Page 43 of Suddenly a (The St. Clairs 5)

Chapter Fourteen

Mia fought thepanic that continued to plague her as the carriage rolled through the streets of London. She smoothed the ball gown of softest moss green that she wore. Her hands, covered in gloves, were sweating. Her heart beat erratically.

“Are you excited for your first ball?” her uncle asked.

“Yes, I am,” she said.

She was—and she wasn’t. The wasn’t part included everything about a ball. Too many people. Dancing. Been paraded about on what Lady Linfield had confided to her was known as the Marriage Mart. She worried that no one would ask her to dance and if they did, she would trample their toes so badly that they might be maimed for life.

What she was looking forward to was seeing Hudson St. Clair in his evening clothes. Hoping he would seek her out and ask her to dance with him. Look into her eyes and tell her how much he admired her.

She had seen him numerous times over the last three weeks. He came by the warehouse, sometimes for a planned appointment and other times unannounced, just to see what she might be working on. George, showing a valet’s discretion, gave them a wide berth, staying on the far side of the room and organizing things or leaving altogether.

It wasn’t right. The more she’d gotten to know Mr. St. Clair, the more she respected him. He was a very intelligent man, always busy, always full of new ideas. The fact that society treated him so terribly because of what his father had done was reprehensible. Even her aunt, who was the kindest of souls, would choose to ignore him if he attended an event during the Season.

Mia knew he would be here tonight, though. Because she had asked. She had become much braver and was able to converse with him without clamming up. His presence still made her heart race terribly but she would tamp down the feelings and talk with him. Really talk. She believed he had shared things with her that he’d never spoken about with anyone. It made her feel they had something special.

He had come out last week and told her he was a by-blow. It was when she had asked if he would attend the ball at Lord and Lady Rutherford’s, an event which was the traditional opening of the new Season. He’d grown thoughtful and then looked deeply into her eyes, sharing that he was the illegitimate son of the previous Duke of Everton. Because of that, he wasn’t invited to many social events. His family and select friends ignored the gossip and included him when they hosted occasions but he told her he wasn’t truly welcomed at them by the other guests.

“Then why do you go?” she’d asked.

“Because it’s important to my family that I attend,” he’d replied. “St. Clairs always stand together.”

Mia saw that family meant a great deal to him and now understood why he was proud of his family’s support of him. He’d shared that Lord Rutherford had been a childhood playmate of the Duke of Everton, which was the only reason he’d received an invitation to tonight’s event. She was grateful he would be present at her first ball.

The carriage slowed and then came to a halt. The door opened and the footman told them they were as close as they could get.

“A little walking never hurt anyone,” Uncle Trentham said cheerfully, offering his arms to Mia and Aunt Fanny as they set off for the Rutherfords’ townhouse.

When they arrived, she took in the lavish foyer and grand staircase. They joined the receiving line and she was thankful Lady Rutherford remembered meeting her at the book club a few weeks ago.

“I hope you are considering joining the group,” the countess said. “I think an inventor would bring such an interesting point of view to what we read.”

Lord Rutherford chuckled. “I think my wife enjoys eating at the tearoom as much as she does attending the book group. How is production going on your steam engine, Lady Mia?”

“Everything is on schedule, my lord.”

“Excellent news. I hope to tour the factory soon.”

“Must you bring up your work at a ball?” her aunt hissed as they moved away from the couple.

“Lord Rutherford asked about it, Aunt Fanny. I wasn’t going to be rude and ignore his question. Ah, good evening, Lady Stanley.”

Lady Stanley was Lord Rutherford’s sister and someone else she had met in the book club. They exchanged a few pleasantries and Mia and her aunt and uncle were introduced to Lord Stanley. The earl knew of Uncle Trentham’s diplomatic service and they chatted about it briefly before moving on.

They entered the ballroom and she thought it was as if walking into a beautiful woodland, with greenery and what turned out to be false trees, though they looked real to her. Candles twinkled in the branches and it looked as though stars appeared in a night sky above them.

“My, London balls have certain changed since we last attended one, Trentham,” her aunt observed.

“Lady Merrick was responsible for the design,” Mia told them. “There she is.”

She steered her relatives in the direction of Lord and Lady Merrick, who stood with the Duke and Duchess of Linfield. Both women greeted her warmly, as did their husbands. She couldn’t help but think how accepted Mr. St. Clair’s twin was because she was a duchess and how ostracized he was at most social events. Her aunt fawned over both women, excessively complimenting Lady Merrick on the decorations in the ballroom.

“The Rutherfords usually give me free rein to do as I please,” Lady Merrick revealed. “I usually keep with outdoor designs with my gardens and fountains. But every now and then, I try something different.”

“Well, it looks marvelous,” Mia said. “It makes for a very festive ball.”

A few others joined them and she was given a programme by a passing footman. She wondered if anyone would care to dance with her. She had a few gentlemen sign it but there were several empty slots on her card.

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