Part 1
Aurelia Ricketts was going through the calendar of events she had created in her journal when she was startled by her cousin Lady Edith.
“And how do you ever expect to find a husband wearing such a gown, miss? I thought I told you to get rid of it ages ago.”
Lady Edith wasn’t precisely Aurelia’s cousin, more like her third cousin twice removed on her mother’s side or some such thing. Whatever the relation, she had managed to wheedle her way into George Ricketts household soon after Aurelia’s mother lost her third child in a row.
Mrs. Ricketts had been so devastated, she had fallen into a near comatose state unable to get up from bed, unwilling to eat. Lady Edith had arrived, presumably to care for her, but Aurelia’s mother hadn’t lasted a month, and Lady Edith hadn’t left—even after the funeral. Somehow, she had convinced Mr. Ricketts that he was now in need of a woman to run his household. He hadn’t disagreed, nor agreed, as far as Aurelia knew, but she’d only been six at the time. All Aurelia was certain of was that Lady Edith seemed to be perpetually angry with her and had somehow managed to wrap her host around her little finger.
Aurelia now looked up from her journal at Lady Edith who had entered her room without knocking. “I haven’t yet dressed for the day, my lady,” Aurelia said.
“And why not? It is nearly ten of the clock.”
“Do we have an engagement this morning I was unaware—”
“Do not be smart with me, young lady,” Lady Edith snapped. “Now, get yourself properly dressed and to practicing your pianoforte. When you are married with your own household you may laze about as you please, but while you are my responsibility you will do as I say.” The woman spun around and headed out the Aurelia’s bedroom door. “And, for goodness’ sake, throw away that dress!” she yelled as she went.
Aurelia sighed. She loved this dress. It was soft and warm with its long sleeves and high neck. She would do what she always did when Lady Edith told her to get rid of a dress she liked. She would hide it in the back of her wardrobe for a few weeks and then only wear it when she thought she might not get caught.
Half an hour later Aurelia’s father found her in the music room practicing as she’d been told.
“So lovely, my dear,” the older, pot-bellied man said as he came toward her. “Such a talent you have. Your mother was the same way.”
Aurelia smiled at her father. He always said as much when he found her practicing, which amused her because Lady Edith always said just the opposite—that Aurelia needed to practice more for if her mother had done so perhaps she would have been a passable musician. Aurelia figured the truth was somewhere in between.
“Please don’t forget, Papa, we are to go to Lady Foxworthy’s ball tonight,” Aurelia said.
“Must I?” he asked, scrunching up his nose.
“Yes. You know Lady Edith won’t go without an escort. But you should be careful, I’m certain Lord Meriton will be there eager to win his money back from you,” she said knowing that the lure of the card room is the only way to get her father to attend these events.
The man brightened up immediately. “Yes, of course, of course.” He chuckled, rubbing his hands together. “I do hope Meriton comes with plenty of coin because I plan on relieving him of it just as I did a few nights ago.” He flicked her cheek with a finger and left the room smiling.
Aurelia hoped there would be another marquess or two at the ball. Ever since the Duke of Drayton eloped with Miss Buttery-Clements, there had been entirely too few gentlemen her father would consider eligible for his daughter’s hand and the sooner she married the happier they would all be.
Part 2
Aurelia circled the ball room slowly for the second time. There were a great number of people she knew, but so far no one had spoken more than a word to her and she’d only been asked to dance once.
She knew very well why this was. She had made no friends when she’d done everything she could to capture the attention of the Duke of Drayton. She’d been unpardonably rude to a number of girls, not least of all Miss Ellison who was soon to be Lady Uxbridge as she had just become engaged to that hulking earl, Lord Uxbridge. Honestly, the man made Aurelia quake in her slippers. Miss Ellison was more than welcome to that one. But it had been Lady Katherine Buttery-Clements who’d snared the duke. Never would Aurelia have thought the man would be more attracted to a girl who was–to put it kindly–large boned, when Aurelia herself was slender and lithe.
But the end result of all of that drama was, of course, with Aurelia circling the ball room alone without an invitation to dance. Not only that, but she could feel Lady Edith’s eyes on her.
The woman was sitting, as always, among the chaperones and doing absolutely nothing to help Aurelia by introducing her to anyone. It was positively embarrassing!
Aurelia was just about ready to ask Lady Edith if they might collect her father from game room and return home when Lady Foxworthy, their hostess, approached her with a tall, imposing-looking gentleman by her side.
