Page 6 of A Lady’s Mishap (The Lockwood Family #5)

6

E lodie smoothed down the skirts of her jonquil gown and let out a sigh. Today was her first social event as a debutante. She could do this. All she had to do was smile, make polite conversation, and dance a few sets. Her heart sank at that word.

Dance.

She was dreadful at it, the worst by far. If she could manage to make it through the evening without stepping on someone’s foot, she would count it as a win. The thought of falling, of making a fool of herself in front of all those eyes, haunted her. She would be ruined and be an utter disappointment to her parents. And to herself.

Molly finished fastening the last button on the back of Elodie’s dress. “Are you all right, my lady?” she asked. “You seem rather tense.”

Elodie bit her lip, voicing the fear that had been gnawing at her all morning. “What if I fail?”

“Tonight, or in general?” Molly asked, no doubt in an attempt to lighten the mood.

Elodie turned to face her, her expression serious. “What if I do something intolerably stupid and I am forever ruined?”

Molly’s eyes filled with compassion. “Whatever happens, your family will still love and support you. You are not alone in this.”

“I hope so,” Elodie murmured.

The door swung open and Lady Dallington swept into the room, her eyes immediately locking onto Elodie with a gleam of approval. “You look absolutely lovely, my dear,” she said. “And I have the most wonderful news.”

Elodie forced a smile, trying to muster some enthusiasm. “What is that?”

Her mother’s smile grew even brighter. “The queen has named you the diamond of the first water.”

“Me?” Elodie asked in disbelief.

Her mother nodded eagerly. “Isn’t it splendid? Do you know what this means? You will have your pick of suitors! Every eligible gentleman will want to dance with you tonight.”

Elodie slowly sank onto the edge of her bed. “I don’t want to be the diamond.”

Her mother’s smile faltered slightly, but her tone remained cheery. “You have little choice in the matter. Most young women would be thrilled to receive such an honor.”

But Elodie did not feel thrilled. She felt only dread. All eyes would be on her tonight, every step she took scrutinized, every word she spoke dissected. The very thought of it made her feel like she could not breathe.

Her mother moved to sit beside Elodie on the bed. “I know this is not what you wanted, but it is what you deserve. I may be biased, but you are far too beautiful and clever to be a mere wallflower.”

“I am scared, Mother,” Elodie confessed.

“You, scared?” her mother asked, her voice light. “I didn’t think that was possible.”

Elodie met her mother’s gaze. “What if I say or do the wrong thing? What if I make a fool of myself?”

Her mother squeezed her hand gently. “You won’t. And even if you do stumble, you are not alone. We are family. We will stand by you, no matter what.”

“Can I at least bring my nail?” Elodie asked. “Just in case I need to defend myself from any unwanted attention.”

Her mother laughed. “Very well, you may bring it. But I insist that you do not threaten anyone with it.”

Elodie’s lips twitched into a small smile. “I can’t promise that. Sometimes the nail has a mind of its own.”

Her mother rose from the bed. “Come now, it is time. We must leave for the ball. We wouldn’t want to be late.”

Elodie stood and tucked the bent nail into her reticule. Somehow, having it with her made her feel better, as if Melody were with her in spirit, watching over her. Together, Elodie and her mother left her bedchamber and started down the corridor.

“You may recall,” her mother began, “I was named the diamond when I was younger.”

“I am well aware, considering you tell me that story often,” Elodie teased.

Her mother grinned. “I just want to remind you that I had a life before I became your mother.”

As they descended the grand staircase, Elodie spotted her brothers, Bennett and Winston, standing in the entry hall with their wives. The moment they saw her, they burst into applause, grinning from ear to ear.

“Bravo, Diamond!” Bennett called out, his voice full of playful mockery.

Elodie rolled her eyes. “What are you fools doing?”

Winston approached her and kissed her on the cheek. “Well done, Sister. You did not embarrass this family, as Bennett claimed you might.”

Bennett stopped clapping, feigning innocence. “I never said such a thing! I may have thought it, once or twice, but I would never say it out loud.”

Delphine stepped forward. “Ignore my husband,” she said. “We are all so proud of you.”

Mattie bobbed her head in agreement. “You have already achieved more than most debutantes dream of.”

