A Shameful Secret (33 page)

Hester smiled and thanked her. At least there would be one or two friendly faces at Charlotte’s party.

They were to stay at the Longstantons’ town house, a large, important house on several stories in a fashionable square at the heart of London. Hester was surprised to see that several invitation cards lay on the silver salver in the hall. It was obviously known that they were expected, but when she opened them, she discovered that all but one was from her husband’s family.

Uncle Staunton had invited them to a race meeting, where a cold collation was to be served in a marquee. One of Paul’s cousins was giving a card party, and an elderly aunt had arranged a soiree in their honor.

Their kindness touched Hester, but she intrigued by the invitation with a gold banding at the edges from Lady Jersey, inviting them to an informal dance the evening following Countess Danbury’s affair.

However, Lady Jersey’s invitation was the only one other than from family members to arrive in the two days they spent in London before Charlotte’s evening. Hester was a little nervous about her reception should she meet people she had known in Bath, who had been present at her wedding.

On the morning after their arrival, she took Sylvia to the park for a walk, accompanied by her maid. They spent some time watching the ducks on the Serpentine and playing a game of catch ball, and it was only as they were leaving that Hester realized she was being watched. Turning, she saw that two ladies were sitting in an open carriage and staring at her intently. One of them was Lady Blackwater, and the look in her eyes was openly hostile.

Hester lifted her chin as she passed them. She had no need to apologize to that lady nor would she. Henry Blackwater had first kidnapped her, and then ruined her wedding day. He had done his best to murder Paul, and had deserved his fate. Yet, Lady Blackwater’s hostility was so strong that it sent a shiver down Hester’s spine.

Paul had gone to his club that morning, and he was still out when she returned to the house. Hester ate her nuncheon with Sylvia in the nursery, and then went down to the front parlor. It was at about three in the afternoon when a maid came to ask her if she was at home.

“Who is calling, Mary?”

“Lady Blackwater, ma’am.”

“I see.” Hester hesitated for she knew that this was not a friendly call. “Very well, please ask her to come through.” She rose to her feet, crossing to the window to look out at the street, her stomach tying itself in knots. She turned as Mary announced the visitor. “Lady Blackwater. What may I do for you?”

“You may take yourself back where you came from,” Lady Blackwater said coldly. “You are not fit to be seen in decent society, madam—and your husband is a murderer. I intend that he shall be brought to justice.”

“I beg your pardon, ma’am, but I believe you have that wrong,” Hester said with calm dignity. “Your nephew drew a second pistol and tried to murder Paul. Someone shot to prevent that but I cannot say with any certainty who that person was. I know only that it was not my husband.”

“I have heard some absurd concocted tale,” Lady Blackwater snorted her disbelief. “But I do not believe it. I shall see that the culprit is brought to justice—and as for you, whore that you are—if you dare to show your face in public, I shall cut you. I imagine that there are many others who will follow my lead.”

“You may of course do as you wish,” Hester replied quietly. A little pulse was beating in her throat but apart from that she gave no sign of being disturbed. “However, I do not intend to be cowed by your threats. I am what I am and everyone must make up their own mind whether or not they wish to know me.”

“No decent woman will acknowledge you!”

“Perhaps you are right,” Hester said, “but we shall see. Countess Danbury gives a large party tomorrow evening. I shall be there, and I shall also be at Lady Jersey’s dance the following night.”

“Well, you have been warned,” Lady Blackwater’s mouth curved in spite. “You will have only yourself to blame when everyone ignores you.”

“I thank you for your warning, ma’am,” Hester said. “You must forgive me if I ignore it.”

“You are an impudent girl with no morals,” the outraged matron said and stalked from the room.

Hester sat, her knees trembling. She had faced her enemy down, but she felt sick inside. She did not imagine that Charlotte had invited Lady Blackwater to her evening, but she would certainly be at Lady Jersey’s dance.

* * * *

Hester wore a pretty pale green gown for her cousin’s gathering, a choker of pearls with an emerald clasp and a pear-shaped drop at her throat, and matching drops in her ears. She had a new pair of white evening gloves, and her slippers were of the softest kid, peeping beneath the hem of her gown. Her hair had been dressed very simply in a knot at her nape, though little wisps of hair curled about her face.

“You look beautiful, my darling,” Paul said when she was ready. “I am very proud of my wife, Hester. Just remember that whatever happens this evening.”

“Yes, I shall remember,” she said and smiled. She had not told him about Lady Blackwater’s threats, for she did not wish to bother him with such insults. The lady’s threats against Paul were futile, for there had been too many witnesses for her accusations to carry weight. But Hester had no doubt that she would do her best to ostracize her if she could.

Her nerves were fluttering as they drove to Charlotte’s house. She had asked them to arrive early so that they might meet the guests with her. Hester’s stomach tightened as she took her place at the head of the main stairs, up which all the guests must come to pass into the large reception rooms.

“You look charming,” Charlotte said and kissed her cheek. “Do not be nervous, dearest. I have already had several kind replies, and I am certain that others will simply arrive.”

“I do hope so. I would not have you go to all this trouble for nothing,” Hester said. She smiled bravely even though she was far from calm inside.

The first guests began to arrive ten minutes after she and Paul had taken their places with Charlotte. Uncle Staunton was the very first. He kissed Hester’s hand and told her she was more beautiful than ever, then clapped Paul on the shoulder and told him he was a lucky dog.

