Page 28 of Murder at Madame Chambon's
A wave of euphoria made him step forward, but he hesitated as she brought her hands up to her cheeks and a small furrow appeared upon her brow.
William was suddenly embarrassed.Was he reading too much into what was conveyed by her eyes?For she certainly had said nothing to indicate a reciprocation of his feelings.
Perhaps, in fact, she didn’t really return the feelings of his heart?
And then she took a half step forward.She gripped his hands, her pale, slender fingers squeezing his for but a fraction of a second before she released him; a contact long enough to spear him with the most potent desire as she whispered with what he could only describe as fierce longing, “I can’t tell you how welcome your visit has been, Lord Bellingham.”
And then she was turning towards the front door, murmuring platitudes about the weather while the little parlourmaid appeared from nowhere to fetch his hat and coat, and open the front door onto the suddenly bright, bustling street.
Like William’s heart filled with energy and a multitude of possibilities.
Evelina enteredher bedchamber with her hands on her cheeks and her heart pounding.
Kitty, who’d been tidying her dressing table, looked up.“What’s happened, miss?Was it that gennelmun wot was here?The nice Lord Bellingham?Did he bring you news of wot ’appened to poor Lord Dunstable?Have they found the murderer?”
Kitty dropped her feather duster and glided over to Evelina, who’d sat down on the bed and was clasping a pillow to her chest.
“You don’t look like one whose heart is broke so I am glad you hadn’t set yer mind on marrying his poor dead lordship.There are plenty of other nice gennelmun with titles and fat pocket books who’ll fit the bill and please your dear mama.”
“You know my mama better than I thought you did,” said Evelina, and was surprised to see Kitty blush.But she went on, “And Lord Bellingham knows nothing of what happened to poor Lord Dunstable.In fact, Lord Dunstable’s death was barely mentioned.”
“Well, it’s best to put ’im right behind you, for there’s Lady Gilray’s ball tonight.Here, let’s take out your hair pins so I can brush that beautiful dark hair of yours and help get you ready.I’ve laid out your gown and you’ll be as pretty as a picture, as me old gran used to say.”
Lily submitted obediently, her reservations fast receding, even as she asked, “Should I really attend Lady Gilray’s ball when the man I was to have married died only last night?”
“Did nice Lord Bellingham, who was here just now, ask if you’d be at Lady Gilray’s ball?”Kitty asked shrewdly, and Evelina nodded.
“Then you should go.Who else knows you were to be married?No one is what I heard.Well then, if you like Lord Bellingham as much as I think you do, then you want to make ‘im yer husband as quick as you can.Before someone else does.That’s what these balls are for, and I know for a fact that London debutantes are a conniving lot.Maybe in France young ladies are less forward but my advice is to reel in yer nice Lord Bellingham as quick as you can so you can please yer mama, and rest easy cos yer future’s all taken care of.”
Evelina smiled.“You know a lot about debutantes.But then, you’ve looked after so many of them.”
Kitty nodded, serious as she drew the boar’s bristle brush through Evelina’s unbound tresses.“All sorts they were too, Miss.Reckon I know what’s what when it comes to young ladies and their desires.And if your desire is to find yerself a husband, wot’ll give yer the security yer need, but that’ll make yer heart flutter, then you’re no different from all the rest.”
Chapter13
Lady Gilray’s ball was a lavish affair.Lily rarely attended such august occasions but Hamish had been invited by Lord Gilray, who attended his club and who was championing a reformist bill which Hamish was covering in his newspaper.
Rather than discuss the matter in his office or at Whites, the plush ballroom at Lord and Lady Gilray’s Grosvenor Square residence sounded much more conducive to such a conversation.
It had been a long time since Lily had appeared in a ballroom.As a new, inexperienced bride, she’d dreamed of visits to the capital, but Lord Bradden had never followed through on his promises.
The London she had seen after she’d been kidnapped by Mr.Montpelier from the lunatic asylum in Belgium had offered her a very different experience.First, there were the three months she’d spent hiding at Madame Chambon’s while she’d regained the lush looks from the nourishment provided.
Now, as she gazed about the ballroom, she saw many of the aristocratic men and women who had crowded into the small, dingy drawing room in St James’ Wood where she’d worked as a spiritualist pretending to commune with the dead.She’d been given no choice in her occupation, but she’d also brought solace to some, and although her past was dark with shame, the acceptance of many here tonight had surprised her.
“My dear Lady Bradden, I read the terrible news of poor Lord Dunstable in your husband’s newspaper.I’m sure Mr.McTavish knows more than he’s allowed to say.”
It was the Duchess Dalrymple, sniffing out gossip with the same prurient interest she’d displayed when she’d attended Lily’s seances.
Lady Dalrymple put her hand on Lily’s arm and whispered, “Who did it?You can tell me.”
Lily smiled.“If only someone knew, Lady Dalrymple.The police are investigating.”
“I heard he was found in a place we ladies should have no idea exists...”Lady Dalrymple narrowed her eyes, leaving Lily to infer her meaning.
“I believe the details of the circumstances have not been made public.”
“Not by your husband’s newspaper, no.”Lady Dalrymple hesitated.“I saw his cousin, Lady Victoria, looking red-eyed during a walk by the serpentine, and little wonder.The gel wanted him for years and now he’s dead.”
