there was a fine figure of a man,” Lady Amanda said. “I’m sure he must have produced attractive offspring.”
“Are we embarrassing you, Sarah?” James asked softly as the conversation moved on to rival mantua-makers.
“A little,” she admitted. She rubbed her fingers over the soft fabric of her borrowed dress. Now that she had seen—and worn—Lizzie’s dress, she knew she could never afford the clothes she would need for a trip to London. She lowered her voice. “Your grace, I’ve been thinking of my future.”
James gave Sarah a slow smile. “I am glad to hear that.”
She felt unaccountably flustered. “Yes, well, I think it would be best if I found a situation as a teacher now, instead of going to London.”
Unfortunately, there was a lull in the general conversation just then and Sarah’s words carried. Lady Gladys put her wineglass down so quickly, she knocked it against her plate. A few drops of wine jumped out onto the tablecloth.
“A situation as a teacher? You aren’t going to be a teacher, Sarah; you’re going to be a duchess. If you have such a burning desire to teach, teach your own children. I’m sure James won’t waste any time filling his nursery.”
Sarah was sure her face was as red as Molly’s hair. She was afraid to look at James for fear she’d prove the theory of spontaneous combustion.
“Lady Gladys, it’s quite clear that I am not suited for the position of duchess.”
“Why not? You’re young and female, aren’t you? James, do you think Sarah is unsuited to be your duchess?”
“Not at all, Aunt.”
Sarah risked a glance at James. His lips turned up into what she could only describe as a smirk.
“I can’t say that I’ve thoroughly investigated all of her credentials of course, but I believe she will suit very well indeed.”
“I thought you had investigated all her credentials, James,” Lady Amanda said. “That’s why we’re in this situation.”
Sarah watched James’s smile vanish and his ears turn red.
“Perhaps we should change the subject,” he said. “Lizzie, how go the preparations for London?”
Lizzie’s mouth was hanging open so wide that her chin just about touched the table. “Did you say you were going to marry Sarah, James?”
“I guess we forgot to mention that, didn’t we? Nothing has been decided conclusively, but Sarah has agreed to consider my suit.”
Lizzie’s eyes grew huge. Sarah could tell she was full of questions—the first one, Sarah supposed, was where she and James had met. They had better come up with a plausible story if they didn’t want the true tale known.
“We met when I was in America,” James was saying.
Sarah turned to look at him. She was very much afraid that she was goggle-eyed. She bit her tongue before she could ask him when he had been in her country. He must have been there once; his family would certainly know if he had not.
“I thought our love was hopeless with an ocean separating us, so I said nothing. I couldn’t even bring myself to mention it to Robbie.”
Sarah restrained herself from kicking him under the table. He should consider a career writing novels if he could sell that story to anyone. Lizzie looked doubtful; Robbie rolled his eyes.
“Well, James,” Lizzie said, “if you’re going to marry Sarah, you should give some thought to her clothes. She needs a whole new wardrobe—she doesn’t even have a nightdress!”
Sarah knew she would blush if she looked at James, so she studied her plate instead. “Really, your grace, my clothes—or lack of them—is not your concern.”
“I’m certainly concerned with your lack of clothes, sweetheart. But if you deny me the pleasure of clothing you, certainly you will agree that it is Robbie’s responsibility as head of your family. We’ll just have the bills sent to him, right, Robbie?”
“Yes, of course. Be happy to stand the nonsense.”
Sarah looked at Robbie. “I can’t impose on you.”
“Of course you can. I’m head of your family now, ain’t I?”
“But it’s such a waste of money.”
“It is nothing of the sort.” Lady Gladys leaned toward her. “You deserve some fun, Sarah. From what you told me, David was quite remiss in your upbringing. It is just like him to get lost in his causes and never pay attention to the needs of the people around him. And it is certainly Robbie’s responsibility to fund a Season for you. His estate can bear the expense, isn’t that right, Robbie?”
“Said I’d pay the bills. Not to worry, cousin.”
“That’s settled then.” Lady Gladys smiled and sat back. “We’ll have Mrs. Croft up tomorrow. She can make a few necessities now, and we’ll get the rest in London.”
“There’s still one other issue, Gladys,” Lady Amanda said. “Sarah doesn’t dance. She’ll have to learn all the steps before we go to town.”
“Very true. Well then, I suggest you gentlemen dispense with your port this evening and join us in the music room immediately. The sooner we get started, the better. We want Sarah to be ready for Almack’s.”
“What is Almack’s?” Sarah asked as she left the room on James’s arm.
“What is Almack’s?” Lizzie stopped so suddenly, Sarah almost ran into her. “Almack’s is…” The younger girl was clearly speechless at Sarah’s ignorance.
Robbie, Lizzie’s escort, laughed. “Almack’s is the center of the universe for the ton’s marriage-minded mamas and their daughters, Sarah. Every Wednesday night during the Season, the girls who can get their hot little hands on a voucher hunt for husbands among the eligible males of the ton. To the rest of us mortals, it’s a stuffy, boring club.”
“It sounds dreadful.”
“It is dreadful.”
“No, truly, Sarah,” Lizzie said. “Almack’s is wonderful.”
“You have never been there,” Robbie said. “Once you’ve eaten the stale cakes, drunk the tasteless punch, and endured the insipid conversation, you’ll think differently.”
Lizzie frowned up at Robbie. “No, I’m sure you must be wrong.”
Robbie rolled his eyes. “Ah, youth.”
“You’re not exactly a graybeard.”
“I don’t think I want to go to Almack’s,” Sarah said quietly to James as Robbie and Lizzie moved ahead.
“No, but we’ll have to make an appearance for Lizzie’s sake.”
Sarah
