How to Catch a Devilish Duke: The Disreputable Debutantes by Bennett Amy Rose

Author:Bennett, Amy Rose
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-645-05052-3
Published: 2021-02-11T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

Let’s hope your wardrobe is up to snuff, ladies, for the Season proper has begun!

The Beau Monde Mirror: The Essential Style & Etiquette Guide

Heathcote Hall, Hampstead Heath

April 17, 1819

The next two days passed in a wild flurry of activity. Guests began to arrive at the Hall, and once the revelries began in earnest, Charlie barely had time to catch her breath, let alone spend much time with Max. Much to her chagrin.

There were seemingly countless rounds of tea and cake on the terrace and in the drawing room, and innumerable games of cards and charades and bouts of billiards, shuttlecock, and pall-mall. And then there was an excursion across the heath on horseback and an archery tournament followed by a picnic beside Heathcote’s lake. Each night there were elegant dinners with endless courses, followed by more cards and charades and impromptu concerts. There was always something to do, someone to make small talk with, and some new gown to change into. And Max seemed to be caught up in the same whirlwind.

The pace Cressida set was nothing less than breakneck, and Charlie suspected this had been the dowager duchess’s aim from the very beginning: she clearly wanted to keep Charlie and Max occupied and away from each other. It didn’t help matters that Cressida kept thrusting eligible young women like Lady Penelope in her son’s direction. It seemed she’d deliberately engineered seating plans or devised small groups and teams in such a way to put the greatest amount of distance between Max and his bride-to-be.

It was enough to make Charlie want to grind her teeth and stomp her very sore feet.

Although, Charlie was relieved that most of the guests were pleasantly polite to her—at least to her face. No one had dared to give her the cut direct or say anything disparaging. It was really only Lady Penelope who continued to give her false smiles and compliments while simultaneously trying to inveigle herself into Max’s company whenever she could. If there was a spy lurking about, taking note of how she behaved or what she said, Charlie wasn’t aware of anyone paying particular attention to her. All the same, it was unsettling to think someone might be watching her while she was completely oblivious to it.

Of course, Charlie was also ecstatic to have Sophie by her side a good deal of the time. She and Nate had brought baby Thomas with them, and Charlie had made sure that the makeshift nursery that had been set up on the third floor near their bedroom had everything they would need.

When Gabriel and Arabella, the Earl and Countess of Langdale, arrived at Heathcote a few hours before the betrothal ball was due to begin, Charlie was beside herself with happiness. Arabella and Sophie joined Charlie in her dressing room just as Molly was sliding a diadem encrusted with diamonds and pearls into Charlie’s beautifully styled hair.

“I still cannot believe that you and Gabriel managed to get here in time,” said Charlie, catching Arabella’s gaze in the dressing-table mirror when Molly stepped back.

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