Hope for Tomorrow (8 page)

“
Yes, Your Grace.”

She remembered that Mary had been gone for quite some time now and wondered where Gus had got to. She hoped that Mary hadn't lost her way. She was a sweet girl but inclined to become flustered on occasion.

A few moments later Gus strolled into the shop.

“
Ah, I see you have customers,” he said. “I'll just wait in your office.” He made to go through to the back but Martha stood up and kissed his cheek.

“
Actually I'd like you to meet our guests. This is the Duchess of Wessex and her companion, Miss Jones.”

“
Oh, how marvellous,” Gus beamed as he bowed slightly.

“
Her Grace was very pleased with our gifts and wanted to order some more designs from us.”

“
Your daughter is very talented,” the Duchess said. “She has quite a gift for design.”

“
Indeed she does,” Gus smiled at Martha.

“
Will you join us for some tea?” the Duchess asked.

“
I'll get a fresh pot,” Martha said, wondering where Mary had got to. She found her in the kitchen, just preparing a fresh pot of tea.

“
What took you so long?” Martha asked.

“
Mr Aldercott said that we should leave you for a while. He said that your designs would quickly separate a refined lady from her money and that we might just get in the way.”

He had certainly thought this through Martha decided as she carried the tea to her guests. She found Gus charming the ladies with the story of how he got into the glove making business when his mother was unable to find what she wanted in any of the stores.

The Duchess stayed for another half an hour before declaring that she must visit Sharps, the milliners since she could see such fine examples of their work on display here.

Martha breathed a sigh of relief when the Duchess finally left, for she felt as though she had been walking on eggshells all morning. She looked and acted very much like a lady these days but she was constantly worried that someone would see her for what she really was; a disgraced housemaid.

There was a further surprise the next day when an invitation to their Christmas ball at the Grosvenor Hotel arrived for her and Gus.

Martha didn't want to go; she felt that that she spent enough time pretending to be something that she wasn't and would surely be found out at a social occasion.

Gus asked what all those dresses, dancing and etiquette lessons had been for if she wasn't to attend social functions.

Finally he accused her of cowardice, knowing that it would upset her and that she would want to prove him wrong.

Which is how she came to be on his arm, walking into the Grosvenor Ballroom on a Friday evening.

Chapter Eight

Martha had chosen an emerald green gown and Gus had lent her a jade necklace and earrings which had belonged to his mother. Her heart was racing as they walked through the reception area but she did her level best to appear serene. He escorted her to the ladies' cloakroom door and assured her that he would he waiting for her when she was ready to go in.

She headed into the cloakroom, certain that someone would call her an imposter and demand that she leave, but she was greeted by a servant girl who
curtseyed and asked to take her cloak. Martha handed it over and received a dance card and small pencil in exchange, which she stowed in her purse. Other ladies were chatting and gossiping but Martha, aside from nodding politely at them, preferred to leave as soon as possible.

True to his word, Gus was waiting for her and offered her his elbow so that he might escort her into the ballroom.

The Duchess was waiting just inside and greeted them warmly. They were both pleased to note that she was wearing the gloves that they had sent her. She complimented Martha on her gown, recognising that it was by the same dressmaker as her own.

In keeping with the fashion of the time, Martha's dress was off the shoulder with a low, pointed waist and a long, full skirt. She also wore a pair of green gloves made from satin with point detail on the back and hemmed with green silk, which gave a subtle but elegant change of texture. White gloves were common at a ball but these were a good advertisement for the company so she was happy to break with convention in that way. It wasn't rude; simply unusual.

They headed into the ballroom and Gus set about making introductions. He hadn't been very sociable for the past few years but he knew many of the people present from before his wife's death.

Following the introductions, Martha received quite a few offers to dance, which she had no choice but to accept lest she appear impolite. If only Gus wouldn't introduce her to so many people, she thought, then she could refuse without causing offence but she suspected that that was his game.

Her next introduction was to an acquaintance that Gus had completely forgotten about.

“
Gus Aldercott?”

They turned towards the speaker.

“
It is you! How are you?”

Poor old Gus looked blank.

