Page 22

Chapter

Twenty-Two

T he dinner at Lord and Lady Austen’s was a lively affair with over twenty people in attendance, mostly married couples, some of whom had their daughters debuting the same year as Angelica.

Unfortunately, she wasn't seated beside Lord Benedict, who happened to be seated across from her instead and beside the pretty Miss Langley, a young woman of eighteen whom Angelica had never met before.

"You're for the church, I understand, Lord Benedict. How wonderful and honorable a field of work that shall be for you. I'm quite jealous." A light blush stole over Lord Benedict’s cheeks, and Angelica couldn't help but feel a little guilty at his unease.

She supposed after what they'd been doing of late he wasn't very honorable after all in his profession, not that Miss Langley would ever know the truth of their time together.

The ton would know soon enough when he asked her for her hand in marriage.

"Thank you, Miss Langley. It is a big undertaking and requires much thought."

The young woman studied him and frowned. "I should hope that thought does not mean that you're thinking of leaving the church. I must admit, I attended one of your sermons this week and was quite moved. You suit the position well."

Miss Austen’s frosty glance across the table at Angelica made her stomach knot. Had Miss Austen been at the church the same day she visited? She did not dare speak up and ask which sermon she attended. Surely she had not seen Benedict pull her toward his office…

Angelica picked up her wine and took a hardy sip, grateful when Lord Hedding at her side engaged her in conversation. "How are you finding the Season, Lady Angelica? I hope you'll be attending the Groose ball tomorrow evening. I would so love to scribble my name on your dance card?"

She smiled at Lord Hedding. Having not known him before tonight’s dinner, she had been delighted with his cheerful demeanor so far.

"Of course, my lord. I shall ensure a space is left for you.

" She heard a clearing of a gentleman's throat and looked up to find Benedict staring at her, displeasure written across his handsome features.

Angelica ignored Benedict’s unease for there was very little she could do to stop a gentleman from asking her to dance, especially when Benedict had yet to propose.

"I understand you hail from Hampshire. I'm from Surrey, the county just over. We're practically neighbors," Lord Hedding continued.

Angelica tore her gaze away from Benedict and back to her dinner companion. "Yes, we essentially are. Have you ever visited our estate, my lord?"

"Only once, and only to collect a horse I had ah… I had bought from your father, my lady."

Angelica picked up her wine and sipped. "You mean you won it from my father?" She chuckled. "All is well, my lord. I know the vices of men and what they enjoy when in London, my father no exception I’m sure."

He raised his brows at her words but did not state his disagreement.

"I must say for all your father’s mettlesome lifestyle, his daughters are remarkably levelheaded.

It must be trying to know the late duke, may he rest in peace, has three illegitimate daughters, but a few blocks from where you now live.

The late Duke Ravensmere, as much as you adored him, clearly enjoyed his Seasons in town a little too much, do you not agree?

" Lord Hedding grinned, oblivious to the shock that catapulted through her at his words.

Sisters? Illegitimate sisters? In London?

Everything in Angelica stilled. She looked to Evangeline, noted her sister was oblivious and engaged in conversation with Lady Austen and had not overheard what Lord Hedding had said.

She swallowed the bile that rose in her throat and pushed back her chair. "Excuse me, Lord Hedding." Angelica stood, both out of shock and the boldness of a perfect stranger up until several minutes before who could state such a thing to her without caution.

Evangeline followed when she noted her moving toward the door. "Angelica, are you well?" she asked.

Angelica turned, knowing they needed to return home. "No, may we leave? I’m feeling unwell."

"Oh, of course." Lord St. George stood and turned to this evening’s hosts. "We're very sorry to leave, and do apologize," he said, joining her and Evangeline at the door.

Lord Austen waved them off with his napkin. "No, of course we understand if the young Lady Angelica is unwell. We hope you're feeling better soon, dear."

She nodded and soon was ushered outside and into the carriage.

