Page 14 of Crimes, Conspiracies, and Courtship (Paddy’s Peelers Mystery #1)

CHAPTER 13

First week of December

Almack’s

T he Pendletons had already invited them to dinner. Their aunt proved a marvelous hostess. She had arranged for parlor games which Lady Darby would never have dared to play. Mattie had been secretly happy when Mama had other plans that night. Spinning plates and blowing on feathers! It had been wonderful. To add to her happiness was her brother’s attention to Miss Pendleton. Nicholas had offered to escort her before she’d even asked.

Could a romance bloom between them? Her brother deserved to find love, and if that woman was also her friend, even better.

Tonight, they were attending a ball, given by a friend of her mother’s, who had graciously extended invitations to the Pendletons. Lady Darby was attending with them, explaining Almack’s often rented out rooms, especially out of Season, and the patronesses were often invited to the event. “So you will most likely meet one or two of the patronesses tonight.”

Mattie’s stomach began to knot. She had been able to avoid Almack’s at the end of last Season. Closing her eyes, she imagined herself standing next to Hannah—they were already using given names—and speaking with Mr. Walters. The image unraveled that nasty knot, and she drew in a deep breath. She wore one of her new dresses, a satin dress of umber with an overdress of Apollo gold lace. Thin gold ribbons were entwined in her hair, and a gold amulet hung from her ears and around her neck.

They entered the ground floor, and she rushed to Hannah’s side. “Oh, you look lovely.” Her friend wore a low-cut cream silk dress with a deep-violet flower print. A sheer cream overlay added a shimmer to her movements.

Hannah gave her a quick hug. “And so do you. I shall have to keep my distance, so you don’t take all the attention.”

“It’s a draw,” said Lady Roberta, then turned to Lady Darby. “It’s good to see you again.”

“Yes, the same,” her mother said coldly, then nodded toward the stairs. “Shall we?”

Mattie squeezed Hannah’s hand as they entered a large room, rectangular in shape, decorated with gilded columns. Ropes of red velvet designated an area for dancing. Chairs were placed along the outside of the room with mirrors covering the walls. Musicians warmed up on a balcony for the first dance set. During the Season, the dais was usually set up with chairs for the patronesses to watch the debutantes and invited guests.

One word from an Almack’s patroness could ruin a debutante’s hopes of a good match. These women also decided the dance partners for the young hopeful females on those Wednesday evenings. This was the place to mingle with the most eligible bachelors in Town. Lady Darby had already said there would be no problem getting invitations.

Now, it held the sponsor of the ball and their honored guest. Someone’s brother who had been stationed in India and now returned to London. Lady Darby had explained it was a “reintroduction to society” of sorts.

* * *

The room was already filled with men in dark, tailed coats, trousers or breeches, and silk stockings, and of course the obligatory white cravat. It was the women who added color to the room. Every fashionable shade, in solid or print, could be seen in their gowns. Gems glittered under the gas-lit chandeliers: the earbobs on the ladies, tiaras, hair combs skillfully tucked within the elaborate hairstyles, and at the throats and fingers of both men and women.

“I see why the magazines call this the seventh heaven of the fashionable world,” said Hannah, trying not to gape at the beau monde turned out for the ball.

Lady Darby took the lead, her silk gown of bottle green with an overdress of sheer black flowing behind her. “I feel like a newborn foal trailing after its mother,” Hannah whispered as they moved in and out of the crowd, following the trembling feather on Lady Darby’s green turban. She and Mattie walked arm in arm as Lady Roberta brought up the rear. Both men had disappeared.

Mattie watched as her mother stopped before a striking woman with dark hair, pink cheeks, and a rosebud mouth. “My dear Lady Cowper, I hoped you would be here tonight.” Her mother sent a smug look toward Hannah’s aunt. Nicholas had confided their mother thought the woman was less than refined. But did she have to be so rude?

“Ah, Lady Darby, so this is your lovely daughter.” Lady Cowper’s shrewd blue eyes took in the small group. “I’m happy to welcome you, Lady Matilda.”

