Page 59 of His Haunted Duchess
Frederic’s eyes flicked to Caroline’s, carrying in the glance a thoughtful question. She met it as steadily as she could. The fear of his disappointment hung over her like a curtain. She pushed it firmly back. Frederic shrugged.
“If Caroline does not wish to go, I don’t see why she should. I had hardly considered attending myself.”
Caroline looked at her hands. He was supporting her at least. It was proper and good that he should—especially if he didn’t want to attend himself. She didn’t know why she felt so disappointed—she hadn’t planned on attending. If anything, she should be pleased at the harmony of their preferences.
“Frederic,” Esther said, setting down her cup, “do pause and think! It’s the last ball of the Season, and it’s incredibly important for you and your lady to put in an appearance.”
The duke frowned. “Surely it isn’t so important that the duchess couldn’t attend and represent me?”
Esther’s eyes widened in horror.
“Not so import— Frederic! your acquaintances!”
The duke shrugged, turning his back to them.
“Any true acquaintance of mine won’t receive any umbrage from not seeing me at a ball, especially when they already see me regularly.”
Esther looked as if she had sat on a patch of brambles instead of a pleasant couch cushion.
“Does no one appreciate the magnificent privilege of attending social events?” Philip asked dolefully. “It seems an awful waste.”
“It most certainly is!” Esther chomped her crumpet and chewed like she was swallowing a frog. Carlyle entered, noted her raised eyebrows, and tactfully withdrew. “It will be another scandal, if?—”
She caught herself. Caroline blinked away the moisture from her eyes. Shame spread over her, heating the back of her neck. Philip was looking at her, biting his lip. Frederic stared out of the window.
“Excuse me, Your Grace.” Esther said, turning to Caroline. “Wear whatever you wish, arrive at whatever time, but please—do, please attend even for a short time. It’s an opportunity to show the world that?—”
Frederic stepped back to the table and put his hand on Caroline’s chair.
“To show the world what?” His tone was dangerously low. A chill ran up Caroline’s spine. She had never heard such ire in his voice before.
“If anything further needs to be shown as proof of the duchess’ character,” he continued, slowly and deliberately, as if holdingback a tide, “I would be happy to meet the person who dared to show such an inference.”
Esther lowered her eyes. Philip had blanched the color of starched linen. Caroline chanced a glance up into Frederic’s face. His lineaments shone with determination. He looked down at her, half-challenging.
She wanted to leave, to withdraw, and to let the ache of Esther’s provoked comments soothe. And provoked Esther surely was, much to Caroline’s regret. Had Frederic not— She bit her lip. Hadshenot made so great a fuss about attending the ball that was so obviously important to the dowager duchess, perhaps she in turn would not have lost her temper.
Regret temporarily overcame fear. Caroline cleared her throat.
“Perhaps what Esther means to say is that she would be loath for us to lose an opportunity that would benefit us—and the honor of Highcastle—both so greatly.”
The tension in the room, while it did not dissipate entirely, cleared like a morning fog at sunrise. Philip, at least, started to breathe again.
“What a lovely way to restate what I said so poorly,” Esther said. The lines around her eyes straightened out. “It would indeed be beneficial, all things considered.”
She turned to Caroline.
“And perhaps—as you did for your wedding—you can choose another gown that will complement you with equal grace.”
She was trying to heal the breach widened by her former comments. Caroline was happy to permit her the bandage of her gracious words. A deep sense of satisfaction and relief washed over her like a warm bath, but Caroline merely smiled amiably.
“Perchance I was too hasty in my earlier reticence. I formed too quickly my concern about attending the ball.”
Philip, finding no comfort in the empty plate, took a crumpet from Caroline’s.
“Please,” he said. “Please tell me that you’ll enjoy yourself while you’re there. If you go to a ball and don’t dance a single dance?—”
Esther snuck a hopeful glance in Frederic’s direction.
