Page 19 of Her Honorable Viscount (Noble Pursuits #3)

CHAPTER 19

E dward stayed true to his word.

Every day, he either called upon Dot or wrote her a note.

She was certainly on his mind.

Kissing her had been both the best decision and the worst mistake of his life. Because now he couldn’t stop thinking about doing it again.

He loved seeing her, but he was tempted again every time he did. If he hadn’t known that it would cause her upset, he would have tried to wait until the wedding day to be in her company again.

The day when his greatest dreams, ones he hadn’t even known he had harbored, would make themselves into reality.

He did his best to visit her whenever possible, but they were always in a crowd, usually one composed of her sisters. She visited his house once or twice to see to Adelaide, but even those conversations were hardly ever held alone.

At his home, Michael and Adelaide were becoming something of an issue. Adelaide was, as Michael put it, distraught. Edward wouldn’t know firsthand, for he had only seen her a handful of times, as the woman barely came out of her room.

“I don’t know what I’m supposed to do, Edward,” Michael said one day as he paced his study. “She hates me. The baby will be here in a few short months, and we are not married. We are living in your house. Any suggestions on what I’m supposed to do would be more than welcome right about now.”

“You want me to solve this for you.”

“Yes!” Michael exclaimed, his hair standing on end from running his hands through it.

Edward sighed, trying to think about what Dot would do in this situation. When he had asked her, she had suggested that he do anything he could to make Adelaide feel welcome in their world.

“How about this, Michael,” he said, regretting the suggestion even as it was coming out of his mouth, but it was too late to turn back now. “I am taking Lady Dot and her family to the theatre tonight. Why do you not bring Adelaide?”

“To the theatre?”

“Yes.”

“In our family’s box?”

“Yes.”

“With your betrothed and her family?”

“Michael—”

“Yes. All right. I appreciate the invitation. I am surprised that you would ask her to accompany us. It is not exactly… proper.”

“Well, Michael,” he said, standing, “perhaps I am changing my views.”

“Perhaps you are,” Michael said with a twinkle in his eye as he strode from the room with a new bounce in his step at the invitation to leave the house with Adelaide.

Perhaps this was what Adelaide might need to convince her that she would be accepted into their family. She must realize that with Dot joining them, she would surely be welcome.

Dot made everyone feel welcome. It was one of the things he enjoyed most about her.

He had a feeling that tonight would be a night to remember.

He just wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not.

“I haven’t been to the theatre in ages!” Henrietta exclaimed as they took their seats in Edward’s box. Henrietta sat on one side of Dot, Edward on the other. Henrietta was right. It had been a while now. Fitz was not a theatre patron, so they did not own their own box and had not been invited lately, what with there being so many unattached daughters in the family.

Dot settled back into the velvet-upholstered chair in Edward’s luxurious box. She hadn’t realized that he enjoyed the theatre, but then, she didn’t know very much about his interests outside of his politics.

“How often do you come to the theatre?” she asked as she turned to him, her gloved fingers light upon the polished wooden railing before her.

“Whenever a new play is on stage,” he said, his eyes lighting up in a way she had only seen before when they touched upon her. “My father only came because it was expected, but we have always attended.”

“Of course,” she murmured, understanding more and more the role his parents had played in his life and how they had shaped him into the man he was today, one who hid his emotions so well.

Dot also loved attending the theatre, although likely not for the same reasons as Edward. His eager anticipation told her that he loved the plays themselves. From their elevated position, they had an unobstructed view of the stage, a sight to behold. Its proscenium arch, adorned with gilded flourishes and painted cherubs, seemed to dance in the flickering light of the chandeliers above them.

The countless candles bathed the theatre in a soft golden hue, leaving the farthest corners in shadow, where the cheaper seats of the pit were filled with a boisterous crowd. She could hear their laughter, cheers, and the occasional sharp whistle, creating a lively hum of anticipation.

That was her favorite part of the theatre. It was where people from all walks of life came to celebrate their excitement for entertainment, whether they could afford to sit in a box or stand in the pit in the middle.

The pit was a sea of restless movement, where men and women jostled for space, their enthusiasm unchecked by the rigid decorum of the upper tiers. Farther back, in the dimly lit gallery, Dot imagined the rows of poorer patrons leaning forward to catch a glimpse of the drama.