“It’s an honor, ma’am,” Mattie said with a slight curtsy. “May I introduce?—”

“Lady Roberta, is that you?” Lady Cowper beamed, her arms outstretched. “Where have you been hiding?”

Mattie’s mother looked as though she might have an apoplexy, realizing the patroness was on such good terms with Hannah’s aunt.

"You will have to tell me of your latest adventures, so I can relay all the information back to William,” the patroness gushed, taking Lady Roberta’s arm and giving it a squeeze. “And may I say the Devonshire brown really sets off your hair. I’m so glad you are not hiding those dark waves under a turban.”

Lady Darby blanched, touching her own turban as Lady Cowper moved on. For the first time she could remember, Mattie felt sorry for her mother. Though the exchange had been a tit for tat, and her mother had deserved the subtle cut.

“What luck! The four most beautiful ladies in the room all in one spot. My search is over,” Nicholas said as he joined them.

Mattie’s confidence swelled as the evening progressed. Speaking with a group of people seemed natural with Hannah by her side. Lord Pendleton danced the first quadrille with her. Her second dance was with a gentleman Hannah had previously partnered with. Lord Smalley was a young baron, tall and lanky with a long face that Hannah said reminded her of a chestnut horse. When he smiled, his teeth were almost as large. But Mattie thought he had kind brown eyes, enjoying his sense of humor when he made fun of himself after stepping on her foot.

She and Hannah took a break from the dance floor, sipping lemonade and watching the crowd. Lady Roberta was talking to some friends, and her mother had gone to the necessary. She turned to see a dark-haired man on the other side of Hannah. He leaned in to say something in her friend’s ear.

Hannah gave the man a side-glance and shook her head. “I’m afraid not. So we’ll have to wait until formally introduced.”

At that moment, Lord Smalley joined them. The dark stranger seemed to know him and introductions were soon made. When Mattie heard the name Duke of Colvin, the breath went out of her, and she grabbed Hannah’s hand. She stared at the man who had caused the death of a young woman and so much grief for her brother.

He was handsome, in a cold way, but his raven eyes were cold, emotionless.

“My apologies, Lady Matilda,” he said with a formal bow. “I did not realize who you were, or I would never have put you in such an awkward position.” He turned back to Hannah. “It seems the son will always be punished for the sins of the father.”

“I’m sorry to hear that Your Grace,” Hannah murmured as she tucked Mattie’s arm in hers. “If you’ll excuse us?—”

“He should be excusing himself,” Darby interrupted. Mattie knew that tone, and fear twisted in her gut. “What the bloody devil do you think you’re doing?” he hissed at the duke.

“As I told the lovely Miss Pendleton, I did not realize they were in your company. However, I do not think you have the authority to restrict where I go or who I converse with. Beware of your tone and remember who I am, Lord Darby.” His black eyes glittered and a humorless smile curved his lips.

Her brother’s jaw clenched, and Mattie knew he was thinking of the duke’s past sins. As if they’d been summoned, Lady Roberta and her mother appeared together, and the duke slipped into the crowd.

Much to her surprise, her brother did not demand they leave the premises. The baron found her later to apologize.

“I had no idea there was tension between the duke and your brother. I would never have taken it upon myself to introduce him. Please tell me that I am forgiven.” His brown eyes pleaded with her, his body rigid as he awaited her answer.

She placed a hand on his arm to stop the movement and gave him a smile. “There is nothing to forgive, Lord Smalley. You have only acted the gentleman.”

“Would it be too bold to ask if I may call on you?” His gaze landed on her eyes, then her mouth, then quickly darted to the floor, ceiling, and back to the floor.

Her heart went out to the man. He was nervous, and she understood the emotion. Mattie also liked him. Lord Smalley was not afraid to put his toe in the water, even if it was icy cold. In fact, his lack of good looks didn’t put her off. She liked him more for it. Most handsome men were vain. If she were to spend her life with someone, Mattie wanted it to be a man she enjoyed being with, who would challenge her mind, laugh and debate with her. Harry’s image flashed in her brain, and she pushed it back.

