Page 31 of Bad Luck Bride (Scandal at the Savoy #3)

T he night of Josephine’s ball, Kay’s trust in her younger sister’s taste proved amply rewarded, for the flowers and decorations were exquisite.

And though Magdelene fretted that the vivid jade color of Jo’s gown was “too forward” for a debutante, Kay’s heart swelled with pride at how beautiful her sister looked tonight.

A week ago, Devlin had asked her if marrying a man she did not love was worth the sacrifice. As Kay looked around the crowded ballroom that boded so well for her sister to have a successful season, she almost wished Devlin were here so he could see for himself how obvious the answer was.

Jo, Kay thought, watching with delight as the Duke of Westbourne led the girl across the floor in the ball’s opening dance, would never be a wallflower shredded by gossip columnists for her figure or her complexion.

Jo would not suffer for the mistakes of her parents or elder sister.

Jo would now be able to make a good marriage.

And for all of that, she could thank Wilson.

Delia, of course, had been a godsend, working all week to help bring Josephine out, and the duke’s appearance here tonight would help as well, but if it weren’t for Wilson, there would not have been a season for Jo, nor any dowry to ensure her future.

So, yes, it was all worth it, Kay thought fiercely. Jo was worth any sacrifice she had to make.

“Darling!”

Kay turned to find Delia coming toward her in a luscious concoction of tangerine silk, hands outstretched in greeting. “Fashionably late, I see,” she teased, giving Delia a kiss on each cheek.

“Of course! You know I hate arriving anywhere on time.”

“I thought Calderon might be rubbing off on you. You said he’s a stickler for punctuality.”

“So he is, but alas for him, that character trait of his is not one I’m inclined to adopt.” She cast a glance over Kay’s amethyst purple ball gown. “What a lovely dress you’ve got on. Speaking of dresses, Jo looks absolutely stunning.”

“Just what I was thinking myself.”

“The young men have certainly noticed,” Delia added, nodding to the eager male faces watching the girl as she danced with the Duke of Westbourne.

“Some of the credit goes to you, Dee. And to the duke, of course,” she added, nodding to the ballroom floor as the waltz ended and Westbourne escorted Jo back to Magdelene’s side.

“I am so thankful he was able to come down from Gloucestershire to attend the ball and lead her in the first dance. With the duchess expecting her baby in just a few weeks, I wasn’t sure he’d be able to come. ”

“It’s only for the night. He’s going back tomorrow.”

“Still, I do appreciate it so much.”

“Don’t give Max all the credit! Evie told him if he didn’t come down and partner Jo for the first dance, she’d make him sleep in the dressing room for a year.”

“A fate worse than death,” Kay said, laughing.

“To a man in love, it is, darling!” Delia paused, rising on her toes to have a better look at the crowd. “And look at all the other fashionables who are here. It bodes well for your wedding. And I’m glad you didn’t have to miss it.”

“Miss it? Are you daft? I wouldn’t miss Jo’s debutante ball for anything in the world.”

“You missed Simon’s soiree a week ago.”

Kay made a face. “Oh, that.”

“I’m relieved to see you’re feeling better now.” Delia turned to look at her. “No fever, I take it? No chills?”

The twinkle in Delia’s eye told Kay that her friend was not unaware of Magdelene’s tendency to exaggerate. “Nothing like that. It was… just a headache.”

“Was it?” Delia grinned, giving her a knowing look. “I thought you might have been attempting to avoid a certain person we both know.”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake,” she grumbled, remembering Devlin’s accusations. “Why would I care? I’m not a timid little rabbit, you know,” she added with some heat, “bolting away at the sight of him.”

“No need to be spiky! I was only teasing.”

Deciding it was best to change the subject, she glanced again at her sister, who was now talking nineteen to the dozen with a slim blond girl of about the same age. “Jo seems to have found a friend in your future sister-in-law.”

“Indeed. They took an immediate liking to each other when they met at the soiree last week, and Cassandra tells me they intend to brave the season together. They remind me of us.”

“They do, rather,” Kay agreed, smiling. “Without you, I’m not sure I could have endured my first season.”

Delia’s sideways glance was tinged with understanding. “I remember, darling.”

“As for Jo and Cassandra, they’ve been joined at the hip all week, and I’m so glad. Jo hasn’t had much opportunity to make friends since leaving school.”

“No worries about that anymore, from what I can see. All our efforts on her behalf are paying off. I wish we could have roped in my cousin Idina to help more, but she’s not doing the season, and even if she were, she has Rothmere’s wishes to consider—”

“Say no more,” Kay cut in, well aware that if anyone understood the need for a woman to placate the men in her life, it was she. “Idina has done what she can. It’s not her fault her husband disapproves of me.”

