Ambersley (Lords of London) (27 page)

After that, Johanna began to taste Bath society. One night, they attended a musical entertainment at the Lower Assembly Rooms. Another night, a group of young people played charades while the chaperones occupied themselves at cards. Johanna laughed until tears trickled down her face at Harry’s outrageous playacting of a turkey.

But the day Harry turned up at the front door with two riding horses, one wearing a side-saddle, all Johanna’s decorum fled as she threw herself into his arms. After that, she and Harry spent mornings riding. She laughed at herself and was grateful Harry understood how awkward she felt. She longed to straddle a horse again, but when she said so before Aunt Bess, she feared the older woman would faint.

Fall turned to winter, and Johanna missed her home fiercely.
Who will prune the roses? Has someone turned the plants in the conservatory to face the southern sunlight like Tom taught me to do every December? What is Derek doing today?
The questions teased her so she couldn’t concentrate on her chess game with Harry.

Aunt Bess entered the drawing room, a letter in hand, a smile beaming. “Well, children, it’s done. An announcement has appeared in
The Times
that Lady Amber Johanna Vaughan has been found and is now residing with relatives in Bath. We can expect to receive invitations everywhere.”

Her prediction proved accurate as their home was besieged with morning callers. Matrons approached Aunt Bess in the Pump Room to invite her and her charming guest for supper or a card party or a small gathering with perhaps some dancing for the young people. Women admired anything Johanna perused in the Bath shops and praised her taste. She was dumbfounded by this behavior until Harry pointed out the one thing these women all shared in common—all were related to a man who desired to make Johanna’s acquaintance.

“
You jest,” Johanna responded from atop her mount as they walked the horses back to the Royal Crescent.

“
I wish I did,” he said darkly. He helped her dismount.

Aunt Bess leaned out an upstairs window. “Johanna, thank goodness you’re home. Come in and change. We must go to Milsom Street and arrange for a new dress.”

Johanna cast a despairing glance at Harry who only laughed and led both horses away. She stared up at the window, hands on hips. “Why would I need another dress?” she called up.

Aunt Bess’s capped head popped back out. “We’ve been invited to a Christmas Ball at Lord and Lady Sedgefield’s, and Derek has given permission for you to make your debut there. His letter even said he might make time to attend himself.”

Johanna didn’t know whether to be flattered or scream in frustration at his casual disregard of her for the past three months.

~

Lord and Lady Sedgefield’s estate was little more than an hour from Bath, but owing to the unpredictability of the December weather, Aunt Bess accepted the invitation for her party to stay overnight. Johanna simply stared at the small trunk while Nancy packed five dresses, shoes and stockings, curling irons, hair ribbons and miles of underclothes and silently prayed she wouldn’t disgrace herself. Unnerved by the activity in her room, she escaped to the library for some quiet. She’d had three hours of dancing lessons each day this week, and she longed to rest her sore feet before the fire and fall asleep over a book.

Every moment had become a flurry of activity in preparation for her debut. Aunt Bess’s sole concern lately was whether a fabric’s color enlivened Johanna’s skin or clashed with her eyes. Johanna opened a book to a picture of a fish. Immediately she pictured the fish fork she must use and knew precisely how many inches to the left of her plate it would rest on the dining table. She shook her head in disgust. No wonder men thought ladies were such trivial creatures—they had nothing but trivialities to entertain them. Fashion and etiquette weren’t details important enough to worry her, yet Aunt Bess believed the entire trip to Sedgefield hinged upon them.

Snapping the book shut, she drew a steadying breath. This would be her first Christmas away from Ambersley. Candles lit throughout the Hall, hot punch in the kitchen, a fat goose for every tenant family, carols sung in the stable yard—the memories of past winters made Johanna smile. But the aura faded as homesickness chafed her like a raw wind across chapped skin. Here, alone in the library, she could admit she longed to return to Ambersley.

But she wouldn’t have traded her evening at the Sedgefield estate for anything. As their coach pulled up before the monstrous manor house, Harry told her in a whisper there were at least thirty bedrooms, and he’d heard tell of someone who had taken a wrong turn and been lost more than an hour.

“
Have you been here before, then?” Johanna asked.

“
Good heavens, no,” he answered in good-natured horror. “The Coatsworths aren’t in the same league as the Duke and Duchess of Sedgefield. Aunt Bess was only invited because she’s your chaperone.”

Bemused, Johanna asked, “What of you?”

Harry shrugged. “Every hostess is always seeking an extra unmarried man to even out her numbers. But it’s you they wanted here. You are our
entréz
into the first circles of Society.”

When she started to object, Aunt Bess interrupted her. “Don’t make her nervous, dear. It’s true, Johanna, that you’ve raised our status. While Harry’s father was a wealthy man, he earned that money through trade. There was no reason to single us out for an invitation—until now. Don’t be embarrassed. These are precisely the sort of people you would have grown up knowing had your parents lived. They’re so looking forward to meeting you.”

A footman opened the coach door and handed Aunt Bess down. Harry started to follow, but stopped long enough to look back at Johanna. “Of course, they’re looking forward to meeting you. Their son is busy gambling away the family fortune and needs a rich wife.”

Johanna’s anxiety doubled.

Her room adjoined Aunt Bess’s with Nancy acting as maid to them both for the night. Aunt Bess immediately called for a hot bath, and Nancy began unpacking their things. Within the hour, Johanna found herself scrubbed and preened. Her dress of pale pink silk dipped low exposing the creamy smoothness of her throat and small bosom. Johanna eyed herself critically in the cheval glass. No, she wouldn’t allow Aunt Bess to persuade her to purchase another pink dress. It simply wasn’t her color.