Two minutes later, three of Paul’s cousins arrived together, bringing a guest with them. The guest was an earl of some repute, who congratulated Paul and wished Hester happiness. Two elderly aunts followed them up the stairs, and made a great show of kissing Paul and Hester. His parents arrived next, and Ellie embraced Hester, choosing to stand beside her to help receive the other guests. They were arriving thick and fast now, and though the majority of them were Paul’s relations, other guests had begun to swell the throng, ladies and gentlemen, old and young, and all of them greeted Hester with a warm smile or a look of approval. Her throat tightened with emotion as she thought how kind they all were. She no longer worried that her cousin’s evening would fail and began to wonder where Charlotte would put them all.

“I am not sure that I invited everyone who is here,” her cousin whispered to her as they moved into the reception rooms. The formal greeting was over, and  late arrivals would simply drift in as they pleased. “However, there is plenty of food, and I am sure some of these gentlemen will not stay long. They have simply come to greet you, Hester.”

“Why would they do that?” she asked, for already some of the gentlemen were leaving to go on to other engagements, possibly a venue where they could play for high stakes at the tables. Charlotte’s affair was the kind that many of them might ordinarily have considered too insipid. However, they were still drifting in, and all of them greeted first their hostess and then Hester, before making a circle of the rooms and then departing. “And why would they come if they have no invitation?”

“To look you over,” Charlotte said and smiled. “You must know that your name is being spoken in all the clubs and drawing rooms. I do not say that everyone without exception approves, but I believe there are a great many who think you brave, and others who find your story romantic.”

Hester could hardly believe it, but as the evening wore on and more and more uninvited guests continued to make a brief appearance, she could not doubt that she was causing a stir. Uncle Staunton had taken up a position at her side that he refused to relinquish all evening, and Hester realized that he had appointed himself her guardian. Anyone who had tried to insult her would have received the rough edge of his tongue, but in fact, she was offered nothing but kindness. Several ladies made a point of telling her when they were at home, and others delivered verbal invitations to their own affairs, promising that a written card would be delivered the next day.

It was a very happy evening for Hester, and she came close to tears once or twice as people went out of their way to seek her out and show their approval.

“I believe we can say that it has been a success,” Charlotte told her when the guests began to thin towards the end. “You will have several invitations in the next day or so, and if some choose to ignore you—well, you must just accept it, my dearest. I think most people will be pleased to invite you to their homes—and as for the gentlemen, I think you can safely say that they entirely approve.”

“I am glad your evening was a success,” Hester replied. She had been impressed by how many people had actually come, far more than her cousin had invited, she was sure. However, there had been some notable exceptions. The hostesses who ruled society and were responsible for giving vouchers for Almacks, that most exclusive of high society clubs, had not been amongst the flow that passed through her cousin’s reception rooms. Without their approval, she could only flutter at the edge of Society for the inner circles were tightly controlled. The big test would come at Lady Jersey’s dance, for she was one of the patrons of Almacks and, if she wished, could give Hester the nod—or finish her with a look of disapproval.

* * * *

“I believe that went very well,” Paul told her as they were driven home later. “You managed it beautifully, my darling, and I was congratulated on my wife all evening.”

“By the gentlemen,” Hester said, smiling at him. “I am aware that they approved, for they think our story a fine romance—but what of the ladies? I mean those ladies who did not come this evening.”

“That we shall discover tomorrow,” Paul said, his brow wrinkling. “Sally Jersey is a friend of my mother’s. I am sure she would not have invited us if she did not intend to show her approval—but there may be some high sticklers who will not unbend. Providing most accept you, we shall brush through well enough, my love.”

“Yes, of course. At least, I have made a start,” Hester said, though she knew in her heart that the next evening could undo all the good work her cousin had done. If those who ruled Society decided that she was beyond the pale, many ladies who had shown friendship that evening might decide to withdraw it.

And she knew that she had one determined enemy who would do her best to see that Hester was ostracized.

* * * *

Hester was in her petticoat when Paul entered the next evening. He asked her which gown she intended to wear, and she indicated the dark blue silk that was lying on the bed waiting for her maid to help her into it.

“Would you mind wearing my favorite gown instead?” Paul asked her, going over to the armoire and taking out the crimson gown that Hester had been fitted for before her wedding. It was the one she thought a little shocking for it dipped low over her breasts and was very sophisticated. “This is the one?”

“It may need some pressing,” Hester said, “which means we might be a little late arriving.”

“I do not think that matters,” Paul said a little smile on his lips. He gave the dress to Anna. “Forgive me if I have caused you extra work. I promise it will not happen again.”

As the maid went away, Hester looked at him, a question in her eyes. “What are you up to?” she asked. “You know that is the most daring of my gowns.”

“And it suits you very well,” Paul said. “You are not going to hide your charms, my love. Let the old tabbies say what they will. We shall cause a little stir if we arrive late—and that is just what I intend.”

“Very well, if you are sure.”

“Quite sure.” Paul moved towards her and took her into his arms. His kiss was deep and passionate, making Hester moan as she swayed into his body, her lips parting beneath the assault of his tongue. “As I told you last night, I am proud of my wife. Let them all look and make what they will of it.”

“You know that this evening will be different?”

“Yes, I know,” he said. “But we may as well know where we stand, Hester. Either they accept us or they don’t.”

She smiled up at him, her eyes bright with laughter. With Paul at her side, she could dare anything.

He left her when Anna returned with her gown. Anna helped her into it and then adjusted her hair, dressing it in a different way so that a ringlet hung down on her shoulder.

“I think Captain Crawford was right,” she told her mistress. “You are stunning in that gown, my lady.”

“Thank you,” Hester said, touching the ruby pendent at her throat. It had been one of Paul’s wedding gifts to her and it looked perfect with the gown, as did the matching eardrops.