He had sharp features–chiseled cheekbones, a strong square chin, and an aristocratically straight nose. His eyes were the only part of him that held any warmth and even that seemed rather tepid.
Ah, well, Aurelia thought to herself. It wasn’t like she had a great deal of other options. She turned a polite smile on to the lady, curtseying as the said, “Miss Ricketts, there is someone I would like to introduce you to.”
“I would be honored, my lady,” Aurelia said, looking up at the man. Oh, please be well titled, please be well titled, she whispered in her mind.
“Lord Whatebury, may I present Miss Aurelia Ricketts?”
The man nodded before reaching out for Aurelia’s hand.
“Miss Ricketts, the Marquess of Whatebury,” Lady Foxworthy said.
As Aurelia sank into another curtsey she lowered her eyes in an effort to hide the joy and enthusiasm in them. What she really wanted to do was jump up and down and clap her hands, but she didn’t that would be deemed appropriate so instead she murmured. “It a pleasure to meet you, my lord.”
“Would you care to dance, Miss Ricketts?” he said.
“I would indeed. Thank you.” She put her hand on his outstretched arm and then turned a grateful look at Lady Foxworthy as he led her away. The woman looked well satisfied.
“I don’t believe I have seen you earlier this season, my lord. I would certainly remember if I had,” she said, after the start of the dance.
“No. My family and I have only just arrived in Town. We were in mourning for my mother, and while it was recommended that I wait to introduce my sister into society next season, I did want her to get a little town bronze before then.”
“I am so sorry for your loss,” she said, affixing an appropriately somber expression onto her face. Before she could say more, the steps of the dance took them apart. When she could, she added, “Although, I do have to say that would be very happy to meet your sister as she is new to Town.”
“That is most kind of you,” he said, giving her the first hint of a smile she’d seen on his face so far. “I shall certainly introduce you.”
“Is she here this evening?” Aurelia asked, looking around the room as if she could spot someone she’d never met before.
“No. She will not officially enter society until next Season. As I say, I simply wanted her to get to know the city a little and perhaps casually meet a few people such as yourself.”
“That is an excellent idea, my lord. She won’t be nearly as nervous as most young ladies are when they make their debut.”
“That was my thoughts, precisely.” He sounded pleased that she had understood his thinking and perhaps a little surprised as if he hadn’t expected her to. Well, it was always good to exceed expectations.
At the end of the dance, as he led her off the floor, Aurelia caught sight of Lady Edith standing and glaring at them. With a sigh, Aurelia turned to the marquess. “Would you mind very much meeting my chaperone? She is standing just there,” she nodded her head toward the lady.
“I would be most pleased,” he said, looking anything but.
“You are too kind and may wish to take back your words after you meet her,” Aurelia said, as they turned toward Lady Edith.
He gave her a quizzical look, but as they reached the lady just then, couldn’t respond.
“My lord, may I present my cousin, Lady Edith Murray?” Aurelia said. He gave a short nod.
“Lady Edith, this is the Marquess of Whatebury. Lady Foxworthy was kind enough to introduce us,” Aurelia told her cousin so that she would know that it had been a proper introduction.
As if a spark had been struck, the lady’s face lit up. “My lord,” she curtsied. “It is an honor to make your acquaintance. I do hope you enjoyed your dance with my charge?”
“Very much so, Lady Edith. I am very impressed with with her quick mind and the grace with which she dances. And grateful she forgave me my missteps. It has been a little while since I’ve danced,” he said, politely.
Lady Edith’s smile only seemed to grow. “From what I could see you were certainly the more graceful of you both, my lord. I’m certain it is Miss Ricketts who should be thanking you.”
The marquess just inclined his head saying, “If it were not rude of me to argue, I assure you I would most vociferously.” He turned to Aurelia. “Miss Ricketts, it has been a pleasure. May I enquire whether you will be at home tomorrow?”
Aurelia opened her mouth the answer, but her cousin got there first. “Of course she will, my lord. And we will be very pleased to welcome you. We are on John Street. The house with the flower petal fanlight above the door.”
His lordship bowed. “Then I shall see you tomorrow.”
Aurelia curtsied again as he walked away.
“Very pretty manners,” Lady Edith conceded. “Please do your best not to lose that one to another girl.”
And with that the lady turned around and resumed her seat.