Mattie knew the only way to find out if he was such a person was to get to know him better. “Our at-home is on Thursday if you’d care to visit,” she said in a tone she hoped sounded sincere. So she added, “I’m dreadfully thirsty. Would you mind getting me some refreshment?”

True joy lit his face, and Mattie was glad she had put forth the extra effort. After a promenade with the very chatty Lord Smalley, whose nervousness had now vanished, she danced twice more. Before dinner, Nicholas informed her they would be leaving.

“Of course,” she agreed, “whatever you think is best.”

She sought out Hannah to let her know they would not be staying for dinner.

“We are not staying either,” Hannah told her. “Aunt Bertie has a dreadful headache, and in truth, I’m quite tired myself.”

“Are we still going to Hatchards tomorrow?” Mattie asked her friend.

“Of course. I’ll send a note to let you know what time we’ll pick you up. Aunt Bertie has some other shopping to do. It should be a splendid afternoon, which could possibly end at Gunter’s.” Hannah hugged Mattie. “We’ll talk more tomorrow about that man .”

But when Mattie lay in her bed that night, the man who dominated her thoughts was not a baron or a duke. He was an investigator. And she fell asleep, dreaming of a waltz with Mr. Harry Walters.

* * *

Walters waited at The Guinea for Lord Darby. He had sent word this morning that he had new information. The earl had taken his advice and dressed as a working man whenever they met here. It was a tavern with a decent reputation where men came after a hard day’s toil to have a bumper of ale and conversation, talk of high prices and low wages, who was getting married or having another babe, and enjoy a mutual camaraderie with others of their station.

He saw Darby enter in his brown wool coat and cap, looking like anything but a peer. His blond hair was mussed, sticking out from beneath the cap, and his jaw held a light layer of stubble. The earl had listened and followed Walters’s advice.

He sat down and drank half the bumper that Walters had set in front of him. “He knows we’re following him,” Darby said straightaway. “He was at a ball I attended with my sister. He gained an introduction to them when he thought I wasn’t looking.”

Walters blinked. Colvin had been close to Lady Matilda? Rage poured through him, and it took all his willpower to keep his face bland. “Is your sister all right?” he asked in an even tone. He would skewer the duke, then place his head on a spike on Tower Bridge if Colvin had touched her.

Darby nodded. “Yes, but I think it shook her a bit. I’m not sure if he’s watching her or Miss Pendleton—her brother is a close friend—and Colvin saw me dancing with her.” The earl took in a deep breath. “He said Mattie wasn’t his type, but Miss Pendleton was.”

Walters let out a low whistle. “The Home Office is watching him too. Better he thinks it’s us than the Crown. He won’t hide from us. Let me tell you what I’ve learned.”

Darby listened intently while Walters relayed the past week. The earl even smiled when Walters promised they were closing in on the duke. “He’ll pay, my lord. Perhaps even more than you wanted.”

“No punishment is too harsh for that man. He caught up with me while I was waiting for my carriage. Wondered if I had found out about sweet Alice .” Darby pounded the table with his fist, causing a few patrons to turn and look. “ To the victor goes the spoils , he said. As if this is just a game to him.”

“I should have information on the flash house he is to visit. I wasn’t planning on having you come along, but under the circumstances?—”

“Yes,” Darby cut in. “Send me word, and I’ll be there.”

Later that night, Walters walked off his frustrations. He wanted to go to Lady Matilda, Mattie as he’d begun to think of her. Was she fine, or keeping a brave face and petrified? If only he could hold her, look into those eyes the color of a summer sky, and hear her voice. Their kiss still haunted him.

When he finally stopped walking, he found himself in front of the Darby mews, looking up at the back of the dark townhouse. He hadn’t set out with this destination in mind, but his thoughts had obviously brought him here.

What would Lord Darby do if Walters pounded on the door, demanding to see his sister? Grab a pistol and challenge him to a duel, most likely. He liked the earl, respected him, but Walters knew the boundaries and where the line was drawn.