Page 24

~May 15~

E llen took one last look at the dining table, making sure everything was in readiness. She found Aunt Amelia upstairs in the drawing room, kicking back a glass of port.

“Ah, there you are. I didn’t think you’d be late to your own party.” The older woman laughed.

Ellen smiled. “No. I was just checking on everything.”

“Nervous?” Aunt Amelia cocked her head curiously.

“Yes, actually. This is the first dinner party I’ve ever hosted.”

Amelia waved a hand through the air. “Don’t worry. It’ll be fine. It’s just friends, and not even very many at that. Since it’s your first, it was wise to keep it small. I remember the first dinner party I hosted, I had seventy… no, seventy-six people!” She cracked out a laugh.

“Oh, my goodness!” Ellen was about to ask about it further, but there was a knock on the door and the footman came in to announce Lord Pennyston.

“My lord, welcome,” Ellen said, coming forward to greet him.

“I’m afraid I am very gauche,” he admitted with a little half smile after bowing to her. “I am early.”

“I’m very glad you are,” Ellen admitted.

“Would you believe? This one is nervous,” Amelia told him.

He turned to look at her curiously. “I thought I was the one who was supposed to be unsure of myself.”

Ellen laughed. “This is the first party I’ve ever hosted.”

“Really? Well, I’m sure you’ll do fine,” he told her.

“And I’m off,” Aunt Amelia said, interrupting the conversation.

“Are you not staying for dinner?” Lord Pennyston asked, surprised.

“No, I’m afraid I have plans of my own.” She gave him a wink and strode out the door.

“She is an unusual lady,” he said, watching her go.

“You say that, and you don’t even live with her.” Ellen laughed.

His lordship dutifully chuckled, but it seemed as if he had something else on his mind.

“What is it?” she asked.

He looked startled for a moment, but then his expression softened as he gave a little shake of his head. “I’m afraid I was wondering if your husband was going to join us.”

“Oh!” No wonder he looked uncomfortable. Even just the mention of Richard had her stomach cramping a little as well. “No. He has informed me that he wants to do no socializing whatsoever. I believe he’s making an early night of it. He’ll be leaving first thing in the morning for Seaford where he’ll visit with his mother for the next few weeks.”

Lord Pennyston nodded. His brow smoothed out, and he looked quite relieved.

The footman came in once again, this time to announce Lord and Lady Colburne.

Ellen came forward and greeted them properly. “Thank you so much for coming.”

Diana smiled past her as she watched her husband shake hands with Lord Pennyston. “Colburne has actually been looking forward to this evening, which I can tell you is very unusual for him.”

“Really?” Ellen asked, also watching the men who had immediately fallen into conversation.

“Yes. He told me they went to school together and had only seen each other a few times since he discovered Lord Pennyston here in London. He’s been looking forward to catching up some more.”

The footman came in once again to announce Lord and Lady Welles.

Ellen glanced toward Lord Pennyston and immediately saw him stiffen ever so slightly. Here were the first people he hadn’t already met.

“Lydia, my lord, so good to see you,” Ellen greeted them. “May I present Lord Pennyston?” She completed the introduction, watching the reactions of Lydia and her husband rather closely.

Lydia’s eyes had widened ever so slightly at the sight of his lordship’s scar, but she recovered herself immediately and behaved perfectly, as Ellen had expected. Lord Welles didn’t even bat an eyelash. She suspected he met all sorts of people in the rookeries where he did a lot of charity work.

“Gentlemen, can I offer you a drink?” Ellen asked the three men.

“Ah, yes, thank you,” Lord Pennyston was the first to answer.

Ellen gave the footman standing by the sideboard a nod. He came forward to take orders and pour out the liquor for the men and ratafia for the ladies.

“The Duke and Duchess of Warwick,” the footman intoned from the door.

Ellen immediately went to greet her friends, the last guests to arrive for the evening.

Tina gave her a little hug after Ellen rose from her curtsy. “That announcement sounds so much more impressive than it actually is, doesn’t it? Especially when all we’ve done is arrive for a casual dinner with friends.”

Ellen could only laugh. “Even after two years, you still aren’t used to being a duchess?”

“Honestly, I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it,” Tina said.

“It’s just not in her nature,” the duke agreed. “Thank goodness we don’t go to many formal events.”

“My goodness, I don’t think I’d be able to manage if we, say, went to court.” Tina’s eyes grew wide and slightly scared.

Her husband chucked a finger under her chin and said lovingly, “Yes, you would. You would be terrified, but you’d manage.” He caught sight of the other gentlemen and went off to join them.

“No, I don’t think I would,” Tina whispered so only Ellen could hear her.

Ellen laughed. “Well, as you said, this is a casual dinner among friends.” She noticed that Lord Pennyston was laughing with the duke and the other gentlemen as if this was just another of many parties he’d gone to.

“They do look happy, don’t they?” Tina asked, following Ellen’s gaze.

“They do. It’s odd, but it looks like the duke is known to Lord Pennyston,” she couldn’t help commenting aloud.

“They went to school together with Colburne,” the duchess said with a nod.

“Did they? I didn’t even know!” Well, that answered that. “ Humph ! And here I’d thought I’d impress His Lordship with my esteemed connections.”

Tina just laughed and joined the other ladies while Ellen went up to the gentlemen.

“Warwick, I understand we’re to be business partners,” Lord Pennyston was saying.

“Oh?” His Grace looked to his friend.

“I recently agreed to back Archer Fitzwalter in his export project,” His Lordship said.

