After a Fashion (A Class of Their Own #1)(85)
“He’s always been rather diligent regarding following orders.”
“You told him to keep me from the house?”
Abigail shrugged. “I didn’t want you to cause Harriet more distress, at least not last night, considering all the embarrassment she suffered at dinner.”
“My intention was not to distress Harriet. Surely you didn’t think I would take her to task for setting the table on fire, did you?”
Abigail waved his question away. “Of course not. I was concerned about what you would tell her regarding Lady Victoria.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Come now, Oliver, it was clear to everyone that Lady Victoria only had eyes for you last night. She’s remarkably beautiful, comes from the aristocracy, and would make you a more-than-suitable spouse.”
Leaning back in the chair, Oliver considered Abigail’s words. Marrying a woman like Lady Victoria would definitely raise his status in society’s eyes, but . . . he’d not been the slightest bit attracted to her and had truly only wanted to get back to Harriet as soon as possible, which . . . His eyes widened as the ramifications of that thought suddenly struck him.
He was attracted to Harriet—there was no escaping from that troubling bit of truth any longer.
But . . . what to do about it?
“Did Lady Victoria allow you to know of her interest?” Abigail asked.
“She knocked me to the floor and tried to kiss me.”
“Oh . . . dear.”
“Then her father walked in and . . . he was less than pleased to discover his daughter sitting on top of me.” Oliver raked a hand through his hair. “It’s questionable at the moment whether or not the duke and I will be proceeding with our business deal. I distinctly heard him tell his daughter, as I beat a hasty retreat, he wanted to leave New York immediately.”
“But . . . what about Harriet, and . . . what about the ball I’ve just sent out invitations for?”
“I thought you were going to host a small, intimate dinner party.”
“I couldn’t very well have an honest-to-goodness duke going back to England and telling everyone we over here in America are still provincial now, could I?”
“Abigail, forgive me, but I was under the impression that balls take at least a good month to plan and that society expects their three-week notice to such an event.”
“The spontaneous nature of this ball is what’s making everyone so frantic to accept my invitation,” Abigail said with a satisfied smile. “Why, I’ve already heard back from almost one-hundred invitees—all of them coming, of course—and it’s the off season.”
“As I just mentioned, I’m not sure the duke will still be in New York, let alone want to come to your ball—not given what happened last night with his daughter.”
“You’ll have to do your very best to convince him he needs to come.”
“Are you forgetting the little part about where he walked in on his daughter trying to maul me?”
Abigail waved his comment aside. “He’s probably used to her antics. She seemed to be a rather high-strung young lady, which means she most likely gets into mischief on a regular basis.”
“I’m not actually sure I want to spend another evening in her company. She knocked me to the floor and then jumped on top of me.”
“I doubt she’ll try the same thing again.”
“And that’s supposed to reassure me?”
Abigail opened her mouth, but then closed it when two maids hurried into the room, both carrying feather dusters and rags that gave off a distinct smell of lemon.
Oliver smiled at them and then frowned when they bobbed curtsies and disappeared the way they’d come. “Don’t those maids work for me?”
“Of course they do. I’ve absconded with most of your staff in order to get ready for the ball, including Mr. Blodgett and Mrs. Rollins. I must warn you now, dear, your butler and housekeeper are entirely too capable, and I’m quite certain I’m going to try to lure them away from you.”
“Mrs. Astor has already tried, at least in regard to Mr. Blodgett, but he, thankfully, is quite loyal to me.”
“He’s fallen in love with our dear Lucetta, and if she agrees to stay on with me, that might change Mr. Blodgett’s mind.”
“What do you mean, stay on with you?”
“The ladies certainly can’t return to that hovel they called home, can they? Since the duke has declared his intentions to leave town earlier than expected, your business deal, if it’s still a possibility, will have to conclude within the next day or so, and then your alliance with Harriet will be over, unless . . .”
“Unless what?”
Abigail shrugged. “That’s up for you and Harriet to decide. But, I must warn you now, the reason I was concerned about your tardiness was because I’m afraid she’s devising some type of plan that will graciously allow your supposed engagement to her to be broken with relative ease. Evidently, in Harriet’s mind, that will leave you free to pursue Lady Victoria.”
Oliver rose to his feet. “You really should have allowed me to see her last night.”
Abigail rose as well. “How could I have possibly known that you would have no interest in Lady Victoria? From what Archibald told me, you’re incredibly focused on improving your fortune and your social status. Lady Victoria could do both for you with one tiny crook of her finger.” Abigail lifted her chin. “Her father, from what I’ve been told, is an incredibly wealthy man.”