She glanced to her left at the rows of boxes circling the auditorium like gilded wedding cake tiers. Each box framed its occupants, the ladies in shimmering silks and extravagant plumes, the gentlemen in dark evening coats and snow-white cravats. Dot knew why most of them were here – to see and be seen and share the latest gossip about both those on stage and in the boxes around them.

Dot could make out the curtain’s rustling and the players’ faint murmurs behind it as they prepared for the first act. The set was a marvel, a dazzling reflection of her own world, with gilded mirrors, richly embroidered draperies, and stately furniture, amusing in its extravagance.

As the house lights dimmed and the orchestra’s first notes filled the air, Dot allowed herself a moment of indulgence. She was perfectly placed, ensconced in comfort and privilege, to enjoy the unfolding spectacle both on the stage and in the audience.

And beside her was the man she would soon be attached to for the rest of her life.

Just as she was relaxing into the comfort and excitement around her, her gaze wound around the boxes again, coming to a stop suddenly on one figure that she would prefer never to see again for the rest of her life, let alone tonight.

Lady Carroway. And her gaze was on Dot.

“Edward,” she murmured from the corner of her mouth. “Do Lord and Lady Carroway often frequent the theatre?”

“They do,” he confirmed, patting her leg, his hand resting moments longer than needed on her thigh. She wished he would leave it there for the entire night. “Nothing to worry about. We will keep our distance. I will make certain they do not speak to you.”

She met his gaze, taking comfort in the surety offered by his gray eyes, which turned warm every time he looked at her.

She appreciated his protectiveness, his willingness to be the one to tackle every situation.

But it wasn’t what she needed.

“Actually, Edward,” she said slowly, “if they do try to speak to me, can we respond to them together?”

“All right,” he said cautiously. “We can do that.”

“Good,” she said, exhaling. “Thank you.”

He leaned in, and she waited for his next comment, but a symphony of sound began from the stage, and they turned together to settle in and watch the play.

The first act enthralled Dot. It was The School for Scandal , a witty satire on high society, and one that she appreciated for every nuance that she recognized as part of her regular life.

When the curtain went down at the end of the first act, she turned to Edward with a smile that slowly faded when she noted the frown covering his face as his eyes went beyond her to the boxes surrounding them.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“Nothing,” he murmured.

“Do not lie to me, Edward, please.”

“Very well. It is only that it seems a disproportionate number of eyes are upon us.”

She followed his gaze to see the truth of his statement, biting her lip as her heart sank.

“Why do you suppose that is?” she whispered, even though she had a feeling that she already knew.

“It could be because Adelaide has accompanied us,” he said. “Which is most vexing. This is my box. I can invite whoever I would like.”

“That’s the spirit,” she said until she caught the smirk on Lady Carroway’s face, one that was directed at her. It was then Dot knew that it was not Adelaide at all who was the cause of the whispers but that perhaps, somehow, this had something to do with Lady Carroway and a secret she might no longer be keeping.

“Shall we walk around during the intermission?” Dot’s mother asked, already standing as though it was a foregone conclusion.

Normally, Dot would enthusiastically agree, but tonight, she was suddenly wondering whether or not it would, in fact, be an advisable idea.

“Perhaps Edward and I will stay here,” she said, but he was shaking his head, his jaw clenched.

“We should go,” he said before murmuring in her ear. “If there is an issue, I would prefer your mother not hear of it without us there.”

She nodded. He was right. Why did that always seem to be the case?

“Very well,” she said, taking his arm as they followed her mother, Henrietta, and Sloane out of the box. “Adelaide, would you like to come with us?” she asked as Adelaide and Michael remained seated. The woman’s face was strained, and Dot suddenly felt like Edward, for she wished that she could fix all that was troubling the soon-to-be mother.

“I think I should stay here,” Adelaide murmured, looking down at her hands, her countenance so different from the confident, self-assured woman who Dot had met at Magda’s.

“Very well, but if you change your mind, be sure to come find us,” Dot said, and Adelaide gifted her with a small smile in return.

As soon as they entered the grand foyer, Dot instantly knew her name was on everyone’s lips. Even if she hadn’t heard it spoken when they passed groups of people – which she did – it was all of the eyes upon her that told the story. On her – and Edward.

They had just accepted glasses of champagne when she heard it.

“They say she is a midwife. Could you ever believe such a thing?”

Lady Carroway had told her secret.

Dot looked over at Edward, horror striking her. Had he heard it too?

And what would he do when he realized that everyone knew her secret, one that could only cause scandal?

It was nearly too troubling to think about.

She held her breath and waited.