Page 33 of Made for the Marquess (Second Sons of London 4)

Chapter Twelve

Minta dismissed Berthaand tried to quell the butterflies in her belly. She glanced to the mirror, seeing her image and knowing she looked her best in the emerald green evening gown. She’d had Bertha style her hair simply, sweeping it into a low chignon, and Minta was pleased with the results.

A soft knock sounded and she bid her visitor to enter. It surprised her to see her uncle there.

“My dear, don’t you look lovely this evening?” he said before closing the door behind him.

“Thank you, Uncle West. I would not look this way if not for you splurging on my wardrobe for this Season. I cannot convey my gratitude enough. Not only for me, but what you will do for Sera when she arrives in England.”

She had shared the contents of Sera’s letter with her aunt and uncle and they all eagerly looked forward to her twin’s arrival in London come summer.

Her uncle handed her a small box, saying, “I meant to give these to you on the opening night of the Season but I think you should have them now.”

Curious, she opened the velvet box and found a pair of diamond earrings. Raising her eyes, she asked, “These are for me?”

“Yes. Every woman needs a good piece of jewelry that will enhance both her beauty and wardrobe.”

“But . . . this is too much,” Minta protested.

He placed his hands on her shoulders. “Please accept the earrings, Minta. You and Sera are the closest I will ever have to having children of my own. I want to do for you when I can.”

A moment of sadness touched her, knowing her aunt and uncle had not been blessed with children of their own. Uncle West’s title would pass to his younger brother upon his death—or his nephew. Neither man was a good one and Uncle West had been estranged from them for many years. Selfishly, Minta hoped she would not be barren as Aunt Phyllis and provide the expected heir to her future husband.

Smiling, she leaned up and kissed his cheek. “I will wear them each night of the Season—and tonight. After all, we will be dining with a duke and duchess.”

She turned and sat at her dressing table, placing the box upon it and lifting the first sparkling earring from its resting place before attaching it to her earlobe. She did the same with the other and admired herself in the mirror a moment before rising again.

“They suit you,” her uncle said. “Phyllis said you were at tea quite a long time yesterday.”

“It was actually more than tea,” she explained. “After it, I had a dance lesson. I learned the steps of the waltz.”

“You did? I thought I was supposed to teach you.”

“You will need to practice with me before the Blakeney ball,” she insisted. “But the Duchess of Camden was most insistent.”

He chuckled. “Yes, she can be quite insistent. She was headstrong before Camden wed her and she is unstoppable as a duchess.”

“She and her two cousins have been teaching Lord Kingston how to dance.”

“The marquess did not know how to dance?” her uncle asked, aghast.

“Apparently not. You must remember that he was in the army for almost a decade. I don’t think much dancing occurred as the Anglo-alliance marched all across Europe engaging Bonaparte and his forces.”

“I suppose not,” he mused. “So, you danced with the marquess?”

She hoped she wouldn’t blush as she said, “Those at tea practiced several group dances and then Her Grace said Lord Kingston and I should waltz. I told her I did not know how.”

“Who taught you the steps?”

Heat filled her cheeks as she said, “Actually, Lord Kingston did, at Her Grace’s suggestion. She said by him instructing me in the dance, it would help firm up his own lessons.”

“I see.” Uncle West studied her a moment. “Did you learn from him?”

“He made it very easy for me. He was an excellent tutor. Lady Danbury played the pianoforte and we all wound up waltzing together.”

Minta thought it wise not to mention that she and the marquess had been alone for a good hour during their lesson since she didn’t think her uncle would like that idea very much.

“Let’s see if the lessons stuck.”

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