relatives.
The ball was held at Montrouse Mansion. Mary Rose stood between her husband and her father as she was introduced to well-wishers. She met the Duke and Duchess of Tremont and found them both delightful. The duke was quite old, befuddled too, because he kept calling her Lady Agatha and whispering what a miracle it all was.
No one corrected the man. She looked up at Harrison to see what he thought about the man's misconception. He winked at her.
She didn't believe she made very many mistakes. Her father and her aunts seemed pleased with her performance. It was a strain, though, to suffer everyone's curiosity. A baron with sideburns nearly reaching his mouth begged for a dance, and while she was being twirled about the floor, he asked her if she had ever seen any of those savage Indians he'd read about. He didn't give her time to form an answer, but added the comment that he supposed she hadn't, given the fact that she was raised by a God-fearing family in St. Louis.
Mary Rose didn't set the baron straight. When the dance was finished, she went in search of her husband. She spotted him standing in front of the French doors that led out onto the balcony. He was in deep conversation with another man she hadn't met yet. Whatever the topic was, it obviously irritated Harrison, for his jaw was clenched and there was a frosty look in his eyes.
Aunt Lillian intercepted her. 'Your Uncle Daniel and Aunt Johanna have just arrived. Come and meet them, dear.'
'Yes, of course,' she agreed. 'Aunt Lillian? Did you tell the baron I was just dancing with that I used to live in St. Louis?'
Her aunt didn't immediately answer her. She clasped hold of Mary Rose's arm and led her around the dancing couples. Mary Rose was too curious to let the subject go. She made the assumption her aunt was responsible and prodded her into telling her why she'd lied.
'It wasn't a lie, my dear, just a little fabrication. It's easier for everyone to accept you. St. Louis isn't as primitive, and there aren't many uncouth people living there. I have it on good authority they're quite cultured. I won't have anyone mocking you, Victoria. After tonight, no one would dare, of course. You're the most refined young lady here. I'm so proud of you. We all are. Your mother's surely smiling down on you with pride. There's Daniel now. He doesn't look at all like your father, does he?'
Mary Rose gave up trying to make sense out of her aunt's convoluted motives. She wasn't ashamed of where she'd grown up, but Aunt Lillian seemed to think she should be. The older woman didn't understand what a wonderful life she'd had, of course. How could she? Mary Rose was never allowed to talk about it.
Her father's brother seemed to be genuinely happy to meet her. His wife stood by his side, and after she'd gotten over her surprise and made the comment, as everyone else had, that Mary Rose looked so very like her mother, she embraced her niece and welcomed her into the family.
Mary Rose liked Daniel, but she decided to wait before she formed an opinion about Lady Johanna. If her aunt joined the others and began pecking at her, she wasn't going to like her much at all.
As was her habit, when she felt herself becoming nervous, she reached up to touch her locket. The link with her family comforted her. She felt a moment of panic when she touched the jeweled necklace, then took a deep breath, told herself she was being foolish, and tried once again to pay attention to what her Uncle Daniel was telling her about his family's exhausting holiday.
Mary Rose's glance kept returning to Harrison. She was finally able to excuse herself and go to her husband. She wanted to tell him to stop frowning, but the other gentleman was standing next to him, and she wasn't about to criticize him in front of a stranger.
Harrison 's friend, Nicholas, joined her. He introduced himself, bowed low, and then smiled at her. He was an extremely handsome man, with dark hair and eyes. He was almost as tall as Harrison was, wire thin, and oozed charm.
'Congratulations, Lady Victoria. I wish you and Harrison the best.'
'Thank you, sir,' she answered.
'Shall we go and save your husband from the biggest gossip in London?'
She put her hand on his arm and walked by his side. 'What is his name?'
'The bore,' Nicholas answered.
Mary Rose laughed. The sound of her amusement turned several heads. She quickly schooled her expression. 'He isn't boring Harrison.'
'No, he isn't,' Nicholas agreed. 'Your husband is trying to hold on to his temper.'
Mary Rose was introduced to Sidney Madison a moment later. She had already decided she didn't like him because he was a rumor spreader, and his manners only confirmed her opinion. Adam would have called him a fop, and Sidney Madison wouldn't have lasted five minutes in Blue Belle. He was an effeminate man with overly long fingernails she thought distasteful. His manners were very affected too.
She put her hand on Harrison 's arm and stood by his side while Madison finished telling a story about his recent experience in New York City. Nicholas stood on her other side with his hands clasped behind his back. The sparkle, she noticed, was gone from his eyes. Nicholas seemed to be as miserable as Harrison obviously was. Her husband gripped the glass he was holding in his right hand, and she noticed his other hand was fisted at his side.
It had been a perfect evening thus far, and Mary Rose didn't want to have it ruined for her husband or her father. Harrison was the guest of honor, after all; he shouldn't have to suffer the bore's presence another minute.
She decided to separate the two. 'Might I have a word in private?' she asked her husband.
'I've taken up too much of your husband's time, haven't I?' Madison asked. He turned to Harrison once again. 'Congratulations to you. It was very clever of you to marry Victoria in America before she found out. Very clever indeed. I commend you.'
Harrison knew he was being baited by the son-of-a-bitch. He silently counted to ten and vowed not to say another word.
Nicholas leaned forward. 'Before his wife found out what, Madison?'
'Why, what she's worth, of course.' He smiled after giving the insult.
Mary Rose heard Nicholas's indrawn breath a scant second before Harrison succumbed to one of his spells. He kept his gaze directed on the crowd in front of him, but she could see the hard glint that came into his eyes. Harrison suddenly reminded her of Cole. Her brother always got that peculiar gleam in his eyes just before he was going to…
Dear God. 'Don't,' she whispered to her husband.
It was already too late. If she hadn't been watching him closely, she would have missed his attack on the Englishman. With lightning speed, the back of Harrison 's fist slammed into Madison 's face. The man flew backward into the doors, put both of his hands up to his nose, and let out a low cry of alarm.
Harrison didn't even blink. He did smile, though, and acted as if nothing out of the ordinary had just happened. He didn't even bother to look at Madison to find out what damage he'd caused.
Nicholas's mouth dropped open. Just as Madison was recovering his balance, Harrison 's friend whispered, 'What did you just do?'
'This.'
And then he struck Madison once more. The Englishman again went staggering backward. Mary Rose was horrified. Harrison turned and smiled at her.
'Shall we dance, sweetheart?'
And so they did. Nicholas's laughter followed them onto the dance floor.
'You're having one of your spells, aren't you, Harrison.'
He took her into his arms and began to move to the music. 'It's about time, isn't it? How are you holding up? I've missed talking to you. Are you all right?'
'I'm fine,' she answered. 'Did my father see what you did?'
'If the expression on his face is any indication, I would have to conclude he did. He just dropped his glass.'
'Oh, Lord,' she whispered. 'If you've gone and ruined it for my father and his sisters, there will be hell to pay.'