Part 3
Lord Whatebury called the following afternoon exactly as promised, but he didn’t come alone.
“I do hope you will excuse my presumption, Lady Edith, I have brought along my brother and sister for Miss Ricketts to meet.” The gentleman’s smile was very charming, but Aurelia knew it was his title and wealth that convinced lady he could do no wrong.
Apparently, after his lordship had left her side and Aurelia had gone off to dance with another gentleman, Lady Edith had asked around about Lord Whatebury. She’d later shared with Aurelia what she’d learned: While the family was generally a quiet one, preferring the country to Town, they were well respected and believed to be quite wealthy. He was an ideal match for Aurelia—this statement was accompanied by a stern warning not to muck this one up like she had with the duke.
Lord Whatebury’s voice pulled Aurelia from her thoughts.
“May I present my brother Lord William Abernathy, and my sister Lady Constance Abernathy?” Lord Whatebury said, indicating two of the most beautiful people Aurelia had ever seen.
They were very obviously siblings of Lord Whatebury as they all had the same jet black hair, slender faces, and aquiline noses. The brothers had the same square chin, but Lady Constance’s was softer as befitting a woman. And while she had the same dark eyes as her oldest brother, Lord William’s eyes were a lovely green.
Aurelia sank into a curtsey as did her cousin. “I am so delighted to meet you both,” Aurelia said. “Won’t you come in?” She gave a significant nod to the footman.
They followed her to the sofas and chairs arranged around the fireplace, which held a small dampened fire just to keep out the chill of the rainy day.
“It is so kind of you to receive us,” Lady Constance said, her voice quiet and unsure. “Whatebury said that you were good enough to tell him you would like to meet me.”
“I did,” Aurelia agreed. She glanced over at the marquess before returning her gaze to Lady Constance. “So I’m especially happy that he brought you with him today.”
“You are new to London, Lady Constance?” Lady Edith asked in a more gentle voice than Aurelia had ever heard from her.
“Yes, I am to be presented next year, but Whatebury thought it would be good for me to get to know London before then.”
“Very wise of him,” Lady Edith said with a nod of approval.
“And you, Lord William? I must assume that you are more familiar with the metropolis?” Aurelia asked.
“Yes, although aside from a few jaunts here with friends, have not spent a great of deal of time in Town.”
“William is a scientist and inventor,” Lord Whatebury said proudly.
“Really? I have never met anyone who was an inventor. What sort of things do you create?” Aurelia asked.
Lord William, who had shot his brother an annoyed look when he’d been speaking, now gave Aurelia a slightly embarrassed smile. “I am currently attempting to produce a more efficient steam engine. There have been quite a few advancements in the technology in the past ten years or so, but I worry that the fuel for the engines—the coal—is not limitless. I believe it would be best if we had engines that didn’t require so much to operate.”
“But that’s fascinating,” Aurelia said.
Lord William smiled and shook his head. “You needn’t say so just to be polite. Believe me, I know how boring I can get when talking about my work.”
“It is only because you tend to go on for so long,” Lady Constance said.
“And go into such detail,” Lord Whatebury added.
The tea tray was brought in and Lady Edith changed the topic back to London and all the wonderful things the siblings could do on their visit.
“I have heard that going for a walk or drive in the park is quite the thing to do,” Lady Constance commented.
“Oh, absolutely, it is!” Lady Edith agreed.
“We have plans to go tomorrow,” Lord William said. “Miss Ricketts, would you care to join us?”
“I would love to,” Aurelia said immediately, but then remembered she should probably ask permission first. “If my cousin wouldn’t mind me doing so?” she added quickly.
“All three of you are going?” Lady Edith confirmed.
“Yes. We thought a walk down to the serpentine would be nice if the sun makes an appearance,” Lord Whatebury told her.
Lady Edith nodded.” In that case, I don’t see any objection to it.”
Goodness, Aurelia thought, she hadn’t seen her cousin so amenable since the Duke of Drayton had paid her some attention. Already, her acquaintance with Lord Whatebury was creating all sorts of wonderful opportunities for her—a potential suitor, a potential friend, and now the freedom to go out with both of them.
PART 4
Aurelia dressed in her prettiest walking dress—a white cotton with small pink flowers on the skirt and matching flowers embroidered on the neckline and small, puffed sleeves. Even Lady Edith could not find fault with her appearance.
It was precisely three when Lord Whatebury knocked on the door. Aurelia needed only to put on her hat and gloves and put her shawl around her shoulders.
