The Season(33)

“Not diplomacy at all, daughter. You look lovely. And, sadly, very grown up. When did you get so tall?”

Alex was just a few inches from her father’s height, and she smiled at the question. “Strong Stafford blood, of course, Father. Are you certain we’re not descended from the Vikings?”

“Looking at the four of you, one does wonder. But then there is I, the diminutive duke…pathetically small and not at all Norse.” He spoke with exaggerated self-pity to gain a laugh from his daughter, then changed the subject. “Are you ready for your entrance at your first Worthington House dinner?

Wrinkling her nose, Alex replied, “I’m afraid as ready as ever. I’m surprised you came to fetch me instead of Mother. I would have thought she’d want to appraise my appearance.”

“Your mother is busy making last-minute changes to the seating arrangements to ensure complete perfection.” He paused as Alex rolled her eyes. “And, as the Duke of Worthington, it falls to me to escort the most beautiful young lady at the gathering to the festivities.”

Alex smiled. “Ah, you forget, Father, that I am a graduate of an obscene number of hours of instruction in Proper Conversation, which includes the voluminous rules and regulations regarding dinners and escorts. I know you lie. Your job, as the host, is to escort the highest-ranking lady to the festivities.” She queried innocently, “Perhaps you would like for me to arrange a refresher course for you?”

“Ah, but you forget, daughter. The best part of being a duke is that one can change the rules at one’s whim…and no one dares disagree.”

“An excellent benefit.”

“I’ve always thought so. Shall we go?” He offered an arm for his daughter, then stopped as she took hold of it. “Wait. I’ve forgotten something.”

From his coat pocket, he removed a long string of jewels and held it up for Alex to see. She gasped and looked at her father incredulously. “Grandmother’s sapphires?” She couldn’t help herself from reaching for the stunning strand of pink sapphires. “But, Father…they were so much a part of her…they’re virtually iconic. I don’t think…”

“Nonsense. Your grandmother was headstrong and brilliant and took the ton by storm. I’m told she spent her first season breaking a score of hearts and boldly inserting her opinion where it wasn’t desired. Frankly, you remind me entirely of her, and she would be as proud of you tonight as I am. She’d want you to make your debut at a Worthington salon in these. Of that, I am certain.” And then, with the regal tone perfected by years of expecting all within earshot to do the ducal bidding, he ordered, “Turn around.”

She did, and soon felt the cool weight of the necklace that had been so integral a part of her grandmother. Turning toward the mirror, she caught a glimpse of someone she barely recognized. Was that really she? The duke nodded firmly at the reflection. “Now you’re ready to make your appearance as the Stafford you are.”

There was something about the moment that struck deep at the core of her, something that filled her heart with equal parts nervousness and pride—nervousness at the responsibility she had not just to her father or her mother, but to a line of remarkable, honorable men and women who could be traced back to the earliest days of Britain, and pride that she had such a noble line to call her own. Taking her father’s arm, she made a silent vow to try her best to make them proud.

There was a reason why an invitation to a Worthington House dinner was one of the most highly coveted of the season. They had been hosted for years, in a tradition that had been handed down from duchess to duchess for generations. On these evenings, the enormous dining table at Worthington House was filled with the most impressively titled members of London society, as well as with those deemed most interesting. This, of course, infuriated any who held an ancient title or an obscenely large estate and were left off the invitation list…all the while making the invitation itself one that was not to be declined.

Over centuries, the dinners had been attended by some of the most well-known and well-respected people in history, from playwrights and poets to politicians and royalty and everyone in between. Family lore spoke of one such dinner that had hosted William Shakespeare and Queen Elizabeth—legend had it that it was on this particular evening that the Queen had commissioned a play from Shakespeare for the royal Twelfth Night festivities, resulting in one of the playwright’s most famous comedies. The proof? The then Duke and Duchess of Worthington were Sebastian and Olivia, coincidentally the names of two of the play’s main characters, who fall deeply in love.

Alex had heard the story countless times and never entirely believed it, finding it a little too outlandish for her taste, but tonight she was coming close to changing her opinion. Looking around her, she saw that this evening her mother had outdone herself. In a far corner, the Duke of Sunderland, revered for his ability to raise the best racing horses in England, was being introduced to Marcus Sinew, the common-born publisher of the Times, who was rumored to be one of the smartest and most charming businessmen in all of England. By contrast, the Duchess of Sunderland, a powerful voice in the movement to stop child labor, was receiving a young member of Parliament who was expected to become prime minister in his sure-to-be-impressive future.

Everywhere she turned, amidst impeccably mannered servants laden with refreshments, people with vastly different but fascinating skills were deep in conversation—laughing, chattering, and enjoying themselves. There was no inane flirting nor boring discussion of fashion or livestock. No, these were the thinkers and doers of London society. Her mother had achieved what few other hostesses could boast—frank, exciting, honest conversation with fascinating company, and Alex was relieved by how comfortable she felt in the room.