“We don’t call him Percy Proper for nothing.”

Kay laughed at the nickname Delia had bestowed on her cousin’s husband years ago. “He is rather a snob, isn’t he? But I’m so glad Idina is coming to my wedding anyway.”

“Of course she’s coming, and so are my other cousins, Nan, Audrey, and Pen. We’re all coming to support you. Which reminds me… you’re coming to my house party, I hope?”

“House party?” Kay echoed in surprise.

“Oh, that’s right! I haven’t had the chance to tell you. I’m having a house party to replace Max’s usual Whitsuntide affair. You know he always does a big house party at Idyll Hour every Whitsun?”

Kay nodded. “It makes a nice respite from the frantic pace of the season, I’ve always thought.”

“I’m glad you feel that way, because you’re coming this year.”

“But isn’t it a family affair?”

“Mostly, but we always have a few of the county families and sometimes one or two close friends of the family, too.”

“I’m flattered the duke puts me in that category, but I wouldn’t have thought the duchess would want a big house party at this stage.”

“She doesn’t, believe me. That’s why they aren’t doing the house party this year. I am.”

Kay felt compelled to point out the obvious. “But, Delia,” she said, laughing, “you don’t have a house.”

Delia’s dark blue eyes opened wide. “When have you ever known pesky little details like that to stop me?” she countered.

“Never,” Kay admitted.

“Just so. I’m making the arrangements, but Simon will be officially hosting the party. It will be at Ivywild, his estate in Berkshire, which will be far easier to manage, since it’s so close to London.”

“He’s willing to do that, even though he hasn’t married into the family yet?”

“Willing? Are you joking? Simon jumped on the idea at once, saying it’s a perfect way to entertain the investors as well, which means Wilson will be invited.

Devlin will be there, too, of course,” she added airily, “but that shouldn’t matter to you, since you aren’t some timid little rabbit who runs away. ”

Kay gave her friend a wry smile. “You really are a devil, Delia, when you want to be.”

“Yes, so Simon tells me daily.”

“And you don’t care?”

Delia grinned. “Not a jot.”

Kay felt a sudden, wistful pang. “I envy you,” she murmured. “I care terribly what people think.”

“It’s different for me. I’m a rich widow. I have the luxury of not caring. But about the party, the date is set for the fifteenth. Audrey, Nan, and Pen will be there. Sadly, Idina can’t come, for she’s going to Scotland with Rothmere for a wedding. One of his cousins or something.”

Kay made a rueful face. “Just as well, I suppose. I wouldn’t want to make things awkward for the house party or cause any friction between Idina and Rothmere.”

“Nonsense. I told Idina I was inviting you, and she wrote back heartily approving the idea. And,” she added before Kay could recover from her surprise, “she’s told her husband she wants to see more of you, and that he didn’t have any say in the matter.

He gave in with hardly a grumble. When a woman really puts her foot down, a man has to give in. ”

Kay thought of Wilson’s hard face and was doubtful, but she didn’t say so.

“So, you will come, won’t you?”

“I’d like to,” Kay replied. “I truly would. But…”

She paused, Devlin’s words from the other night echoing through her mind.

So do you really want to spend the future repeating the past? Do you really want to live your life letting a second man dictate to you where you’ll go and what you’ll do?

Of course she didn’t want that, but she also knew that things weren’t as clear-cut as Devlin made them out to be. “But,” she said at last, hedging, “I’m not sure I ought to attend. Between Jo’s debut and the wedding plans, I’m just so busy right now.”

It was true, and yet it also sounded terribly lame.

Do you really want to marry a man who will decide for you what friends you’ll have and what parties you’ll go to?

As Devlin’s questions echoed through her mind, Kay’s gaze slid to Josephine, who was now dancing with Lord Synby’s handsome eldest son. “I really don’t know how I’ll get everything done before June as it is.”

“I know it’s only a few weeks before your wedding,” Delia replied, “but surely you can spare one teensy little weekend away? I shall invite Josephine as well, of course, so do it for her, if not for yourself. She and Cassandra will have no end of fun, and Cassie can introduce her to some of the young people of the county. And don’t worry about the wedding.

I’ll help you get everything arranged in time. ”

“It’s not only that.”

“Then what is it?”

Kay hesitated, knowing discretion was her wisest course, but the urge to confide in her friend was too great to resist. “I don’t think,” she said, the words like sawdust in her mouth, “Wilson would like it if I attended the party.”