Elodie tried to return their smiles, but inside, the dread still lingered. She did not want this. “Thank you,” she murmured.

Mattie placed a gentle hand on her sleeve. “It will be all right. You can do this.”

White stepped forward and announced, “The coaches are out front.”

“Thank you, White,” her mother acknowledged before turning back to her family. “Your father has sent word that he will meet us at the ball. Shall we?”

Elodie followed her family outside to the waiting coaches, her mind racing with thoughts of all the ways she could embarrass herself tonight. And the list was plentiful. As she sat across from her mother in the lead coach, her eyes drifted to the window.

Her mother’s voice broke through the silence. “Do not fret. You were born to do this.”

“That is easy for you to say,” Elodie muttered. “But as you so kindly pointed out before, I have flaws. Loads of them.”

“Everyone has flaws,” her mother began. “It doesn’t mean that you are broken or imperfect. You can either live with them, or you can change them. It is your choice. But your strengths—and weaknesses—have made you into an incredible young woman.”

“You have to say that since you are my mother,” Elodie muttered.

Her mother leaned in, her voice firm but kind. “You have always been my most challenging child. I never know what to expect from you. But I know this—you are capable of far more than you realize. You will take this Season by storm.”

“I wish I had your confidence.”

The coach came to a rolling stop and the sound of the gathered crowd filled the air. A footman opened the door, and Elodie stepped out, her heart pounding. Her mother’s final words echoed in her mind as they lined up with the other guests waiting to enter the ball.

The eyes of every debutante and matron turned towards her, whispers and stares following her every move. It had begun.

They entered the grand townhouse and her steps faltered at the sight of the ballroom. It was a sea of people, the crowd thick with eager faces surrounding the chalked dance floor. It was a crush . But it wasn’t unexpected. After all, this was the first social event of the Season.

From behind her, Bennett’s voice broke through her thoughts, soft with concern. “Elodie? Are you all right?”

“I am,” she replied before taking a deep breath. She squared her shoulders and followed her mother through the hordes of elegantly dressed people. They found a spot near the back of the room, and Elodie couldn’t help but feel the curious glances cast her way. She was the diamond of the Season now, and everyone was watching.

As her eyes scanned the room, they caught sight of a familiar figure. Anthony. He stood across the ballroom, his dark eyes meeting hers. He tipped his head in acknowledgment and smiled. It was a smile that sent a strange, unexpected flutter through her chest.

She must be going mad. Anthony was the last person she should be thinking about. He was infuriating, and she desperately wanted to dislike him. It must be the nerves she was experiencing this evening.

Her thoughts were interrupted as Mattie looped her arm through hers, pulling her close. “You are the diamond of the first water. You will have your pick of suitors. Now, who shall it be? An earl? Or perhaps a duke? However, I believe all eligible dukes are over fifty. Is that a problem?”

Elodie suppressed a shudder. “I am not marrying a duke.”

“A prince, then?” Mattie teased.

Elodie grimaced. “Good heavens, no. I would make a terrible princess.”

From behind them, Winston’s voice joined them. “That you would,” he agreed. “You would demand a unicorn as a wedding present.”

“What else would I ask for?” Elodie joked.

The orchestra started warming up in the corner and Winston raised his voice to be heard over the music. “Who shall you dance with first?”

“I promised it to Anthony,” Elodie said. “Although, he didn’t so much ask as he informed me that he was dancing the first set with me.”

Winston’s eyes held approval. “Anthony is a good choice. He will look after you and help ease you into the night.”

“Elodie’s dancing has improved greatly,” Mattie chimed in.

“She had nowhere to go but up,” Winston retorted.

Elodie placed a hand on her stomach to calm her nerves. Just as she was debating whether to bolt from the ballroom or not, Anthony appeared before her. The way he looked at her, so steady and reassuring, made her let out a breath she had not realized she was holding.

Anthony bowed. “Lady Elodie,” he greeted.

She dropped into a curtsy, knowing what was expected of her. “Lord Belview.”

He offered his arm, a teasing glint in his eyes. “I have come to claim the dance you promised me.”

Taking his arm, Elodie swallowed her nerves. “Please do not let me make a fool of myself.”

“I won’t,” Anthony assured her. “I have you.”

