gowns. No boring white or ghastly pastels tonight. The energy in the room blazed along with the fire. No tittering behind fans for the Wicked Ladies this eve. No, her friends were all eager as she was to embark on another Season unwed and with the promise of adventure.
Isadora raised her glass filled with red wine, none of the watered-down variety served at meals. “To another spectacular Season.”
The members of the Wicked Ladies Salon who had managed to convince their families to travel back to London early for the Season raised their glasses and repeated the toast with broad grins. The clink of crystal ensued, which was then quickly followed by chatter. Lord Sutherland’s staff were kept busy refilling glasses and offering an assortment of mini hors d’oeuvres on napkins.
Lady Katherine, Countess of Sutherland, creator of the Salon, rested a hand on the barely visible curve of her belly. “Izzy, I shall be returning to the country shortly. The members have voted. You, my dear Lady Isadora Malbury, have been elected to champion the Salon and organize this Season’s events. Do you accept?”
Isadora blinked twice and took another sip of her wine. What were the members thinking? This would be her second Season, and her debut had hardly been what one could call memorable. When not in the company of her fellow wicked ladies or surrounded by her siblings, thetonviewed her as nothing more than a wilting wallflower. She was the middle child, often overlooked, which had worked in Isadora’s favor to date.
Isadora possessed no prior experience as a leader. She rolled the stem of her glass between her thumb and fingers. “Are you certain?”
She waited for Lady Katherine, who was five years Isadora’s senior, to reply. The woman was a kindred spirit. They had instantly become fast friends upon being introduced a little over a year ago at the Royal Art exhibit, bonding over the advantages of blending into the masses. It was Katherine who championed Isadora’s invitation to the group. The Wicked Ladies Salon was a haven for unwed women who dared to dream of—and participate in—adventure and vice.
One would never suspect these ladies that lined the walls at balls or occupied the shadowed corners, often referred to as spinster row, had formed a clandestine alliance and met monthly to escape their gilded cages. Members and former members were sworn to secrecy and to never publicly flaunt or discuss the existence of the Wicked Ladies Salon. The responsibility of maintaining the sanctity of the group now fell upon Isadora’s shoulders.
Isadora scanned the room full of women who had shed their public personas at the front door of Lady Katherine’s home. Regardless of if they were titled or not, wealthy or impoverished, each member was considered equal and seen as the intelligent and independent woman she was. Isadora mentally pledged to do her best. She wouldn’t let her friends down. They had honored her with the role as their leader, and she would not disappoint them.
Raising her glass filled with water, Lady Katherine smiled broadly and said, “It was unanimous.” In other words, Katherine had nominated her, and no one dared to defy their leader.
Isadora narrowed her gaze on her hostess and asked, “Of all the twenty members, some present, some not, why would you choose me?”
“Because Izzy, dear, you possess the restraint required to deal with all these members.” No one but Katherine referred to her by the shortened version of her given name, not even her family. Katherine dug her elbow into Isadora’s ribs. “Plus, I have every confidence that the power the position wields will not impede your decisions. I shall rest easy knowing that the Salon is in capable hands.”
Capable? Isadora wasn’t the capable one. That was Minerva, her eldest sister. She preferred to follow, not lead. Didn’t she? Except, one of the reasons she had declared in her application to become a member of Wicked Ladies Salon was to step out of her sister’s shadow and do something liberating and adventurous.
Isadora emptied her glass and held it out to an awaiting footman to refill. Glass three-quarters full again, she lifted it back in the air. “I shall endeavor to honor your wishes for the group.” Isadora solemnly nodded. “My thanks for your trust and faith in me.”
“I’m not worried in the least. I happily relinquish my membership and am glad it is you that will lead the ladies for the next phase of the group’s growth. I’m proud of what we accomplished last year, and I’m a little envious I shall not be able to participate in this year’s events.” From the very beginning, Katherine had established the most important requirement for membership: the lady must be and remain unwed.
At the close of last Season, Katherine had relented and accepted Lord Sutherland’s proposal, and they had wed over the summer. With the members of the Salon dispersed across the countryside, a vote to determine who was to succeed Katherine had been delayed until the majority could once again reconvene in London.
This would be her friend’s last meeting with them, and Katherine blinked back the tears that threatened to spill over and asked, “Now tell me, will you be accepting the Duke of Avondale’s sister’s application?”
Squaring her shoulders, Isadora shared her concerns over the candidate for this year’s membership. “I witnessed Lady Charlotte’s keen wit and a remarkable ability for recall. However, her silent acquiescence to every demand made by her overbearing brother is rather worrisome.”
What was more bothersome was the strong connection Isadora had witnessed between the duke and Lady Charlotte. The secrecy of the Salon was of utmost importance. Isadora herself had been challenged not to share with her brothers and sisters the exciting adventures she had partaken in last Season. She typically didn’t hide anything from her siblings. Although Isadora suspected Minerva, the smartest person she knew, might have begun to piece together the snippets of gossip that occasionally hinted at the group’s existence.
Complete anonymity with twenty members was extremely difficult to maintain. In the past, it had fallen to Katherine to select one individual to extend an offer of membership, and only after careful deliberation over the applicant’s answers would she decide whether or not to officially grant them the honor of joining the Wicked Ladies Salon. The responsibility of deciding whether or not to formally accept Lady Charlotte’s application and offer her membership now fell to Isadora.
Ill at the thought of having to question Katherine’s motives and leadership, Isadora wrapped one arm about her middle. “Perhaps if you shared how exactly you came to select Lady Charlotte as a potential member, it might ease my worries.”
“I confess, it was at my husband’s recommendation that I extended the offer to Lady Charlotte.” Katherine avoided meeting her gaze.
Isadora asked, “And what does Lord Sutherland know of Lady Charlotte’s character?”
“Sutherland is a close friend of Avondale’s and views Charlotte like a little sister. He claims she is highly intelligent and fiercely independent. My husband fears if left to her own devices, Lady Charlotte shall seek out her own adventures, which we both know has the potential to be disastrous.”
“Hmm.” Isadora studied her friend’s features. Katherine was a horrid liar. “Are you certain that Lord Sutherland is acting purely in Lady Charlotte’s interest?”