Evangeline sat next to her, fussing, and Angelica clasped her hands, stilling her mothering.

"Does Father have three illegitimate daughters in London?

Lord Hedding says that he does. Do you know of them?

" she asked, unable to comprehend such a thing to be true.

Sisters? No, it was impossible.

Evangeline stopped fussing and frowned. "Father does not have any more children other than us of course. What nonsense Lord Hedding speaks."

Her sister's words went some way in easing her concern, but when she glanced at Lord St. George, he unfortunately did not look quite so shocked by this news. "Lord St. George, do you know something that we do not?" she asked.

His lordship cringed before meeting his wife’s eyes.

“Ezra?” Evangeline questioned.

Her brother-in-law let out a resigned sigh. "What Lord Hedding says is true. The late duke had a mistress during his time in London and fathered three daughters. They have agreed to remain out of society and wish to remain so considering they are tarnished by who their mother was."

"How do you know such things?" Evangeline asked, looking at Lord St. George as if he'd grown two heads. “This cannot be true.”

"Ravensmere told me before I proposed. He thought I should know."

"You should know?" Evangeline blustered. "What about what we should know—you know, the sisters of these other ladies?" Evangeline shut her mouth with a snap and clasped Angelica's hand. "Does Rosalind know?"

St. George nodded. "Yes, she does."

"Well, I never." Evangeline looked at Angelica and she could see by her sister’s scowl that she was angry at the situation.

"That is not the kind of secret a family ought to keep.

And Lord Hedding blurting out such remarks at dinner to Angelica, who knew nothing of it, is just scandalous.

I shall write to Rosalind tonight and demand to know everything, including where they live. "

"You cannot call on women who are illegitimate, Evangeline. It would not be proper."

Her sister tipped her head up into the air and stared out the window. "I shall do whatever I like as the Countess St. George, and anyone who says otherwise can go hang."

" Evangeline ," Lord St. George warned, his voice low, which to Angelica's amusement did not seem to have any effect on her sister whatsoever.

"I should like to know more too," Angelica said. "When Rosalind writes, do be sure to inform me. As much as it was a shock to find out such news, I am curious as to what they're like, and I would like to join you should you go and visit them."

Lord St. George let out a frustrated sigh. "You are legitimate daughters of the Duke of Ravensmere—you cannot go and visit women who are daughters of a whore."

Evangeline gaped at her husband, and Angelica decided to remain quiet.

"They cannot choose who their parents are.

Had we been able to choose who our father was, I can assure you, husband, that we would have chosen better for ourselves than we were afforded.

And let us not forget," she added when St. George went to say something to his wife, "that they are our sisters, and so illegitimate or not, we're not the kind of women who would not want to know all there is about them. "

"Angelica is also your sister, and associating yourself with women who are not your equal could place her reputation at risk."

"I do not believe that," Evangeline said, yet again tipping her nose up in the air and looking out the window.

Angelica did the same, not wanting to argue with her brother-in-law and certainly not wanting to get in the middle of a dispute between a married couple.

Not that St. George had anything to worry about regarding her being able to find a husband.

She was certain that Benedict would ask for her hand in only a matter of days, and so their interest in their half sisters would not affect her Season.

And if they visited them without letting anyone in society know of it, their association to their father's children would not hurt Isabella’s or Cordelia's coming out either.

The carriage rolled to a halt and the footman quickly came and set down the steps and opened the door. Angelica jumped down and started indoors, leaving her sister and St. George to continue their heated discussion as they followed her up to their suite of rooms.

She shut her bedroom door and leaned against it. At least now she knew of her second family. She would be better prepared should anyone ask her of them at the ton events.

She would not be placed off guard a second time.

She rang for her maid and dressed into her nightdress and slipped into bed, disappointed that the shock of the news had kept her from speaking to Benedict this evening.

She would send a missive in the morning telling him of their plans tomorrow night—and then she would see him again, and explain why they left so hastily.

He would understand. He was too kind not to.