Scandal of Love (5 page)

Sera nodded toward Aubrey’s hair. “One of your pins has come loose.”

Raising a hand, Aubrey reached up to the fallen curl. “Bugger,” she said under her breath. “I’ll go repair it quickly. Wait for me here?”

Sera nodded before Aubrey took off toward the lady’s retiring room.

Gratefully accepting a cup of lemonade from a server, she sighed. The first sip of the tart beverage was like heaven on her tongue.

“Well, I must say that I am surprised to see you here,” a silky smooth voice announced from behind her.

Sera closed her eyes on an oath. Lady Victoria. She should have known the viper would seek her out so quickly.

Turning with a smile, Sera greeted her. “Hello, Lady Victoria. You are looking well this evening. That shade of blue is quite becoming on you.”

In a feminine gesture, Lady Victoria reached down to smooth her skirts. “Yes, well, I have often been told so. That ivory gown is also lovely. Although, I must say I am surprised you aren’t wearing red.”

“ I’m not quite sure what you mean,” Sera said, but she did. Red was worn by experienced women, especially ones of the demimonde, but she wasn’t going to give Victoria the satisfaction of becoming upset by her comment.

Victoria smirked. “Oh, come now. I know the truth, Sera.”

Sera’s smile became brittle as dread filled her belly. Could Victoria possibly know that it was all a hoax? No, no one knew that. She was just fishing for another scandal.

It seemed that from the moment Sera had made her entrance into society, Victoria had been waiting for her downfall. Victoria was beautiful. With rich black hair and crystal blue eyes, she was the most sought after debutant. At least until Sera had entered society. From that moment on, Sera had been the most popular, and Victoria had come in second. She had never gotten over that fact and rejoiced in making Sera’s life miserable whenever she could manage it.

“The truth of what?” Sera finally replied.

Victoria looked over her shoulder then leaned forward as if to tell her a secret. “I know that your engagement was set because of the scandal. You and Lord Devericks are no love match.”

“Really? And how would you know that?”

Victoria shrugged. “It’s rather obvious. I can tell he doesn’t really care for you. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if he started the gossip himself so that he could secure your dowry.”

Sera’s gasp only seemed to encourage Victoria. “I can’t blame him though.” She picked at one of her nails. “If I were in such terrible financial straits as he, I can’t say I wouldn’t do the same.”

Could it be true? Sera hadn’t even considered that Lord Devericks would do such a thing until that moment. He had motive, but why her? There were many girls that had large dowries. And it wasn’t as if he wanted her for her looks since he had first thought Aubrey was his fiancée.

No, she didn’t want to believe it. She couldn’t. Yet, the doubt continued to grow within her. Victoria had planted the seed and it seemed to take root.

“Lady Sera, I hoped to claim the next dance. Are you available?” Lord Devericks asked, interrupting her thoughts.

“Why, yes. I would be delighted,” she said shakily, glancing back at Victoria who was fuming from Lord Devericks’ attention.

He whisked her toward the middle of the dance floor, well away from anyone that could hear them. “Is everything all right? You seemed really upset,” he whispered in her ear.

Had he been watching her entire conversation with Victoria? “Yes.” She tried to shake off the doubts that lingered in her mind. “She doesn’t believe that we are a love match. She thinks it’s a sham, which of course it is, but it makes me wonder if others don’t believe as well.”

He scanned the room, seeming to take stock of people’s reaction. “I don’t think there is anything to worry about. Most of the women that are watching us don’t look disbelieving.”

Sera glanced around the room while taking position for the next dance. She had to agree; most were, in fact, looking at her fiancé with longing.

She could understand the women’s attractions. Her fiancé was one of the most handsome men she had ever seen. Did he realize the reactions he was setting off? Glancing up at him, he seemed oblivious.

Could he have started the rumor? The arm around her waist was protective, and she was glad he had scooped her away from Victoria’s claws, but could she trust him? Was he the type to manipulate someone else for his gain?

If only she had time to get to know him before they married. It was impossible.

“What are you thinking?” he asked, interrupting her thoughts.

“I was wondering if you were trustworthy.”

Her bluntness seemed to surprise him. “I would like to think so. I try to conduct myself with honor.”

Searching his face, she looked for any reassurance that she could believe him. She wanted to, but didn’t know if she should. “I will keep that in mind.”

His hand tightened on her waist. “You may always ask me anything. I would like us to be friends.”

Friends. The word seemed so tame compared to what she had hoped to have in marriage. It wasn’t that she didn’t appreciate him reaching out to her, she did. She just wished there was love between them.

At least they would be able to start their marriage on friendly terms.

“I would as well. I hope that we can come to trust each other,” she said softly.

“I trust you.”

She glanced up at him in surprise. “You do? Why?”

“Why not?” He shrugged slightly as he lifted his arm to spin her. “I see no reason not to.”

