“Brava!” James applauded, and the others joined in. “So, Cinders,” he said when the excitement and congratulations had died down, “what time shall I bring the pumpkin around to collect you?”
Chapter Seventeen
In the carriage going to the ball, Lucy sat beside Gerald, and Alice and James sat opposite. Alice was obviously tense, her face pale and tight in the faint, transient light inside the carriage. But she was going to the ball, determined not to be cowed by the ugly situation she was in—the ugly situation Lucy’s papa had put her in.
Lucy hoped that one day she’d have the courage Alice was showing.
Alice was an extraordinary woman. She’d taken in Lucy unwillingly, purely because of Papa’s blackmail, and yet, with every reason to despise her, Alice had made Lucy feel like a friend or a beloved daughter. Even when Papa had abandoned her, Alice had insisted Lucy must stay, that she had a home with Alice for as long as she needed.
And now despite all Alice’s goodness to Lucy, she was being punished.
The shame of it scorched Lucy, even though she knew it wasn’t her fault. But she was determined to make it up to Alice somehow.
She nudged Gerald, leaned closer and whispered in his ear, “I have a plan.”
* * *
* * *
It was obvious from the moment they arrived that Lady Reynolds knew about the book, for she stepped forward, seized Alice’s hands in hers and said warmly, “I am so very glad you came tonight, my dear. One would have understood if you chose not to, of course, but I am so very proud of you for coming. If there is anything my husband or I can do to support you in this difficult time, please don’t hesitate to say so.” She squeezed Alice’s hands. “And don’t worry, you have many friends here.”
Beside her, tall Sir Alan Reynolds gave a nod and added gruffly, “Your late husband deserved a flogging for writing such filthy stuff. Never liked the feller.”
Alice thanked them both, blinking back incipient tears. When you were braced for spite and scandal, unexpected warmth and kindness could so easily unravel you.
Nevertheless, their greeting reminded her that most people here tonight would either have read some of the letters or heard about them. I am no longer that girl, she reminded herself. In fact, she added in her mental conversation, I don’t think I ever was the girl that Thaddeus’s letters described. It was a freeing thought. Thaddeus never knew her at all.
Lady Peplowe met her in the hallway and drew Alice aside. “Are you all right, my dear? I’ve heard some disquieting rumors about a book.”
“I know all about it,” Alice said. “It’s a vile and hateful thing, but I’m—I’m damned if I let my husband ruin my life a second time.” Yes, anger was better than nerves.
“Good for you.” Lady Peplowe gave her a searching look. “Do I understand that you . . . ?” She glanced to where James was waiting and trailed off delicately, letting her eyebrows do the talking.
Alice felt herself blushing, but she was proud, not embarrassed. “Yes, I did. And you were right. With the right man, it’s perfectly splendid.”
Lady Peplowe clapped her hands. “Oh, wonderful.” A martial expression came over her face. “Now, let us see what we can do to squash these vile rumors.” She sailed off into the ballroom, a woman on a mission.
With her hand on James’s arm and Gerald and Lucy following behind, Alice took a deep breath and entered the ballroom. The loud buzz of conversation faltered and died away. Hundreds of eyes swiveled toward her. Silence hung in the air for an instant. Someone said something and sniggered loudly, then the buzz started again, lower but more intense.
Alice stiffened her backbone. The darting glances, the nods, the whispers, the snickers and murmurs—they were nothing she hadn’t expected. And she would not be cowed by them.
Head held high, she moved farther into the ballroom. Murmuring, “Good luck, Alice,” Gerald and Lucy melted away to join a group of young people. Alice was a little surprised but didn’t blame them. This was not their problem.
Her gaze swept the room, and for a brief panic-stricken moment, she didn’t recognize a soul. Then she spied Lady Peplowe standing with Lady Jersey, one of the patronesses of Almack’s, on the other side of the room. With them stood plump little Princess Esterhazy and several other ladies she recognized—acknowledged leaders of society.
Lady Peplowe smiled and gave a little nod, then to Alice’s amazement, Lady Jersey lifted a white-gloved hand and graciously beckoned her over.
Alice blinked. She didn’t know Lady Jersey very well, but she’d always liked her. And she took heart from Lady Peplowe’s expression. Feigning indifference to the attention she was receiving, Alice strolled across the floor. Her heart was thudding. She felt hollow inside. What did Lady Jersey want with her?
“That’s my brave girl,” James murmured. “Show ’em you don’t give a damn.” She was very glad of his support and his strong arm.
To her relief, Lady Peplowe and Lady Jersey came forward with warm smiles. “Lady Charlton, my dear—what a despicable worm your late husband was,” Lady Jersey said affably. “And aren’t we all glad he’s dead and undoubtedly roasting in the other place? Now, are we showing everyone that we don’t care what he wrote, or are we pretending those letters weren’t about you?”
The combination of warmth and brisk pragmatism surprised a laugh out of Alice. “I don’t know—both?”
Lady Jersey laughed, then turned to James. “Good evening, Lord Tarrant. Now, I’m sure you want to stay glued to her side playing watchdog, but leave this nasty little affair to the ladies, if you please.”
James hesitated. “Alice?”
Alice nodded to him. She had no idea what was going on, but she was intrigued.
Princess Esterhazy, the pretty young wife of the Austrian ambassador, imperiously waved James away. Such confidence for one so young, Alice thought. She supposed it had a lot to do with being a princess.
“Now to business,” Lady Jersey said. “My friends and I were outraged by those vile letters, Lady Charlton. Oh, they might have been written about you—though you must never admit it—but we all agree, it could have been any one of us, had we been married off to that brute.” She fixed Alice with a determined look and repeated, “Any one of us. The only difference was that you had no family to support you and nobody to stand up for you—and you were so young! It’s unforgivable. And those letters are a slur against all womankind, not just you!”
A lump formed in Alice’s throat.
Lady Jersey slipped an arm through Alice’s. “I am so sorry that we didn’t know how badly you needed support back then. My friends and I have realized that we allowed your husband to isolate you in those early days, when you were new to London society and we were all so young and careless. Shameful behavior, but it is all in the past, and we shall not dwell on it. We will, however, help you now.” She gestured to the other ladies standing a short distance away. Alice knew all the ladies, though not particularly well. Each one of them was influential in society.