“Oh!” The duke’s gaze dropped a bit. “Actually, I decided not to back him at this time. I’m afraid I’ve pulled out.”

“Really? Can you tell me why? Is there something I should be aware of?” Lord Pennyston was looking a little concerned, Ellen was not surprised to see.

“No! It’s nothing like that. It’s, er, well, I’m going to be needing the funds for my estate, that’s all.” Warwick gave Lord Pennyston a reassuring pat on the back. “I’m glad you’re backing him. It’s a good project.”

“Your Grace, can I offer you a drink?” Ellen asked, interrupting.

“Oh, yes, thank you. I’d like that.” The duke gave her a warm smile.

She went over to the sideboard herself to pour it and found Lord Pennyston at her side. She smiled up at him as he took the bottle from her hands and poured a glass for the duke and then refilled his own.

“Well, this evening seems like it’s going to be a lot easier than you thought,” she commented quietly.

“Yes, indeed. Lord and Lady Welles are the only people here I don’t know, and they are both so nice I felt as if I’d known them for ages after only ten minutes.” His smile warmed her to her toes.

She just shook her head. “Next time we won’t make it so easy on you.” With her parting shot, she took His Grace his drink as Lord Pennyston laughed softly behind her.

~*~

Christopher couldn’t have been happier than to have a pleasant evening among friends. He hadn’t had a night like this in ages and, honestly, hadn’t expected to have one ever again. He’d thought he would live a quiet life here in London, hiding in his home, tending to his wounds. Only a sweet, beautiful angel could have coaxed him out of his darkness. Only dear, sweet— married —Ellen Moreton.

The married bit grated against his nerves like a freshly sharpened knife. That was the only thing keeping this from being the most perfect evening.

“Where is Lord Moreton?” Lady Welles asked Lady Moreton quietly at the dinner table soon after they’d sat down.

“He’s made an early night of it. He’s off in the morning to visit his mother for the next few weeks,” she answered in a normal tone of voice as she made eye contact with Christopher. He almost felt as if she were telling him and him alone. He felt bad for being so relieved by the man’s absence.

He gave her a slight nod.

“How does it feel having him back?” Lord Welles asked.

She gave him a polite smile. “It’s unexpected.”

The women laughed. “I can’t imagine what it must have been like when you found out he was still alive.” Lady Colburne shook her head in wonder.

“It was a shock,” Ellen admitted.

“Hopefully his mother will take it as well as you did,” Lady Welles said. It was a kind thing to say.

Lady Moreton smiled. “I can’t imagine she will. All I can say is I’m glad I won’t be there to see it. Knowing Lady Seaford, she probably took to her bed the moment she received Moreton’s letter and won’t arise until well after he’s gone.”

The younger lady smiled and shook her head. “I’m afraid I don’t know the lady at all, but I imagine you do.”

“Well, I nursed her throughout my teens,” Lady Moreton admitted.

“Speaking of nursing, when are we going to meet to plan the building party?” Lady Colburne asked the table at large.

“What building party?” Warwick asked.

“We’re hosting a party to raise funds to buy the hospital where Lady Moreton volunteers. Apparently, it’s being sold,” Lady Colburne explained.

“We don’t know who the owner or the buyer are, but we must see that the building stays in the hands of the hospital. It has nowhere else to go, and we couldn’t displace so many injured soldiers,” Lady Moreton added.

“Can you not find out who the owner is?” Lord Welles asked.

“I tried asking the solicitor in charge of the sale, but he refuses to divulge the information. He said it would be an invasion of privacy.” Lady Moreton’s voice conveyed her frustration.

“There must be records somewhere,” the duke commented. “They’ll at least tell you who owns the building. And did you say it was being bought by someone?”

“Yes. Apparently, an offer has been made, but the solicitor wouldn’t say whether it had been accepted yet. We are hoping to be able to have this party and raise the funds needed to buy it out from whoever has already made an offer.”

“Well, I can’t imagine he’ll be happy with that,” Lord Welles said with a slight frown.

“We can’t be bothered with a gentleman’s sensibilities,” Lady Welles said. “There are the lives and rehabilitation of soldiers at risk here.”

The man looked duly corrected, but Christopher had an odd feeling in the pit of his stomach. He wished he knew more about the building for which he’d just received an offer. Perhaps he would ask his solicitor about it. Yes, he would definitely do that as soon as possible.

“Lord Pennyston, you are looking inordinately upset over this,” Lady Moreton commented, looking at him with concern. “Have no fear, I am determined to save the hospital at all costs.”

“Oh, no! I am absolutely certain you will,” Christopher said quickly. “It’s just, well, I feel for the fellow who is selling the building. Perhaps he, he needs the money for another reason. I happen to be in the middle of a similar situation in order to invest in Mr. Fitzwalter’s new business. Perhaps the person who owns the building is in desperate straits and needs the money he’ll receive from the sale. That’s… that’s all that I was thinking.”

“We weren’t proposing stopping the sale, my lord,” Lady Welles pointed out. “We’re hoping to raise the funds to buy the building in order to keep it a hospital.”

“Although, if the owner could find another way to get the money he needs, it would be preferable. Raising that much money won’t be easy,” Lady Moreton said.

“No. No it won’t,” Lady Welles agreed.

“Shall the ladies retire to the drawing room?” Lady Moreton suggested. “Lord Pennyston, would you mind playing the host and bringing the gentlemen to join us after you’ve enjoyed your port?”

Warmth quickly made its way through Chris’s veins at her suggestion. How was it that this woman could make him so happy just moments after he’d been suffused with worry?