The Wagered Heart: Signet Regency Romance (InterMix) (6 page)

“Oh my,” Julia said, thinking how she would feel in the same circumstances.

Rattling her teaspoon with more force than necessary, Caroline continued. “Please do not misunderstand me—she is not at all mean. It is just that she behaves as if I am a little girl beneath her notice. She even refers to me as ‘the girl,’ and takes it as a matter of course that Clive will discard whatever plans we have to wait upon her. In truth, I am peeved at him for not being here when you arrived. It is not like him to be rude, and I do not like it.”

Setting her cup down, Julia reached across the settee and grasped her cousin’s hand. “Oh my dear! This must be very difficult. Your letters have contained
a tone of humor on the subject of your mama-in-law, but I have suspected that something was amiss underneath. Forgive me for being blunt, but have you no influence over your husband?”

“Dear Julia, do not apologize for your bluntness—we have always been so with one another. But to your point, no, I have little influence over Clive when it comes to his mama. You see, I believe I have made a mistake in how I have handled my husband.”

“What do you mean?” Julia asked as she retrieved her tea and leaned back against the cushions.

“I was so besotted with him the first few months of our marriage that it never occurred to me that he would not feel the same. I was the most accommodating, understanding, insipid bride there ever was. You would have thought me such a pea goose.”

“Caro, you are too harsh with yourself.”

“Not at all, even my mama said so. But after a short time, I became just the opposite. I began to demand that he spend more time with me. I complained dreadfully about the time he spends with his mother. Lady Farren makes everything so pleasant for him that I believe he found it a relief to be at her house. He chided me about how his understanding wife had disappeared. When I confided in Mama, she said I must begin flirting and teasing him. That I must become cunning and devise ways to bring him to my side as his mother does.” Caro’s expression showed distaste of her mother’s advice.

“That certainly sounds like Aunt Hyacinth,” Julia said with a wry expression.

“But I do not want to behave that way! That is another reason I am so pleased that you are staying with us. If I am to be neglected, then I shall have my dearest cousin to keep me company. And do not be alarmed by what I have said, you shall not regret coming to Bath. We are going to have a lovely time—and
tomorrow I shall take you to sign the subscription books at the assembly rooms, though I only attend the Upper Room. We shall go this Thursday eve whether Clive escorts us or not,” Caro finished with a decisive nod.

Julia watched her cousin in silence for a moment. Though she wore her brown hair in a more sophisticated style and the missish gowns she used to wear were gone, Julia realized with a bit of a pang that Caro was a very young two-and-twenty.

“Enough of my grumbles. Pray tell me, how are my aunt and uncle Allard?”

“They are extremely fit and send their love,” Julia replied, willing to let the troublesome subject of her cousin’s mother-in-law drop for the moment. “Uncle John was not in wholehearted agreement with my coming to Bath. But Aunt Beryl and I presented a united front, and he had to give in.”

Caro smiled at this, the stress in her blue eyes easing a bit. “I have sent them an invitation to the soiree I am giving at the end of the month. I do hope they will come.”

“I shall follow your invitation with a letter of my own. I am sure I shall be missing them by then,” Julia replied.

“Oh, I almost forgot. I have sent an invitation to the Thorncrofts also. Poor Mariah! I vow she must be a changeling, she has so little resemblance to her mama.”

“How do you mean? I have always thought Mariah and Mrs. Thorncroft somewhat resembled each other,” she said with a curious frown.

“Well, mayhap in
appearance
, but not at all in manner. I saw Mariah and Mrs. Thorncroft last year in London—after Mama and Papa were so dreadful and sent you home.” Her cousin’s tone held a hint of old anger.

“Now, Caro, we have gone over this dozens of times. I understand perfectly why I could not continue in London. It is the fault of that beastly duke, and no one else’s. Now, go on about Mariah and her mother.”

“Well, all right,” Caro said with a moue. “Mariah is so gentle and funny, with such a sense of understanding and delicacy. But Mrs. Thorncroft is the opposite. We, of course, invited them to our at-homes and parties and such. There, Mrs. Thorncroft would gush and coo about how rich they are, how generous a dowry Mariah has. Poor Mariah would be beet red even if she were on the other side of the room. It was apparent to the
ton
that Mrs. Thorncroft was a mushroom. No one else took them up.”