And with those words, she felt herself begin to relax. Anthony might vex her endlessly, but in that moment, she felt safe with him. She wouldn’t fall. She wouldn’t fail. Not with him guiding her.

They walked together to the dance floor, joining the other couples as the orchestra began the opening strains of a quadrille. It was a dance she knew well, and as they moved through the steps, she kept her head down, focusing intently on each movement. Yet, as the music continued, something unexpected happened—she began to enjoy herself. Her earlier dread melted away, replaced by a surprising sense of lightness. The dance, one she had feared so much, seemed to fly by.

The music came to an end and Elodie dropped into a curtsy. Anthony approached her with his arm out. “You dance splendidly.”

Elodie huffed, half in disbelief. “There is no need for faradiddles, my lord.”

“I am not lying,” Anthony replied with a smile. “I am merely stating the truth.”

He led her back towards her family, but as they neared the group, Elodie hesitated. She was not quite ready to let go of this moment with him, something she found odd—and a little confusing. Without really thinking, she blurted out, “Would you mind escorting me to the veranda for a moment?”

“Not at all,” Anthony said, guiding her towards the French doors that led outside.

Once they stepped into the cool night air, Elodie slipped her hand from his arm and walked over to the iron railing, taking a deep breath. The fresh air was a welcome reprieve from the stuffy ballroom. She gripped the railing, staring out at the moonlit gardens.

“It is a beautiful night,” Anthony said, joining her at the railing.

Just as Elodie was about to reply, a faint sound caught her attention. It was distant, muffled, but it was most definitely a woman’s voice. “Shh,” she whispered, holding up her hand. “Do you hear that?”

Anthony looked at her, bemused. “Hear what?”

Elodie was quite certain that she hadn’t imagined it. She stepped away from the veranda, following the sound down a tree-lined path.

“Elodie,” Anthony called after her, his voice tinged with concern. “This is not wise.”

Ignoring his protests, Elodie rounded a corner and froze. Ahead, a blonde-haired young woman stood with her back against a tree, visibly frightened, while a man loomed over her.

Anthony caught up to her, his expression darkening as he took in the scene. “What is going on here?” he demanded.

The tall, dark-haired man turned around with a scowl. “Nothing that concerns you, Belview.”

“I doubt that, Montrose,” Anthony responded, stepping forward. “Let the young lady return to the ball.”

Montrose advanced towards Anthony, coming to a stop in front of him. “This young woman wants to be here.”

Elodie, feeling a surge of anger, spoke up. “I truly doubt that.”

“Elodie…” Anthony’s voice held a warning, but she was not about to back down. Montrose’s eyes flashed with anger as he turned his attention towards her. “If you wait your turn, perhaps I will get to you next.”

Without thinking through the repercussions of her actions, Elodie swung her arm back and punched Montrose squarely in the nose. He staggered, clutching his face, his expression turning thunderous.

“You little chit!” Montrose growled. “You may have gotten one good shot in, but now it is my turn to teach you a lesson.”

In an instant, Anthony stepped in front of Elodie, his fist connecting with Montrose’s jaw in a swift, powerful strike. Montrose crumbled to the ground, unconscious.

Anthony barely spared Montrose a glance as he turned his full attention to Elodie. “Are you all right?” he asked, his voice laced with concern.

Elodie nodded. “I am. But what about you?”

“I am perfectly well,” Anthony assured her, his eyes scanning her face for any sign of distress. Then he turned to the young woman Montrose had cornered. “Did Lord Montrose hurt you?”

The young woman shook her head, her voice trembling. “No, but he would have if you had not arrived when you did.”

Anthony was relieved they had intervened in time. He had seen too many situations like this end tragically, and the thought of Elodie or anyone else being harmed stirred a protectiveness inside of him.

Elodie’s gaze shifted downward, focusing on Montrose’s unconscious form. “He’s not dead, is he?” she asked, her voice quiet.

“No,” Anthony replied. “He is just unconscious. He will no doubt wake up with a nasty headache, but I do not want either of you near him when that happens. You should return to the ball and not speak of what transpired here.”

Elodie hesitated for a moment before she conceded. “Very well,” she said, turning to the young woman. “Shall we go back together?”

The young woman swiped at her tear-streaked cheeks. “I must look a fright.”

“You look perfectly fine,” Elodie said, giving her a reassuring smile.

