Silver Spoon: The Complete Series by Nicole French

Author:Nicole French [French, Nicole]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Raglan Publishing
Published: 2024-12-09T00:00:00+00:00

SEVENTEEN

Francesca

Ortham House, where the eponymous Ortham Ball was being held, wasn’t exactly a house. More like another tiny castle, which seemed to be a pattern with the few remaining “houses” still belonging to the upper aristocracy in England. Despite the fact that, as Xavier had explained, the tenant system of land ownership had given way to corporate investments long ago, the remaining families still in position to nab estates seemed to grab them like Monopoly properties. The Parkers had obviously been part of that exclusive club following the Depression and war years, and they had assisted the Douglases as well in their own portfolio management. I was starting to understand why the two families were so deeply entwined—they’d been scratching each other’s backs for generations.

Situated about twenty minutes outside of London, Ortham House would have been an easy enough commute from Xavier’s apartment, but on Georgina’s advice, Xavier agreed that we should stay at his family’s own stately home near Hampstead Heath.

“But isn’t your Mayfair apartment closer to Chiswick?” I had wondered, checking Google Maps as we were on our way to the flat earlier that evening.

I insisted on getting ready there with my own things after weeks of making do with a weekend bag in Kendal, plus the assorted pieces accumulated through Regina. Xavier agreed because he needed to take care of some Parker Group business in town before the party.

“It is, but Georgina had a point,” he had responded as he checked his phone for messages. “These people won’t look for the Duke of Kendal in Mayfair—they’ll call Parkvale. The entire point of attending this circus is to help the family.”

I didn’t bother to mention the fact that said “family” seemed more interested in what Xavier could do for them than Xavier himself. It was what he wanted, and I was determined to support him.

And so it was that Miriam took Sofia to Parkvale while Xavier dropped me off in Mayfair, from where I’d be driven on my own to meet him at the ball when it started.

At the time, the prospect of arriving to a society event on my own hadn’t really bothered me.

Now that I was here, however, nervous didn’t even cover it.

“Frankie?”

I looked up to find that Ben, Xavier’s driver, was standing outside my open door, hand extended to help me out of the Rover. He smiled kindly—one of the few staff members who did on a regular basis (Elsie and Jagger were the others). It was hard to believe I’d been intimidated by him or anyone else in Xavier’s employ when I’d first arrived here. Then again, compared to the Parkers, Xavier’s people were utter salt-of-the-earth types, even agreeing to use my given name instead of “miss,” as if to emphasize my young and very unmarried status.

I took Ben’s hand and allowed him to escort me to the curb before I brushed off my dress and checked that I had my shawl and clutch. People were streaming into the large Victorian house, which was

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