“May I assist you?” Lord Whatebury asked gently, taking her shawl from her hands.
“Thank you.” she smiled up at him as he draped it over her shoulders. Lady Edith looked on approvingly.
“Enjoy your drive,” she said, seeing them out the door.
“Oh, Miss Ricketts, what a beautiful dress Lady Constance gushed as Aurelia took her place beside the girl.
“Thank you. Yours is lovely too. The blue ribbon is the exact shade of your eyes.”
“Thank you,” she replied.
“She spent nearly half an hour searching for precisely the right color. It was the most boring thirty minutes of my life,” Lord Whatebury said with a laugh.
“You didn’t have to stay, you could have gone on to some other shop,” Constance said with a huff.
“And how could I have done that when you were constantly asking for my opinion?”
She clearly had nothing to say to this, so settled for just glaring at her oldest brother.
“Pay them no mind, Miss Ricketts, they’re always going on like this. I assure you there is, in fact, a deep affection between them even if it doesn’t seem so at times,” Lord William said.
Aurelia smiled. “I’m certain there is.”
“Have you brothers or sisters, Miss Rickets?” Constance asked. “ No, sadly my mother died in childbirth and my father never remarried.”
“Oh, how very sad,” she said.
Luckily nothing more could be said on the topic for they had reached the park.
“My word, you were not exaggerating when you said that everyone goes to the park,” Lord Whatebury exclaimed as their open barouche was forced to halt for traffic as they turned onto Rotton Row.
“Well, it is a particularly nice day,” Aurelia said, looking about for people she knew to whom she could introduce her new friends.
“Indeed, it is,” Lord Whatebury agreed. He seemed to be doing the same as her and she was proven right when, a moment later, he said, “Ah, I see Lord Bunbury just over there. That must be his wife with him.”
They all looked in the same direction as he, and then as whey drew abreast of the couple, he called out a greeting.
The couple stopped and looked to see who was addressing them, then gave a smile and approached the conveyance, which had stopped for them.
“Good afternoon, Whatebury,” Lord Bunbury said.
He looked about the other occupants and nodded to Aurelia. “Miss Ricketts.”
“Good afternoon, my lord, my lady. May I make you known to my friends?”
“Please,” Lady Bunbury said enthusiastically.
“Lord Whatebury you already know,” Aurelia said. “And this is his brother and sister, Lord William and Lady Constance.” She nodded to each in turn.
Everyone nodded to each other as they could do little more seated in the carriage as they were. “My lord?” the coachman called.
“Ah, I believe we are holding up others,” Lord Whatebury said.
“Yes, yes. Lovely to meet you all,” Lord Bunbury said, assisting his wife back onto the footpath.
They continued on occasionally waving or greeting those they knew—or in Aurelia’s case those who she knew would return the greeting. She hated that she’d been forced to insult so many of the ton, but with her cousin watching like a hawk from her place among the chaperones, it was either that or face the lady’s wrath later.
They were just approaching the Serpentine when Lady Constance gave a start.
“What is it Constance?” Lord William asked.
The girl leaned toward the outside of the coach peering ahead. “It’s the oddest thing. I thought I saw Lady Edith.” She shook her head and gave an awkward laugh. “I must be imagining—No, there she is!”
They all turned to see Aurelia’s cousin now speaking with Lady Ayres. She looked acutely uncomfortable and kept trying to sidle closer to the tree just behind her.
Aurelia closed her eyes and turned her head away, acutely embarrassed.
“She looks like she’s trying to hide behind that tree,” Lord Whatebury commented.
“She is,” Aurelia said. “My sincere apologies. It is truly no reflection on you, but she does this. She cannot seem to trust me when I am not in her company.”
“She is spying on you?” Lord William asked
“Where does she think you would be if not here with us?” Lord Whatebury asked, looking genuinely confused.
Aurelia could only sigh. “I do not know. Truely, she has always done this. Whenever I have gone without her she always follows to ensure I am where I said I would be.”
“Have you ever not been?” Lord William asked.
“Just once. I told her I’d be going to visit a friend at her home, but when I got there her mother asked us to accompany her to the village nearby. When I returned home Lady Edith confronted me, saying that she saw me in the village buying pastries at the baker’s. It was true. My friend’s mother had asked me to do so. My friend was with me, but Lady Edith hadn’t noticed her, so she’d thought I was alone.”