Julia looked thoughtful. “No wonder she was dreading the thought of returning to London for another Season.”

“I do hope they come. Bath is not as dull as it is reputed to be.”

“Mariah would tell you she does not care if Bath is as dull as dishwater.”

Caro smiled, and silence held them for a bit as they finished their tea.

Setting her cup back on the tray, Caroline looked at Julia. “Now, would you like to walk, or would you rather rest?”

“Walk, please. I am not in the least tired, and would love to see a bit of the area. It has been years since I was last here.”

“Lady Farren says that it is becoming too crowded. You should see how she elbows lesser-ranked mortals out of her way in the Pump Room,” Caro said with a little laugh.

Sensing a lingering bitterness under her cousin’s light tone, Julia gave her an encouraging smile.

“I believe you are correct, Caro dear. We shall have
a lovely time this summer,” she said to divert the conversation to more pleasant matters.

Caroline looked at Julia with an anxious frown. “You are not just saying that? After all, now that I am married, Mama would love to sponsor a proper come-out for you in London. The gossip about you is long past. I know she has written to tell you so.”

“Yes, Aunt Hyacinth has invited me to London, but I would much rather be here with you. Besides, if I ever saw the Duke of Kelbourne again, I might not be able to resist the urge to shoot him.”

Leaning against the back of the settee, Caroline laughed aloud. “We cannot have that! Much better that you are here with me.”

By Thursday, while preparing for her evening out, Julia decided that accepting Caro’s invitation had been a capital idea. Bath, being much larger than Chippenham, offered any number of amusing entertainments. Caro had taken her on several excursions around town, and Julia enjoyed browsing through establishments that boasted a wider array of goods than what she was accustomed to at home.

She had also met several of Caro’s friends and found that she liked her cousin’s husband more than she thought she would. Lord Farren was the epitome of politeness, and cut quite a dashing figure with his tall, slim figure and boyish shock of blond hair.

He had apologized profusely at dinner the first night for not being there to greet her when she arrived.

“You see, my mother has been unwell, and she quite depends on me to attend her occasionally,” he had explained with an offhand air.

Julia had dismissed his concern and assured him that she understood. But she noticed the harried glances he often threw to Caro and wondered if her
cousin’s husband was more aware of his wife’s ire than he let on.

A knock at the door interrupted her reflections, and Harper, her maid, entered. She carried a gown draped across her outstretched arms.

“The creases came out completely, miss,” Harper stated with satisfaction as she laid the rose pink evening dress across the bed.

Turning sideways on her vanity chair, Julia was pleased to see the silk was indeed void of wrinkles. It was one of her favorite gowns, and she loved the dozens of seed pearls embroidered into the little puffed sleeves. She felt the gown gave her an air of elegance, and had decided earlier that it would be the perfect choice to make her first appearance in Bath society.

She smiled at the maid in appreciation. “Thank you, Harper.”

Turning back to the mirror, she picked up a pair of seed pearl earbobs and affixed them to her lobes. Harper went to the wardrobe on the other side of the pretty, spacious bedchamber and began collecting the slippers, shawl, and reticule to complete Julia’s ensemble.

“I hope I am not in danger of being late.” Julia took a piece of chamois and carefully dipped it into a little pot of finely milled French powder and pressed it to her nose and forehead.

“No, miss, you have time enough to get ready at your leisure,” Harper said as she finished laying out the accessories.

Julia did take her time with her toilette. A little while later, when she was dressed and Harper was putting the final touches on her upswept hair, Julia was quite satisfied with her appearance.

After bidding farewell to her maid, she left the bedchamber to meet her cousin in the foyer. She was
giving her gloves a last tug when she heard the deep tones of a masculine voice.

Looking down into the foyer below, Julia was surprised to see Lord Farren, resplendent in evening dress, waiting with his wife. Caro looked up and smiled her delight at Julia.

“Look! My Lord Farren has decided to escort us this evening! Is that not gallant of him?”

