Page 80 of Educated By the Earl (Second Sons of London 1)

Chapter Twenty-Two

Tessa dressed withcare, knowing she would be an object of interest tonight once her betrothal was announced. She had shared her news with Abra, who already had learned of the engagement, thanks to the gossip which had spread throughout the kitchens after Rainey had said Lord Uxbridge called for champagne to celebrate.

“I believe you should wear the sky blue gown tonight, my lady,” Abra recommended. “You look well in any shade of blue, but particularly this one.”

“As always, I put myself in your hands, Abra.”

Tessa gazed into the mirror after dressing, watching Abra style her hair very simply this evening. Once more, she called for her pearls, wanting her parents to be with her tonight in the sharing of this happy news with others. She only wished they could have met Spencer and seen how happy she now was.

Adalyn arrived and told her that it was time to leave for the musicale. When they arrived in the foyer, Tessa saw Spencer present. Her heartbeat sped up merely at the sight of him.

He came to her and took her hands in his. “Ready for tonight?” he asked.

“I am ready for tonight—and every night that follows,” she told him boldly.

A slow smile spread across his face and he tucked her hand into his arm, escorting her to the waiting carriage. Inside, she sat next to him, relishing the warmth of him against her. For the life of her, she couldn’t remember why she had objected to him and his suit so much. Though it hadn’t happened that long ago, the day they met when he came to her rescue seemed a very long time ago.

They arrived at Lord and Lady Rexford’s townhouse. As she descended from the carriage with Spencer’s help, Tessa noticed though there were many carriages about, it was considerably less crowded than the previous night’s ball.

Her fiancé led her to the entrance and said, “I think we are both relieved there won’t be a mass of people waiting within.”

“I am grateful for that,” she replied. “It also reassures me that we are like-minded.”

He grinned. “So like-minded that I will be at Doctors’ Commons first thing tomorrow morning in order to purchase our special license.”

Just hearing those words brought a thrill to her. Once again, she thought how in a week’s time she would be Spencer’s wife. The Countess of Middlefield. A married lady.

There was no receiving line and they went directly into the ballroom, where a series of chairs had been placed in rows. Scanning them, she thought there would be about four to five dozen people present for tonight’s concert, given by a known Italian opera singer. People milled about the ballroom, some with cups of punch in hand, and Spencer asked if she might want some.

“Not now,” she told him. “Louisa tells me there will be a break in the evening’s entertainment in order to give the guest time to rest her voice. Perhaps then I might care for something.”

“Then I will leave you in your cousin’s hands.”

“Where are you going?” she questioned.

“I want to give you time to socialize with others,” he said. “I will do the same.”

As he moved away, Tessa felt a sense of pride in his appearance.

This man was hers. All hers. And she was his.

Adalyn said, “I see Louisa. Shall we join her?”

Tessa agreed and they went to where her cousin stood with a few others.

Pulling Louisa aside, Tessa said, “I have news to share with you. I want you to hear it before others do.”

Louisa’s eyes lit with interest. “Might it concern a certain earl? And an announcement?” she asked.

Tessa laughed. “It does,” she confirmed.

Louisa clasped Tessa’s hands, squeezing them tightly. “I am delighted, Tessa,” her cousin told her. “I liked Lord Middlefield from the start. I think you have made a fine choice.”

“I believe the same,” she answered.

Louisa drew her back to the circle she had been standing with, one in which Adalyn had joined, and Louisa introduced Tessa to those she did not already know. As she stood listening to the conversation, her eyes roamed the ballroom, finding Spencer. He must have been doing the same because his gaze connected with hers and he smiled.

She glanced away and saw her father’s brother, now Lord Paxton, looking at her steadily, his wife by his side. He nodded coolly and turned away.

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