Aunt Bess came up behind her. “My dear, I knew pink would be perfect on you.” She presented a strand of matched pearls. “You must wear these. They were your mother’s.”

Johanna had never received anything from her parents. She reached but didn’t quite touch them. “How?” she whispered.

“
Derek sent them earlier this week. He promised to come tonight but feared he might be delayed. He wanted you to wear them, and I agree they’re most appropriate for a girl your age.”

Johanna bent her head while Aunt Bess fastened the cool orbs around her neck. She touched them. Delicate yet invincible. Derek had sent them to her, and she would see him tonight. Happiness spread through her with a warm glow.

They sat down nineteen for supper. Johanna wished she were ignorant of the great honor bestowed upon her by being seated at Lord Sedgefield’s right hand. On her other side sat a handsome man with blonde curls who was introduced as Reed Barlow, a cousin of Lady Sedgefield. Smiling politely at him, she stole a glance down the table. Harry and Aunt Bess were seated across from each other halfway down. Harry sat between two pretty young ladies and seemed entirely at ease. Further down, a handsome dark-haired gentleman seated at Lady Sedgefield’s right made Johanna’s heart skip. But then she realized it wasn’t Derek, only another gentleman who looked rather like him.

When Lord Sedgefield escorted her into the ballroom, she forcibly reminded herself not to gawk. Large and drafty as a barn, the room’s floor was waxed to a golden sheen and four crystal chandeliers washed everything with light from over a hundred candles. More candles burned in candelabra, their tiny flames magnified by the mirrored walls. She saw her first palm trees, and the marble statues in the alcoves were all nude.

Before she knew it, Harry swept her into the first of a set of country dances. She swallowed her nervousness when she saw how many guests improvised their own steps. Harry always danced with carefree abandon, and she soon caught his contagious grin. For the next two hours she bobbed amidst the dancers throughout two reels and a cotillion. She smiled at each partner introduced to her but couldn’t help wondering whether Derek would ever show.

The moment he entered the ballroom, electricity sparked the air, and a murmur rippled through the guests. Even Johanna was impressed by his appearance, and she realized she’d never seen him dressed so formally. Derek had chosen unadorned black, relieved only by the snowy folds of his neck cloth and shirt. The striking simplicity put the more colorful combinations of the dandies to shame. His commanding height, broad shoulders and well-muscled leg added to his imposing entrance.

Beside Johanna, a young lady said on a sigh, “Lord Ambersley has arrived.”

Johanna blinked at the worshipful tone. He was, after all, the same Derek she’d always known. They were old friends.

But when he caught her eye from across the room, her composure deserted her. The ballroom suddenly felt as confining as her stays, and she longed to be outdoors wearing her familiar breeches. Then she might have been able to breathe. Derek nodded politely to her, then returned to his conversation with Lady Sedgefield.

Johanna’s face heated. Apparently she wasn’t as important as her hostess. She tried to bury her disappointment.

“
Please, don’t develop that same bored look everyone else wears at these events.”

The male voice made Johanna turn to see the handsome man from dinner. This close, his resemblance to Derek was more pronounced, except his nearly black hair curled more, his blue eyes were flecked with silver, and his jaw formed a sharper angle. His lips twisted into a wry smile as she studied him.

She dipped a curtsey, unsure how to proceed when they hadn’t been properly introduced.

He bowed, revealing broad shoulders beneath his dark green coat trimmed in black. With his black satin breeches and buckled dancing shoes, he cut a very dashing figure.

“
St. John Trevarthan, Marquess of Worthing, since we’ve no one to make the introductions,” he said. Even his voice reminded her of Derek’s rich timbre. “My eldest sister is the lady of the house.”

“
Johanna—”

“
Vaughan, yes. I heard tell Derek uncovered the heiress.”

She didn’t know what to say to that. “Do you know Lord Ambersley?”

“
Went to school together—as close as brothers, you might say. Come, let us dance.”

Across the room, Lady Sedgefield handed Derek a glass of champagne. “Your ward does Elizabeth Coatsworth justice. She has very pretty manners.”

He sipped his drink. “Yes, I’m told she’s always been an obedient little thing,” he lied smoothly.

“
I see Worthing’s taken an interest. High time my brother was married.” She smiled blandly at him.

Recognizing the man leading his ward onto the floor, Derek checked his temper and smiled back. Fortunately, the music ended as Johanna and Worthing joined the group of dancers on the floor. Swift action was imperative.

“
I wonder, Imogene, if you had planned to include any waltzing this evening?”

Lady Sedgefield eyed him shrewdly. “You know many still consider it a wicked dance. Whatever would Sally Jersey think if I allowed waltzing at my party?”

“
You shock me,” he said with well-feigned surprise. “I never dreamed you would worry yourself over Sally Jersey’s approval, especially when she’s not here. It’s Christmas, and we’re all among friends. Let the young misses skip the waltz to protect their reputations, but don’t deny us.” He raised her hand and kissed it.

An accomplished flirt herself, Lady Sedgefield wasn’t immune to his persuasiveness. She motioned to the orchestra leader, and as the strains of a waltz sang out on violins, Derek led her to the floor.

“
And will we find you waltzing at Almack’s this season, my lord?” she asked as he swung her into the three-quarter rhythm.

“
Perhaps, if I can be sure my ward won’t disgrace me.”

As the music started, Johanna watched many young ladies desert the floor. She stepped to the side, clearing the way for couples to whirl past, young bucks and matrons whose reputation couldn’t be spoiled by so scandalous a dance. Johanna looked on in envy.