Page 52 of Masquerading with the Duke
‘I don’t suppose Lady Romsey—Anna, as she insists we call her—is aware of your return,’ Ariana remarked as they descended the stairs together. ‘She is the polar opposite of her diplomatic husband, will fly to your defence and probably insist upon knowing why you left the Redrows’ employ.’
‘It’s all right, Ariana, really. You don’t need to worry about my feelings. Anyway, I am perfectly sure that Anna would not be so indelicate.’
‘I know you are more than capable of looking out for yourself, my love,’ Ariana said, patting Martina’s hand. ‘And after all we’ve survived these past few years, you ought to be. But still, worrying about you is a habit too deeply ingrained for me to break.’
‘Then I shall set about finding a husband for you so that you can start your own family, worry incessantly about them and forget all about me.’
‘Martina!’
Both girls laughed.
‘It’s all right,’ Martina said. ‘I already know who will be perfect for you. It’s just a matter of waiting for you to wake up to the fact and agree with me.’
Ariana shook her head and sighed but they were still laughing when they walked into the drawing room.
‘Ah, there you are.’ The duchess looked up and smiled at them both, her welcome as warm as any Martina had seen her offer to her own family members. ‘Anna has delighted us by arriving a few days early.’
Lady Vincent was there too and both she and Anna greeted the girls with affectionate informality.
‘Frankie tells me that you have left the Redrows, Martina,’ Anna said in her usual abrupt manner. ‘I can’t say that I have ever taken to either of them, and I dare say their daughters are too dull-witted to remember anything you taught them. They don’t deserve you and you will be much better off with Nia.’
‘It will be pleasant to be close to Ariana,’ Martina replied diplomatically.
‘I am perfectly sure that it will be. Nia’s children are such dears. Mine are upstairs now in the nursery with their cousins, causing mayhem, I dare say. Well, the older two will be. Daniel is still only a year old.’
‘Quite old enough to join in their romps,’ the duchess said. ‘How have you spent your morning?’ she asked, turning to Ariana. ‘I gather you went into Shawford.’
‘Yes. We ordered gowns for the masquerade.’
‘Oh, how lovely!’ Anna clapped her hands.
‘I should have thought to suggest that myself,’ the duchess said, looking guilty.
‘You have done more than enough for us, ma’am,’ Ariana said. ‘I wanted to treat us both myself.’
‘What colours and designs did you choose?’ Anna asked, looking very interested in the subject matter. ‘You are both so lovely that you can get away with any colours you like.’
Ariana entered into a lively discussion about the choices in question. The conversation turned to masks and the relative merits of the close-fitting types which, in Anna’s opinion lent an added air of mystique, as opposed to those on a pole that made the identity of the person it was supposed to conceal that much easier to detect.
‘Of course,’ Anna said. ‘No one is everthatmysterious at a masked ball. One can hide one’s features, but voices don’t change. Nor do bodies, or styles of dress. But still, it’s the greatest possible fun pretending to be someone that one is not.’
Martina, still preoccupied with thoughts of Jared’s problems, felt duty bound to contribute to the conversation before her inattention to it made her seem impolite. ‘I myself have never attended a ball of any kind,’ she said. ‘So I have every reason to look forward to this one.’
‘Have you not?’ Anna shook her head. ‘Well, I suppose you can’t have done, given your circumstances. Clarence would never attend any social occasions unless his position with the government required it of him. Of course, I will not permit him to hide himself away and turn into a recluse, and I think he secretly enjoys going out and about nowadays. Not that he will ever admit it. We are so very different in that regard. I adore meeting people, and dancing and all the other things that one is obliged to do socially. It’s a marvel really that our marriage works as well as it does. Still, they do say that opposites attract.’
‘Drink your tea, Anna,’ the duchess said, smiling, ‘and recover your breath.’
Anna flashed a rueful grin. ‘I do run on, don’t I? Clarence is always remarking upon my ability to chatter away about nothing at all. I accuse him of not talking enough and he says that’s because I don’t give him the opportunity. Anyway, he and my brothers are all closeted in the library and you can be sure that Clarence will do his share of talking once they get onto affairs of state.’ She rolled her eyes dramatically. ‘I never will understand why men enjoy such dull subjects, but there you are.’
Martina quietly sipped her tea and continued to fret.
*
Zach leaned back in his chair, happy in the company of his brothers. Once Nate arrived in a couple of days, he would have a full compliment. It would be almost like old times, except the carefree summers of their youth spent tearing about the estate on horses too lively for them and generally getting up to mischief had given way to the responsibilities of marriage and parenthood.
‘What do you make of Braden?’ Clarence asked.
‘I’ve taken a liking to him,’ Zach replied without hesitation. Amos and Vince nodded their agreement. ‘If his allegiances are in question then I’ve lost my ability to read people.’