“But I have done nothing to earn your trust.”

“I would like to give you my trust until you do something that makes me feel otherwise.”

She shook her head. “That’s silly. You don’t know anything about me. How could you possibly know if I am honorable?”

“I don’t. But it is my hope that you are. You have made a commitment to marry me, even though you know nothing about me, and I know you will keep your end of the bargain. You already are by pretending this is a love match. You have already begun to prove yourself to me.”

She wished it were simple for her as well. She wanted to trust him as blindly as he seemed to be able to do. Oh, why did Victoria have to mess with her? She would have never suspected Lord Devericks if it weren’t for her interference.

They gave one another a final bow before he escorted her back to the refreshments.

“I’ll be close by if you need anything,” he whispered to her.

She appreciated his offer. He was being much more kind than she expected him to be. Much more attentive.

“Lord Devericks asked you to dance again?” Aubrey asked once he had left Sera at her side. “I’m surprised he would ask so soon when you’re only allowed two dances.”

“I was grateful for his assistance. He interrupted a conversation with Victoria,” she whispered.

Sera didn’t need to add anything else. Aubrey was well aware of the woman’s behavior and easily guessed what had happened.

Leading Sera toward a private alcove between potted plants, she whispered, “What did she say?”

“Oh, it isn’t worth repeating.” Sera tried to wave off her friend’s concern.

Aubrey’s brow raised in a golden arch. “We both know that isn’t true. She’s a jealous viper that would love to see you ripped apart. I can only imagine what she said once the two of you were alone.”

Sera sighed. “She said she knew that this wasn’t a love match, and that Lord Devericks was probably responsible for the scandal in the first place.”

In any other instance, Sera would have found Aubrey’s open-mouthed reaction hilarious, but she couldn’t muster up the laughter now.

“That vicious…” Aubrey trailed off, taking a deep breath. “You know that isn’t true. She’s just saying that to get under your skin. I can’t believe she would sink so low now that you are out of the picture. You would think she would leave things alone now that you are engaged.”

“I doubt she’ll ever leave me alone.”

Aubrey studied Sera’s face. “You don’t believe her do you? You know she would say anything to upset you.”

“I know.” Sera rubbed her temples. “I know she only said it to upset me, but what if she’s right? What if he actually did start the rumor?”

“Why would anyone do such a thing?”

“For my dowry.”

Aubrey’s head shook firmly. “No. There are many other girls with dowries. There would have to be a specific reason he would trap you.”

“Perhaps he only considered that my father was a duke and wanted the connection.” She shrugged.

“I don’t think so.” Aubrey paused as if considering something. “Have you thought about asking him?”

“Absolutely not.”

“Why not? I think it might be good to get it out in the open.”

“I can’t do that now,” she said, frustration tingeing her voice.

“Why is that?”

“Because during our last dance he told me that he trusted me and that he would until I gave him a reason not to. He said I could trust him, that he was honorable.”

“But you don’t believe him?”

Sera threw her hands out to her sides in frustration. “I don’t know what to believe. I don’t know him or anything about him. All I know is that a rumor started about us and then he wrote to me with a proposal of marriage.”

Taking Sera’s hands, Aubrey squeezed. “We will figure this out. We will find out the truth.”

Nodding, Sera squeezed back, grateful for her reassurance and help. Sera wasn’t quite sure what she would do without Aubrey’s friendship.

“Come on, let’s go watch the others dance.”

Taking a seat against the wall, normally reserved for wallflowers, the two sat in silence as couples twirled by in a flurry of lace and satin.

The ballroom was large—larger than most anyway. The parquet flooring glistened with a new coat of beeswax that mingled with the scent of women’s perfume. Three imposing chandeliers were glowing from hundreds of candles, their light reflecting off thousands of teardrop crystals.

Sera loved the rosy, romantic feeling the light created. Joined with the weeping sounds of violins, she always felt that it was the perfect atmosphere for falling in love.

The high, arching windows had finally been opened, but it only served to let in a light breeze. There wouldn’t be much escaping the heat in the room unless one went outside.

Leaning forward, she looked through an open pair of French doors out to the lit garden. Candles had been placed outside, softly illuminating the stone benches and garden beyond the balcony. Having been to a ball here before, she knew there was a staircase to the left of the doorway that led down into the gardens.

“Last time I was here, I would have never guessed that my life would take a turn like this,” Sera finally said.

“I know.”

“At least I know that you will be able to have what I won’t. That will give me some comfort.”

Aubrey let out a humorless laugh.

“Why do you laugh?”

“Look at me, Sera. I’m hardly the beauty you are.”

“That’s not true,” Sera said, sounding upset by her friend’s dismissal of her qualities. “You are beautiful, intelligent, and have a great sense of humor. Any man would be lucky to have you.”