With an answering smile, Julia completed her descent. When she reached the bottom of the stairs, she could not help noticing Lord Farren’s flushed cheeks as he greeted her. His wife’s profuse praise had embarrassed him, she surmised with secret amusement.

“I shall be lauded the luckiest fellow in Bath to be in the company of two Incomparables,” he stated.

Julia curtsied in response to his compliment. The butler then made the pronouncement that the carriage had been brought around.

Following Caro and Clive out to the front steps, Julia felt her pulse begin to quicken. She had to admit that she was rather excited at the prospect of dancing in a ballroom. The assemblies and impromptu dances in Chippenham were smallish affairs, and she had not been in London long enough to attend any large parties, so this evening would be a new experience.

Settling in across from the Farrens as the coach set off, Julia smiled as Caro chattered away. It was obvious that she was inordinately pleased with her husband’s company. Julia was happy for her cousin and hoped that this would be the beginning of a new closeness for the newly wed couple.

Some minutes later, Julia looked out the window, and saw a line of carriages pulling up to the elegant, understated entryway of the establishment. Despite her impatience, she resisted the urge to get out and walk the rest of the way. From her short acquaintance
with Lord Farren, she knew he was a high stickler when it came to the niceties.

By the time a lackey opened the coach door, Julia and Caro were both tapping their feet with eagerness.

When they all had exited the carriage, Lord Farren offered each lady an arm and escorted them through the entryway and into the anteroom. Once there, Julia took in the other guests. The chatter and the array of finery on display added to her feeling of excited anticipation. As the three of them inched their way closer to the doors leading to the ballroom, numerous people greeted Lord and Lady Farren.

Putting her hand to her brow for a moment, Julia looked around in growing concern. She was beginning to feel a bit oppressed by the crush surging toward the ballroom. But once in, the room seemed to open up before her and was less crowded. Relieved, she glanced around the immense oblong space. Instantly, she was impressed with the ballroom’s size and design. Graceful Corinthian-style pilasters lined the walls, as if upholding them. Her eyes traveled upward to the five superb chandeliers hanging from the coved ceiling, their countless candles casting a festive glow over the assemblage.

Again, a current of excitement raced up her arms as she gazed at her impressive surroundings. The prospect of being somewhere new and in different company added to her pleasure.

“If you will notice behind you, there is a recessed loft for the musicians.” Lord Farren directed her attention to a semicircular alcove set high above the dancers.

“How clever and elegantly done,” Julia said.

Moving farther into the room behind Caro, Julia saw that although there was a predominance of older people, there did seem to be enough younger people to keep the evening from becoming dull.

Almost at once, other guests came forward and surrounded them. Soon, Julia was being introduced to so many people, she knew she would never be able to recall all their names.

There was little time to converse, for at that moment the Master of Ceremonies was arranging to lead the highest-ranking lady onto the floor. Caro diverted Julia’s attention by leaning up to her and whispering from behind her fan. “Every unattached gentleman in the room is casting his eyes your way—and a few of the married ones, too.”

Julia’s face remained impassive. Using the guise of readjusting her shawl, she surreptitiously glanced around the crowded room. Somewhat to her surprise, there were several gentlemen looking in her direction.

“You may be right, but unfortunately, most of them are at least two inches shorter than I,” she whispered back.

“Oh, you may scoff, but by the end of the evening you will be the rage of Bath.”

Before Julia could respond to this prediction, Lord Farren stepped forward to claim his wife’s hand. “Come, Caroline, we are to make up the numbers.”

Hastily, Caro introduced Julia to a Mrs. Crowley, before happily going off with her husband.

Soaring music of a lively country dance filled the expanse as Julia stood with Mrs. Crowley, an agreeable young matron, exchanging pleasantries and watching the dancers perform the figures.

From the corner of her eye, her attention was caught by a familiar female figure weaving her way through the throng toward her. Julia’s heart sank. She was not surprised to see Harriett March; she knew the widow had relatives in Bath. But she was surprised the widow would approach her. Mrs. March, an attractive woman a few years older than she, had never been very friendly. And since Julia’s
unexplained return from London last year, the widow had not been shy in publicly questioning the reason Julia had not stayed in London.