“What did she do?”
“Punished me,” Aurelia really didn’t want to tell them about the week she’d spent locked in her room with little to eat, so she left it up to them to imagine how she’d been punished.
“Did your friend’s mother not tell Lady Edith—” Lord Whatebury asked
Aurelia just shook her head. “I never told either her nor my friend what had happened.”
“Too embarrassed,” Lord William said, understanding immediately.
Aurelia caught a glimpse of the concern in his beautiful blue eyes, but after that could not bring herself to look up from her lap. She didn’t, couldn’t stand the pity.
“I am sorry,” she said again. “Truly, it is no reflection on you.”
Constance took her hand. “We know. It’s perfectly all right.”
“Did we tell you we visited the museum yesterday?” Lord William said brightly.
At that Aurelia did lift her gaze to give him her most grateful look.
They told her about the visit and soon enough the awkwardness faded and they were all chatting happily once again.
Part 5
Aurelia had no idea how she was going to convince both her cousin and father that it would be better for her to marry Lord William rather than his brother, the earl. Honestly, how many times had they told her that she had to marry well?
She was still trying to think of a way when they arrived at Lady Littleton’s ball. Her father gave her shoulder a squeeze saying, “I’m off for the card room. Good hunting, my dear.” He laughed at his own joke as he walked away.
Lady Edith’s expression was sour as she watched him go, but then she caught sight of one of her friends and abandoned Aurelia saying, “Do try to secure at least one dance with Lord Whatebury, Aurelia.”
Aurelia could do nothing more but sigh. As she stood there looking around the room, she heard a man behind her speaking with someone. A glance over her shoulder told her it was two young gentleman she had never been introduced to, but who she’d seen at numerous events.
“… he was so desperate to see her married he even contemplated trying to get Lord G to accept her in marriage instead of the money he owed the fellow,” one of the men was saying. The other bust out laughing. “Did he do it?”
“Well, no. Couldn’t. Lord G is already married!”
At that they both dissolved into laughter.
Aurelia moved away from such an inappropriate conversation, but as she did so, an idea sparked in her mind.
A card game. A wager.
Could she even propose such a thing? Would Lord William…? No, he wouldn’t. Would he?
As she wandered the ballroom passively looking for the gentleman in question, she toyed with the idea until she had something solid to propose—once she found him.
Finally, a quarter of an hour later she saw the earl and Lord William enter the ballroom. They both stopped just inside the door looking so similar despite the fact that one was fair and the other was not.
Aurelia stepped forward out of the crowd around her and, just as she hoped, Lord William caught sight of her almost immediately.
He said something to his brother who too looked in her direction. The two began weaving around people as they made their way to her.
She curtsied, giving them both a smile when they reached her. “Good evening, my lords.”
“Good evening to you,” Lord William said, as the earl said the same.
“I do hope all is well this evening?” Lord Whatebury asked with a lift of his eyebrows.
“Indeed, my lord it is. My father is in the card room and my cousin is sitting with her friends probably sharing the latest gossip.”
“Excellent,” he said.
“In that case, Miss Ricketts, may I have this dance?” Lord William said, holding out his hand.
“I would be delighted, thank you.”
“If you’ll excuse us, Whatebury?” he said,
“Of course. Enjoy yourselves. I will find myself a partner as well.”
He went off in search of someone, and Lord William led Aurelia onto the dance floor where everyone was taking their places for a quadrille.
As soon as she could, Aurelia said to him, “I’ve come up with a plan.”
He quirked up an eyebrow and one side of his lips. “A plan for what?”
“On how to get my father to approve of a courtship between us,” she said just before spinning away.
When she faced him again his eyes were wide. “What is it?” he asked the next time they came together.
“It’s a little complicated. I can’t tell you now.”
“I am agog with curiosity,” he admitted before moving to take the hand of another woman in their set.
***
As soon as the dance ended, Aurelia took Lord William’s arm and allowed him to lead her outside into the garden. The moment they were far enough for the sounds of the ball to fade, he looked at her and said, “So, what is this brilliant idea of yours?”
“Well, I don’t know that it’s brilliant, but it might work. How are you at two-handed whist?”
As soon as she’d explained her idea to him, he shook his head and began listing all the reasons why it wouldn’t work.
When he stopped she said, “Everything you say is true, but it was the only thing I could think of. Have you got anything better?”
He thought for a long moment and then shook his head. “No.”
