Lily and the Duke (Sex and the Season #1)(26)

“His Grace bid me bring this to you. When you’re done with it, you’re to leave it outside your chamber door.”

“His Grace? What in the world?” Lily said, as the maid scurried quickly away.

Lily sat down on her bed and opened the portfolio. Inside was the seating arrangement for dinner. Each name had been inked with a quill onto a small square of parchment that stuck without adhesive to a felt surface. It was an ingenious system. Seating could be changed at a moment’s notice. But why had Daniel sent it to her? Surely he didn’t mean for her to prepare the seating arrangement for the entire population of the house party. What would the duchess say? There were four tables, each seating fifty.

Flabbergasted, she studied the arrangement as it was. Well, there was certainly room for a lot of improvement. Rose was seated next to Wentworth. That would have to go. She moved the small name cards around. Daniel did send this to her, after all. He had said he would take care of it. Perhaps he really didn’t remember everything she had asked. She had been speaking rather quickly.

First things first. Amelia Gregory had to be far away from Thomas. Lily sat her at the outer table, the one farthest from the Duke’s. On one side she placed Wentworth, and on the other she decided on Lord Ludley, Wentworth’s bachelor uncle. He was bald and portly and he tended to salivate excessively. He was known to frequent brothels and debauch unwilling women whenever possible. Perfect.

Turning to the next table, Lily arranged Rose next to Xavier. She sat Thomas on Rose’s other side and Emma next to him. That would keep Thomas and Rose both focused on their own choices. At the next table, she maneuvered Alexandra next to Lord Victor Polk and Sophie next to Van Arden.

That is that. She closed the portfolio, but opened it again quickly. She had almost forgotten to look at her own situation. She was seated at the same table as Ally, between two men whose names she didn’t recognize. Hoping the duchess knew what she was doing, she left it as it was.

She took a quick glance at the duke’s table. Her parents and Aunt Iris were seated there. She closed the leather case, quietly opened the door of her chamber, and set it against the wall outside. Rose was snoring lightly, and Lily’s eyes blurred. She lay down on her bed and closed them. Visions of Daniel appeared in her mind, and she smiled as she drifted off to sleep.



* * *



Rose and Lily awoke in time to wash and dress for dinner. Rose chose an off-white gown that highlighted her fair skin and peachy complexion. Lily wore soft plum satin, with a plunging neckline that drew attention to her ample fullness.

“Why you have your gowns cut so low is beyond me,” Rose said.

“Because it looks good on me. It’s stylish too. You’re always telling me I should follow the dictates more closely.”

“You might try leaving a little more to the imagination.”

“Mummy approved all of our gowns, Rose. What more do we need?”

“Mummy wants you to catch a husband, Lily. I’m sure she flaunted her own charms in her day.”

Lily giggled. “Yes, she may have. I had no idea that Papa was so enamored with her that he jilted the duchess.”

“You heard Auntie,” Rose said. “Papa didn’t court Mummy until several years later.”

“Just the same, perhaps he saw something in her when she was young. It’s possible.”

“I suppose.” Rose sighed. “The romance of it all… I do hope I meet someone like papa or the duke someday.”

“The duke?”

“The old duke, of course,” Rose said. “Lord Evan is charming, but he’s a second son. He’ll never come into a title of his own.”

“That’s silly, Rose. The title doesn’t make the man.”

“Of course, you’re right. I suppose we had better go down now.”

“I’m right behind you.” Lily snatched her reticule and followed Rose out of the chamber.

Downstairs they met their parents in the main parlor. Thomas was there also, beaming as he conversed with Emma. He looked up as Lily entered and frowned slightly at her neckline. She rolled her eyes and strode toward him.

“Thomas, how was the hunt?” she asked.

“I enjoyed it very much. But it sounds like you had an equally enjoyable day. Miss Smythe was just telling me about it.” He winked.

“Emma?” Lily said, her voice wavering.

“I ran into Lady Alexandra earlier.” Emma smiled. “Don’t worry. I left out the good parts.”

“What good parts?” Thomas asked, turning back to Emma.

Lily laughed. “Oh, Thomas, some things are between girlfriends only. Shall we go into dinner?”

“It would be my honor to escort you both in,” Thomas said. “I’ll be the envy of every man here, with two such lovely ladies on my arm.”

Thomas found his seat next to Emma and held out her chair for her. “I’ll be back. I need to escort Lily to her seat.”

“I think I’m over at that next table, Thomas.” Lily gestured. “Across from Ally.”

They said a quick hello to Alexandra and Lord Victor as Thomas guided Lily to her seat.

“I don’t see your name here, Lily. You must be at another table.”

“That’s impossible,” Lily said. “What on earth?”