With a grateful look, the young woman allowed Elodie to guide her away, leaving Anthony to deal with the still-unconscious Lord Montrose. He crouched beside Montrose and gave him a firm shake on the shoulder. “Wake up, Montrose.”

A low groan escaped Montrose’s lips as he stirred, his eyes fluttering open in confusion. Slowly, he sat up, rubbing his reddened jaw. “Why in the blazes did you hit me, Belview?” he muttered, still groggy.

“Because you were going to strike Lady Elodie,” Anthony replied without a trace of regret.

Montrose grimaced. “It was only fair, considering she hit me first.”

Anthony’s expression hardened. “Gentlemen do not hit women. Nor do they treat them with disrespect.”

Montrose’s eyes flashed with anger as he growled, “I do not need a lecture from you.”

“Sadly, I think you do,” Anthony responded as he stood and extended a hand to help Montrose to his feet.

Reluctantly, Montrose accepted his help, brushing off his trousers before glaring at Anthony. “You had no right to involve yourself in my business.”

“If your business is hurting young women, then I am more than glad I intervened,” Anthony said, taking a step back. “Now, if you will excuse me, I am at a ball and I intend to enjoy myself.”

Montrose’s expression darkened as he stepped closer, his breath reeking of alcohol. “You think you are better than me, don’t you?”

Anthony’s jaw tightened, but he kept his voice calm. “I never said that. But, yes, I think I do. I have never had to force my intentions on a young woman before.”

Montrose’s eyes narrowed to dangerous slits. “You will pay for this, Belview. Mark my words.”

Anthony had no interest in prolonging this conversation with a man too drunk to be reasoned with. “Goodnight, Montrose,” he said curtly before turning on his heel and walking away.

As he headed back towards the townhouse, Anthony could feel Montrose’s heated gaze burning into his back, but he had no regrets about what had transpired. If Montrose ever dared to repeat his actions, Anthony would gladly hit him again.

Just as Anthony reached the veranda, Bennett and Winston appeared, exiting the townhouse with grim expressions on their faces. Bennett’s voice was the first to break the silence.

“Where is Montrose?” he demanded, his hands clenched into tight fists.

Anthony resisted the urge to groan. So much for not speaking about what had just transpired in the gardens. He raised a hand to calm his friend. “It is handled. There is no need for concern.”

Bennett’s nostrils flared as he stepped forward, the anger rolling off him in waves. “I heard, but I want my shot at him.”

“ We want our shots,” Winston corrected, his voice equally as tense.

Anthony took a step closer to them, lowering his voice to a near whisper. “We do not want to cause a scene and draw unnecessary attention to Elodie. Her reputation could be at stake.”

The mention of Elodie’s reputation seemed to dissipate some of the brothers’ tempers, though only slightly.

Winston bobbed his head. “As much as I hate to admit it, Anthony is right. We cannot afford to do anything that might risk Elodie’s reputation.”

Bennett still looked reluctant, his jaw clenched tight. After a long pause, he finally gave a curt nod. “You are right. But we should leave before Montrose slinks back into the ballroom.”

“That would be wise,” Anthony responded.

Anthony followed Bennett and Winston back into the ballroom and his eyes immediately sought out Elodie, who was standing beside her mother. Despite the crowded room and loud music, the moment he saw her, everything else seemed to fade into the background.

Elodie noticed him as well and approached, her gaze steady. “How is Lord Montrose?”

“He is alive,” Anthony replied. “But you should never have hit him. His words were just words. I would never have let anything happen to you.”

She pressed her lips together, her expression unrepentant. “I can protect myself.”

“I know,” Anthony conceded. “That was quite evident by the way you landed a solid hit on Montrose.”

Elodie rubbed her right hand. “I hadn’t realized how much it hurt to punch someone. It felt like I hit a brick wall.”

Bennett’s voice interrupted their conversation. “We should continue this conversation at home.”

“We cannot leave now,” Elodie argued. “If we did, it would be a grave insult to Lady Montrose, and everyone would take notice. It is not her fault that her son is a cad.”

Lady Dallington nodded in agreement. “She is right. If the diamond of the Season walks out of the ball early, it will spark all sorts of rumors.”