“
Well I suppose it must have been six years since we last met, I was just heading off to college.” He held his hand out. “Thomas Blackhall.”

“
Thomas? It is really you!” Gus smiled in recognition as he shook Thomas's hand. He then turned to Martha. “I've known this young man since he was a tot. Thomas, may I introduce you to Martha Aldercott, my daughter. Martha, this is Sir Thomas Blackhall, better known to me as Little Tommy.”

Tommy didn't take offence at the unusual introduction but rather seemed to enjoy it.

“
I didn't even know you had a daughter,” Thomas said. “But I can quite see why you've been keeping her hidden. Very pleased to meet you,” he said bowing to Martha as she curtseyed.

“
And you,” Martha smiled politely.

“
More accurately, Martha is my god daughter but she and her sister are in my care following their parents' deaths two years ago.”

Martha couldn't believe that Thomas hadn't heard the gossip for when she had first stepped out and been introduced to the world as Gus's daughter, it had become quite the talk of the town for a while.

“
I'm so sorry,” Thomas said with sincerity. “And I was very sorry to hear of your loss also, Gus.”

“
Thank you.”

Probably realising that now wasn't the time to dwell on such things, Thomas moved the conversation on.

“
I realise that your dance card is probably full by now but I wonder if, now that we have been introduced, you might have a dance free for me? I have been away for some time now and find that I hardly know anyone present this evening.”

Martha thought him very kind and disarming and for once was happy to offer him a dance but before she could answer, Gus did so for her.

“
I believe I was down for the first set,” Gus smiled. “But I would be happy to forgo the pleasure in favour of you, Thomas. Besides, I am certain to cause embarrassment at my advanced age.

Martha looked startled for a moment but quickly recovered herself.

“
Of course,” she smile at Thomas.

“
And would you look at that,” Gus said. “I haven't even got her a drink yet, how negligent of me. I must be getting senile.”

“
Then allow me,” Thomas smiled and offered Martha his elbow. She had no choice but to accept his offer or seem impolite and so he escorted her away from Gus, her lifeline, and over to the refreshment table. She looked longingly back as Gus as they crossed the ballroom but Gus looked quite pleased with himself.

“
You said that you had been away,” Martha said, knowing that she couldn't stay silent. “Anywhere interesting?”

“
Edinburgh Medical School actually.”

“
You're a doctor?” she asked.

“
I am, for my sins.”

“
Nonsense, I think it is a very noble profession.”

“
Then please do let my father know. He considers it beneath me, he wishes that I had become a lawyer instead.”

“
I don't see how anyone could look down on a caring profession.”

Thomas smiled, clearly pleased by her words. They reached the punch bowl and Thomas accepted a glass which he handed to her, then one for himself.

“
Here's to helping people,” he said, holding his glass up.

“
To helping people,” she lightly clinked her glass against his. “So if you are a Sir, how come you went to medical school? Surely you will  have an estate coming to you?”

She frequently remembered Lucien complaining about his inheritance and how it stopped him from becoming a scholar. She immediately wondered why she had thought such a thing, because it had been a while since she had thought of him; she simply hadn't had the time of late.

“
That is going to my elder brother,” Thomas said,

“
Of course.” She could have kicked herself for not realising that he must have an elder sibling. “I'm sorry.”

“
Don't be, please.” He smiled at her. “I hope you don't mind me saying but you seem rather nervous.”

“
Is it that obvious?” She looked worried.

“
Only to a medical man,” he assured her. “To the rest of the world you are as serene as you are handsome.”

“
Thank you. Truth be told, this is my first real society event. After my parents died I was happy to become a recluse like Gus.”

“
Might I ask how old you are?”

“
Eighteen.”

He nodded. She would probably have been too young to enter society before her parents died.

“
Drink your punch,” he advised. “It will do wonder for your nerves.”

She look a few quick sips as he suggested and smiled, then the first set was called and they put their glasses aside before Thomas escorted her onto the dance floor.

“
You dance beautifully,” he complimented her after a few steps.

“
Don't worry, there is still plenty of time for me to crush your toes!”

“
In that case, I just hope that there's a medical man somewhere about who can help me.”

