Deceived

Aurora curtsied to Queen Charlotte, and was rewarded with a smile. 'You were not born here,' the queen observed cleverly.

'No, your majesty, I was born on the island of St. Timothy, in the Caribbean, where I lived until I came to England a little over a year ago. St. Timothy was a grant to my family from King Charles II.'

'How do you live on an island?' the queen inquired, curious.

'We raise sugar cane, your majesty,' Aurora said.

'Do you have slaves?'

'Yes, we do, for you cannot raise sugar without them. The labor is intense and difficult,' Aurora explained. 'We do not mistreat our slaves, however, your majesty. They are as valuable to us as the cane itself.'

'I have heard that is not the case on the other islands,' the Earl of Bute noted.

'No, it is not. Most of the planters treat their slaves as if they were expendable because they can easily obtain more. My family did not feel it was a Christian way to act, and besides, it takes longer to retrain new slaves than to treat the ones you have decently. We harvest as much sugar as any other plantation our size. Our cost to do so is less because we aren't always replacing our labor with new labor, and our profits are therefore greater.'

The king chuckled again. 'Hawkesworth, I do believe you have yourself a most practical little wife. You are very fortunate.'

Valerian Hawkesworth smiled broadly. 'Yes, your majesty, I certainly am, and I suspect your majesty shares my good fortune in the queen.' He bowed gallantly to Charlotte.

The queen's eyes twinkled, and she was obviously quite pleased with the duke's compliment.

The Earl of Bute now stepped forward once more. 'Your majesties, I do believe it is time for you to formally open the ball,' he said quietly.

The king nodded, then said, 'Follow along behind us, my dear Farminster. I will want to talk with you one day soon about an idea I have regarding the land. You will be in London until spring?'

'Yes, your majesty,' Valerian Hawkesworth said.

They reentered the ballroom, walking directly after the royal couple. Behind them, the Earl of Bute came along with Lord Trahern, who could scarcely contain himself with delight at this temporary elevation in his status.

The musicians began to play, and the king led the queen onto the floor along with the Duke and Duchess of Farminster. As the minuet began, the other guests joined them. The king danced the second dance with Aurora, while Valerian partnered the queen.

'Your success is assured in high society now,' Lord Trahern assured her later in the evening as he escorted her to the buffet for a glass of champagne. 'They may gossip their tittle-tattle down in the country, but you are a triumph here in London, mon ange.'

'And what exactly does a triumph do in London, Trahern?' Aurora asked him. 'One cannot attend balls all the time.'

'Heavens, no!' Trahern exclaimed. 'There are routs, and racing, picnics, and boating, gambling for the gentlemen, cards for the ladies, and, of course, one makes calls and leaves cards. You do have cards, my dear Aurora, don't you?'

'Cards?' She looked confused. 'What sort of cards?'

'No cards?' Lord Trahern looked scandalized. 'Oh, my dear, it will simply not do. I shall call upon you tomorrow, and we shall go to Mr. Dove's shop. He is the finest cardmaker in London, nay, I lie, in all of England. You absolutely must have cards if you are to make calls, mon ange.'

Aurora took a sip of her champagne. 'Upon whom shall I call?' she asked him. 'I know absolutely no one in London. Is it not forward for me to call upon people I do not know, Trahern?'

'Mon ange, after tonight, they will all be eager to call upon you, for have I not said you are a triumph? Not only are you one of the most beautiful women here; you are dressed exquisitely; you have both been recognized by their majesties, you have danced with the king, and your husband with the queen. For a provincial ducal couple from Herefordshire, this is astounding. Therefore everyone will be eager to know you, especially given your rather unique history.' Trahern gulped his wine down and continued. 'Once you have been called upon, you must return the calls, leaving your card to indicate that you have called.'

Aurora helped herself to a second flute of champagne that was being offered by a footman. She did enjoy champagne. 'Why must I leave cards when I call on people? Will they not receive me, Trahern?'

'Most will when they see your card, but others may not be receiving when you call, or may be out calling upon others,' he told her. 'As for you, mon ange, I will tell you whom to receive immediately and whom to not. You must not seem overeager to gain the approval of the ton.'

'Actually, Trahern, I don't care if I do or not,' Aurora told him frankly. 'We are in London for the winter, and only because we could not remain at Hawkes Hill. Once we return home, I doubt we will come to London at all.'

'Be that as it may,' he said, 'while you are here you should meet, know, and associate with only the right people. Remember that one day you will want to make an alliance for your son.'

'I don't have a son,' she responded laughing.

'But you will,' he replied quickly.

Aurora told her husband of her conversation with Trahern as they lay abed later that night, and he laughed.

'Trahern is a silly fool,' he said. 'Do you intend to retain his company?' He fingered a brown-gold curl, kissing it.

'He is not as great a fool as he makes out,' Aurora said. 'But he does amuse me. Not as he did Cally. She was impressed by him. I am not. Still, we cannot sit alone by ourselves in Farminster House until the spring, Valerian. You have been accepted into Boodles and can run off to your club when you are bored. I have no such luxury, and so I must rely upon Charles Trahern for my entertainment.'

He slid his hand into the open neckline of her nightgown and fondled a small, plump breast. 'I will amuse you, my darling,' he murmured seductively, nibbling upon her earlobe.

'Be serious, Valerian,' she scolded him.

'Why?' he demanded of her, and then his mouth fastened upon a trusting nipple, and he began to suck upon her.

She sighed, her fingers stroking the nape of his neck. 'Because…' she began, but his rising passion was too distracting.

He pushed her nightgown up to her hips, but she stopped him, drawing it off instead, and then reaching out to help him out of his nightshirt. 'Better,' he groaned, wrapping his arms about her. 'Much, much better.'

'Ummmmmm,' she agreed. She loved the feel of skin on skin. He was so warm against her. Very warm, and very hard. Why was it that a man was so hard and a woman so soft, she wondered. He began to kiss her throat and her shoulders, leaving her breast bereft. His lips were tender and very exciting against the silk of her skin. Aurora considered that it was really a miracle that a woman did not grow tired