Page 38 of Lady Charlotte and the Lending Library
“Perhaps the lady wants more than your sister’s company,” Ashford replied with a wink and a chuckle.
Nathaniel looked up and replied, “Never say the lady is interested in me. She is beautiful but a rather unpleasant sort of young woman.”
“I’ve heard her family is on shaky ground financially.” Cecil frowned. “Watch yourself, my friend.”
“I’ve been worried about fortune hunters in regard to my sister. I never thought to have a care for myself.” The baron sighed.
Ashford had no great desire to go to the assembly rooms in King Street as they were considered the most important meeting place on the marriage mart. He would only brave the venue as he was intent on having a conversation with the Almack’s patroness Lady Jersey about Lady Lamb’s upcoming book.
He’d been distracted from his duty to his family for long enough.
Diana had made her debut during the war and soon after, she formed an understanding with a young Army captain. Chaperoned by their mother, Diana had met the captain at Almack’s. Ashford had been on the Continent. When the news reached him of Diana’s attachment to the captain, Ashford had to wait nearly a month for the Foreign Office to grant him leave. By then, Diana’s intended had returned to service under Wellington.
His sister was determined to marry her captain after the war. Ashford would only approve of the match once he met the young man. When he returned to the Continent, his duties did not coincide with Wellington’s campaigns, as autumn turned into winter, winter into spring. His mother wrote to him in May 1814 to notify him that Diana’s captain had been killed at the battle of Toulouse on the tenth of April.
Diana had been persuaded by their mother to grieve privately at the family estate in Kent. The next season she’d returned to London, attending every entertainment she was invited to, her behavior becoming more and more outlandish. By the time Ashford returned to England, his sister had been labeled a hoyden. Threatening to cut off her monthly allowance, he convinced Diana to repair to Bath until he found out if her exploits were to be detailed in Lady Lamb’s book.
His mission tonight was to find out everything Lady Jersey might know about Caroline Lamb’s upcoming novel.
Although he did not have a voucher, Nathaniel and his sister did. Ashford would be their guest. He presented himself to the rooms that Wednesday morning and was approved for a “Stranger’s Ticket” by Countess Lieven.
Ashford would join Nathaniel and Alicia at their home for dinner before departing for Almack’s, as the supper rooms were known to only serve thinly sliced bread with butter and dry cake accompanied by tea and watered-down lemonade.
His mother had been nearly speechless at hearing he would visit Almack’s.
“You have decided to look for a wife!” She clapped her hands. “It is time, my son.”
He shook his head and raised a staying hand. “I attend the assembly rooms merely to find out what information I can about Lady Lamb’s book.”
“With your father gone, I know you feel a great responsibility to protect our family,” his mother replied softly. “We can weather a scandal if one comes. If the rumors are true, Diana will be only one of many members of society ridiculed in the novel.”
When he did not immediately respond, his mother added, “Enjoy yourself this evening. One never knows what may happen when surrounded by so many unmarried young ladies.”
He must admit he wondered if Lady Charlotte would attend the rooms that evening. Although after the limited amount of time he’d observed her at Lady Cairs’s ball, she’d appeared more interested in spending time with her friends than in finding a husband. He did not dwell on the relief he felt in believing the lady was not actively seeking a spouse.
The evening was cool and clear when he presented himself for dinner at Nathaniel’s elegant mansion located near his own home in Grosvenor Square. The meal was superb, the quail tender, and the vegetables were fresh and plentiful. Nathaniel must have paid a pretty penny to have that much produce carted in from the countryside. He was surprised and quite relieved that Alicia spent more time eating than she did talking during the meal.
Nathaniel’s coach deposited their party at the rather drab building on Kings Street, which housed the assembly rooms. Their outer garments taken, they entered the ballroom. It was said the room could hold some five hundred people. Looking at the crowd surrounding him, Ashford wondered if there might indeed be that many people in the assembly rooms that evening.
The patronesses stood to one side of the ballroom, keeping their eye on the debutantes as best they could, offering direction when needed. Ashford spotted the dark head of Sarah Villiers, Lady Jersey, almost immediately. She stood between Countess Lieven and Lady Sefton.
He joined a makeshift receiving line, surrounded by an overabundance of fragrance worn by the numerous ladies in attendance at the rooms.
“Lord Ashford,” Lady Jersey said teasingly, “I’d heard from Countess Lieven you applied as a guest. Finally going to cede to your mother’s wishes, are we?”
He winked at the lady. “Perhaps.”
“I have not seen Lady Diana in some time,” she remarked with a frown.
He replied softly, “That is a conversation for your ears only.”
The lady raised a brow, looking intrigued. “I shall save the set after next for you, Lord Ashford.”
The patronesses designated his first partner as Alicia. Nathaniel had been to the rooms a few times already this season with his sister, as their vouchers were good for all twelve weeks of assemblies. The baron wanted to make the most of the opportunity to introduce his sister to eligible gentlemen, as there was no guarantee their vouchers would be renewed by the lady patronesses the following season.
The ballroom, supper rooms, and game rooms made up the assembly rooms. The ballroom was stuffy as there were no windows in the room. No matter, Ashford would dance with Alicia and Lady Jersey and then be on his way.
After a lengthy set of listening to Alicia talk the entire time they danced, he left Nathaniel to dance with the disagreeable Lady Julia. Countess Lieven had instructed the baron to dance with the lady, and he must comply or leave the premises. As for himself? The next set belonged to Lady Jersey.