“Then will you do this?”
“It’s extremely risky.”
“I know and I am sorry for that but, please?”
She bit her lip and hoped he would consider her idea. If it worked, they could be together, and if it didn’t… well, she wouldn’t worry about that just now. She couldn’t.
With a sigh, he said, “Very well, but I shall do it now before I think better of it.”
He took her hand and led her back inside, heading straight for the card room. Aurelia stayed by the door as he approached her father who was exactly where she’d expected him to be—with cards in hand, a drink at his elbow.
“I beg your pardon, my lord, but may I have a moment of your time?” Lord William said.
Her father looked up and frowned at him. “And you are?”
“I am Lord William Abernathy. Might I have a word?”
Mr. Ricketts looked at his cards and then around the table at the men he was playing with. He tossed his cards down. “Very well, I have a terrible hand anyway.” And then to the other men he said, “My apologies, gentlemen.”
Lord William and Aurelia’s father moved to the back wall of the room. Aurelia couldn’t hear what Lord William said, but her father suddenly exploded, “You want to what?”
“Actually, my lord, it was Aurelia’s idea,” Lord William said hastily.
Her father turned and strode over to her. “Why is this young man asking me to wager you in a game of cards?” he practically shouted. The room suddenly hushed as everyone turned to see what was happening.
“You are not wagering me, Papa, only the right to court me,” she explained softly.
“But that would mean that he’d have my permission to marry you at the end of that courtship,” he pointed out hardly lowering his voice.
“Yes, but if Lord William loses, then I shall agree to court anyone of your choosing without complaint, and Lord William will withdraw his suit.”
Her father looked at her long and hard. “And this is what you want?” he asked.
“Well, what I want is to marry Lord William, but I know you would rather I marry someone—”
“I want what is due to my daughter,” he said interrupting her. “But I also want to see you happy. Lady Edith… well…”
“You are my father, only you get to make such decisions,” Aurelia reminded him.
He thought about it a moment longer before huffing out a breath. “Very well, I will play this little game of yours, but I will not make it easy for him.”
“No, my lord!” Lord William protested. “This is to be a completely fair game.”
Mr. Ricketts nodded, his eyes darting about the room. “And we shall have a good number of people watching to ensure that it is,” he noted. Some of the other card players had returned to their own games, but there quite a few who were unabashedly listening to their conversation.
One of those jumped to his feet. “Here, Mr. Ricketts. You can play at this table.” Some of the other men there didn’t look terribly pleased, but they put down their cards and relinquished their seats.
Mr. Ricketts and Lord William took the chairs opposite each other. The man who’d offered the table gathered up the cards, shuffled and the dealt them saying. “There can be no question of honesty if I deal the cards.”
There was a general murmuring of agreement and then the two men began to play. Aurelia felt as though her heart was in her throat as she watched, but they’d hardly began when Lady Edith stormed into the room.
“What is this ridiculousness I hear?” She stopped just next to the table. “You are not actually playing cards with Aurelia’s hand going to the winner?”
“It is the right to court her, Edith, now do be quiet, I am trying to concentrate,” Mr. Ricketts said.
Aurelia could hardly believe it. Never had she heard her father tell Lady Edith what to do. Clearly, the lady was too much in shock to even argue for she just stood there like a fish with her mouth opening and closing but not a sound came out.
Mr. Ricketts won the first hand and Lady Edith crowed with delight. “Well, that is over,” she said with satisfaction. “Now—”
“There are two more hands to be played,” Lord Whatebury said from next to Aurelia. She hadn’t even noticed that he’d come in.
Lord William won the next hand and then when he won the third Lady Edith practically shouted, “He cheated! I’m certain he cheated.”
There was a gasp of shock all around and then the voices of at least a dozen men refuting her unfounded accusation.
Mr. Ricketts stood and held out his hand to Lord William and the room quieted once more.
“Lord William, well played. I expect I shall see you tomorrow.”
Lord William was smiling broadly as he too rose and took Mr. Ricketts’s hand. “Yes, you shall. Thank you for an excellent game.”
Aurelia was practically jumping with delight when her father turned to Lady Edith. “And you, madam, after the wedding you may retire to my estate. Your work is done.”
Aurelia could barely believe her father had just said this, but before anyone could respond, he took Aurelia’s arm and led her from the room and the ball.
Aurelia went quietly knowing her life had just turned around completely and she could hardly wait for tomorrow.