Page 88 of Doxy for the Ton
“You speak frankly for a woman in your situation,” he said.
“What—the sister of a duke who’s determined to keep her under lock and key until he marries her off?” She let out a bitter laugh. “I must enjoy frankness, and freedom, while I can. The time will soon come when I’m forbidden to display the former, and deprived forever of the latter.”
“Your brother will act in your best interests, surely, when he finds you a husband.”
“Yes,” she sighed. “Women of my rank must endure the restrictions placed on us by those whoact in our own best interests. It’s no wonder that Lady Rex sought to leave the ball of her own accord.”
“She left because she was angry with me,” Alexander said.
“If you believethat, then you lack understanding of the female mind,” she replied. “She didn’t leave because of the words or actions of others. She left because shecould. And for that, she deserves our admiration—and our envy.”
“I thought you frowned upon envy, Lady Portia.”
“I envy Lady Rex her freedom, Your Grace,” she said. “Freedom is something one can envy with a clear conscience, because I have no need to take awayherfreedom to secure mine.”
The dance came to an end, and Alexander led Lady Portia toward the edge of the ballroom where Foxton stood with Thorpe, his expression darkening.
“You’re a brave fellow if you dance with Foxton’s sister,” Thorpe said. “I thought he was going to pull you off the dance floor and call you out.”
“What—for offering to dance with a lady at a ball?” Alexander asked. “I thought it was the height of poor mannersnotto dance with a lady.”
“That was until you almost beat that poor boy into a pulp for daring to dance with Lady Rex,” Thorpe said. “A pity she had to leave—meeting a lover, perhaps?”
Alexander resisted the urge to plant a shiner in Thorpe’s face.
“I daresay she’d have been willing to partner even you in that last dance,” Thorpe continued.
“How so?”
“You were dancing to Bach—or are you too ignorant to know the difference between a Bach air and a country reel? Lady Rex expressed her love of Bach very eloquently this evening. Given that she must be fond of the arts, I wonder what she’s doing with a profligate ignoramus such as yourself.”
“The prospect of becoming a duchess,” Foxton sneered. “Grasping harpies, the female sex—every last one of them. I fail to see why we must subject ourselves to balls and parties when we know that the only reason for such events is for women to prey on us.”
“I think, brother, you’d be considered more predator than prey,” Lady Portia said. Then she placed a hand on Alexander’s arm. “Your Grace, would you please escort me to a seat? I find the company not to my liking.”
He took her arm and steered her across the ballroom, settling her into a chair.
“May I fetch you something to drink, Lady Portia?” he asked.
She shook her head. “No, but I would make a request—for your sake.”
“Which is?”
“We both of us would rather be in the company of another,” she said. “I’m unable to indulge my wish, but I would take consolation from knowing that you, at least, are able to indulge yours.”
“You understand much, Lady Portia,” he said, “for a…”
“For a woman?” She nodded. “And that is the curse of all women whose minds rise above that of the soulless mannequin. Rest assured, I shall have my freedom, even if I must wait years to achieve it.” She leaned forward and lowered her voice. “Give Lady Rex my best wishes for her health and happiness.”
He lifted her hand to his lips, then bowed and slipped out of the ballroom. As he entered the hall, a footman scuttled over, and Alexander gave the order to fetch his greatcoat. Then he stepped out into the night.
*
As Alexander enteredGrosvenor Square, he heard music.
Someone was playing the pianoforte. The melodies were simple, and hesitantly played, as if the musician feared the instrument.
Then he heard a discordant note, and the melody began again, this time more slowly.