“Besides, I refuse to let Lord Montrose think he has won,” Elodie said firmly. “I have done nothing wrong. Why should I slink away like the guilty party?”

At that very moment, Lord Montrose entered the ballroom, his face flushed with anger, and his gaze locked on Elodie. Anthony moved to shield her, but she placed a hand on his arm, stopping him. “He cannot touch me here. Not now,” she whispered.

To her credit, Elodie met Montrose’s heated stare with a fierce, unwavering look of her own. One that sent a clear message that she was not afraid. Anthony could not help but admire her strength.

Montrose’s glare then shifted to Anthony, lingering for a tense moment before he finally turned and disappeared into the crowd.

Lady Dallington clasped her hands together, forcing a smile on her face. “Well, that went better than expected. Now, everyone must put smiles on their faces. We must behave as if we are having the most delightful evening.”

Anthony wanted nothing more than to take Elodie far away from here since he didn’t know what Montrose had planned. But by doing so, he could jeopardize her reputation. And his. No. He had to pretend that all was well for Elodie’s sake.

“We need Elodie to dance another set,” Lady Dallington said, looking around the ballroom.

Anthony knew precisely what to do. In a loud voice, he called out, “I daresay that Lady Elodie could use a dance partner for the next set.”

His words had the desired effect. Within moments, a throng of eager gentlemen rushed towards Elodie, each vying for the chance to dance with the diamond. Lady Dallington stood next to her daughter, providing the introductions as needed.

Bennett’s eyes held approval. “Nicely done, Belview.”

But Anthony could barely hide his irritation as he watched the parade of suitors fawn over Elodie as if she were a prize to be won. She was so much more than that.

When Lord Westcott led Elodie to the dance floor, Anthony saw the fear in her eyes, despite her head being held high. She hated dancing, though she was not nearly as bad as she believed herself to be.

Bennett’s voice pulled him from his thoughts. “I need your help with Elodie,” he said, turning to face Anthony.

Now Bennett had his full attention. “What do you need?”

In a low voice, Bennett replied, “I am worried about Elodie, and I was hoping you would keep a watchful eye on her.”

“Why me?”

Bennett gave him a knowing look. “You and Elodie have struck up a rather unusual friendship—or dare I say—truce of some sort. Besides, I am the annoying brother and she tends to not listen to anything I say.”

Anthony’s eyes followed Elodie as she danced gracefully across the ballroom. “I do believe you are overstating her regard for me. I am fairly certain she merely tolerates my existence.”

“That is precisely why it is perfect,” Bennett said with a grin. “You are close enough to her without being an annoyance. And you can scare off any unworthy suitors.”

“You underestimate your sister. She is more than capable of handling herself.”

“Perhaps,” Bennett admitted. “But she trusts you, even if she does not realize it. And that is why I am asking you to watch over her. I do not want rakes or fortune hunters anywhere near her.”

The truth was that Anthony did not want any gentleman near Elodie. He wanted her for himself, though he would never admit that to Bennett. Or anyone else for that matter. Maybe this request from Bennett, asking him to watch over her, was the perfect excuse to stay close. And in time, perhaps he could convince Elodie that he was the right man for her.

Anthony met Bennett’s gaze, his decision made. “I will do it.”

“Wonderful,” Bennett replied, clapping him on the back. “I knew I could count on you.”

As Anthony watched Elodie complete the set with Lord Westcott, he felt an unexpected pang of jealousy. He needed to come up with a plan to slowly, but surely, woo Elodie. They were friendly now, but he knew all too well how quickly that could change. What would it take to make her fall madly, deeply in love with him?

Love .

The word rattled around in his mind, unsettling him. Where did that thought even come from? He could not possibly be in love with Elodie… could he? The more he thought about it, the more he realized that, somehow, he had already fallen halfway in love with her.

Botheration. This would not do at all.

The music died down and Anthony watched as Lord Westcott led Elodie off the dance floor. Once they reached Lady Dallington, Westcott took Elodie’s hand, lifted it to his lips, and kissed her gloved hand. Elodie smiled at Westcott in return, and it made Anthony’s jaw clench. What was even worse, Westcott seemed to linger, holding her gaze a moment longer than necessary before finally taking his leave.

It was going to be a long night, Anthony realized, as he watched gentlemen line up to speak to Elodie.