He really was quite disarming and she was feeling much more relaxed by the time he escorted her back to Gus.

“
You are positively glowing,” Gus said once Thomas had left them.

Martha smiled and they took another turn about the room, saying 'hello' to a few other friends and acquaintances before the next set started. Her dance card was now full.

She chatted amiably with her dance partners, just polite nonsense about the ball, the weather, the other dancers or the number of people present.

When she had finished the third set her partner escorted her to her chair where she stayed since she wasn't supposed to walk around on her own and Gus was nowhere to be seen.

She looked around, watching the other people and enjoying the atmosphere when she saw something that made her blood run cold.

Gus must have noticed her pallor because he quickly made his way back to her.

“
Is something wrong my dear?”

“
Earl and Lady Marchwood,” she said in a whisper.

Gus looked over to the couple she was staring at. He didn't know them but Martha obviously did.

“
Do you know them?”

“
Yes.” She tore her gaze away from them and looked up at him. “They are my former employers.”

Gus relaxed and took her hand. “Don't worry, my dear; I doubt that they will recognise you, especially looking so elegant.”

“
I wouldn't count on that.” Martha didn't seem at all soothed by his words.

“
What aren't you telling me?”

Martha looked down at her hands which were folded in her lap.

“
They are Hope's grandparents,” she said, so softly that he had to strain to hear her.

“
Ah,” now he understood. “Still, I am confident that they will never equate the radiant, elegant beauty you are today with their former housemaid.”

He could see that she didn't believe him and knew that there was only one way to put her mind at rest.

“
Wait here a moment,” he said.

He left her and went to speak with a friend briefly, then came straight back.

“
Shall we get some refreshment?” he asked.

Since the table was across the hall, away from the Earl and his wife, she was happy to take his arm. She drank a few quick sips of her punch, for the first one had helped her nerves greatly as Thomas had predicted, when Gus caught the eye of someone behind her and smiled. She turned to see the friend Gus had spoken with in the company of the Earl and his wife!

“
Augustus, I would like to introduce you to Lord and Lady Beaumont, the Earl and Countess of Marchwood. Lord and Lady Beaumont, this is Augustus Aldercott who made the gloves that you were admiring earlier on the Duchess, and his daughter, Miss Aldercott, who designed them I believe.”

Gus shook hands with the Earl while Martha curtseyed.

“
Pleased to meet you,” she said, though she was unable to put any real volume behind her voice.

“
You designed those beautiful gloves?” Lady Beaumont asked her.

“
Yes.”

“
They are
exquisite
,” she smiled. “You are clearly a very accomplished young lady,”

“
I just like drawing,” she blushed. “It's Gus who turns them into something beautiful.”

Lady Beaumont smiled; she liked modest women.

Before they could converse any further, the fourth set of dancing was called and Martha's partner came to claim his dance.

She was relieved to be away from them but at the same time grateful that they hadn't recognised her. Part of her had wanted to ask about their son, to know what he was doing but she knew that he was probably married by now and that knowledge would hurt. No, it was better if she remained ignorant, she decided; he was nothing to her any longer and the less she knew about his life, the better.

After the fourth set of dancing, supper was called and Gus escorted her into the dining hall. They weren't seated with anyone that she knew but Gus chatted amiably with the gentlemen present and she listened to their conversation. Even if she had wanted to join in, she knew that women were not supposed to venture opinions on most subjects so no one even questioned her silence, they simply took her for a very well mannered young lady rather than the slightly shell-shocked one that she was.

When supper was over people mingled again but Martha had had enough and wanted to go home. In truth this was the first large social event that Gus had attended in the best part of three years and he was finding it quite wearing as well, so he was happy to oblige her. She collected her cloak and when she came out she found Gus chatting with Thomas again. He gave her a warm smile as he saw her.

“
I saw you leaving and I wanted to say goodbye and tell you what a pleasure it has been to meet you.”

“
I very much enjoyed meeting you too. Thank you for being so kind to a nervous young girl.”

She did want to thank him but she had also intentionally called herself a girl, hoping to dissuade him from any romantic notions.

“
I hope we will meet again soon.” He nodded politely and backed away for few steps before turning and heading back into the ballroom.