Deceived

however, he is not. I do not want to disappoint him in any way, Aurora. He is truly interested in my agrarian knowledge, and wants to learn. You know there are no others among the court who can speak with him on such matters. They have already begun to make fun of him behind his back, calling him Farmer George, even as they call me the farmer duke, but he will eventually win them over. He may be a solemn and very moral man, but he is kind and good-hearted. Eventually all of England will respond to his sweet and decent nature. We have little time left here. Let me serve the king as best I can while we remain.'

She sighed and nodded. 'You are right,' she agreed.

'I must leave in another hour or so for Kew,' the duke told his wife. 'I will wait up for you, my precious.'

'And I shall come home as early as I dare,' she replied with a small smile at him.

'You're a wicked, wanton chit,' he said, kissing her hard.

'Aye, sir, but I am your wicked, wanton chit,' she answered, kissing him back, her tongue slipping between his lips to tease him. Then, slipping from his arms, she ran upstairs.

'Well,' Martha said as she entered her apartment, 'what are we doing this evening, my lady?'

'Valerian is leaving for Kew to be with the king, and I am going to some ball or other with Trahern,' Aurora answered.

'Going to a ball? Without your husband?' Martha's lips were pursed in a disapproving manner.

'Valerian says if I don't go, Trahern will complain at him tomorrow at Boodles,' Aurora laughed. 'I should far prefer to remain at home, Martha.'

'And so you should in your condition!' came the sharp reply. 'Have you told his grace yet, my lady?'

Aurora looked at her servant, surprised. 'You know? How?'

'Well, it weren't that difficult to figure out, my lady' came the retort. 'Don't I see your laundry gathered up for the laundress? Well, you ain't had any show of blood in weeks, and I've noticed of late that your appetite is a bit peckish and your gowns is getting a bit tight in the bosom. It weren't really that hard.'

'You haven't told anyone, have you?' Aurora fretted.

Martha looked mildly aggrieved that her mistress would even ask such a question. 'Yer certain?' was her response.

'I've seen the queen's physician,' she replied, 'But I don't want to tell Valerian until we get home to Hawkes Hill. He'd only worry, and the doctor says I am healthy, and happy, and that is good for me right now. Oh, Martha, I'm not Cally, and I don't want Valerian to be afraid. Having a baby is the most natural thing in the world! I cannot wait to hold my child in my arms!'

'Yer mama, the real one, I mean, was just like that,' Martha said. 'She loved children, and you do too. I won't tell his grace, my lady. We'll be home shortly, and that's time enough for him to know. But, I don't want you overexerting yourself now!'

'I won't,' Aurora promised the faithful Martha.

'What are we wearing this evening?' the servant said.

'The rose and gold, I think' was the response.

'That flamboyant thing? I don't know why you had it made in the first place,' Martha huffed. 'Do you really want to be seen in public in that gown?'

'Trahern said wear something spectacular, and I believe the rose and gold qualifies. It may be the only chance I get to wear it. I don't know why I had it made either, but the material seemed so interesting before it became a gown,' Aurora remarked.

Martha nodded. 'Aye, that sometimes happens. Well, I'll get it out and see that it's pressed, my lady. At least it won't go to waste before it goes into the back of the wardrobe,' she giggled.

A bath was brought for her grace, and Aurora enjoyed a long and leisurely soak, for she had plenty of time before Trahern would call for her. The water was perfect, and the scent of honeysuckle and woodbine filled the air. Sally had found the most interesting little chemist's shop nearby that made the fragrance up in a bath oil. It was a clean yet sensual smell, and Valerian liked it. There was even soap to match it. Picking up her bath cloth, Aurora soaped it and washed herself. The bath was so relaxing, and she was beginning to get sleepy.

'There's time for a nap and a wee bit of supper before you go,' Martha said, helping her from the tub. 'If you're going to be up tonight instead of in your bed, where you belong, then you need your strength. How about a bit of chicken, bread, and butter?'

Aurora nodded, and lying down, was asleep almost before her head hit the pillow. Martha awakened her at eight, and after nibbling a bit on the contents of the plate her servant had brought her, and drinking some sweet golden wine, she was ready to dress. Wiping the chicken grease from her face and washing her hands in the basin Sally held for her, she at last stood up. Her maids bustled about her, dressing her in her undergarments, stockings, and petticoats, until finally Molly and Martha lowered her gown over her head, and Sally, kneeling, settled the skirts of the garment over her mistress's petticoats.

'Take a deep breath,' Martha ordered, and began lacing up the gown with skillful fingers. Aurora had a naturally small waistline, and the servant was careful not to pull the laces too tight. Many a tightly laced woman fainted in her desire to be ultra-fashionable.

Aurora stared at herself in the long mirror. Her bosom was certainly threatening to swell over the neckline of the gown, which was edged in gold lace. She tugged at it in an attempt to draw it up in order to give herself a more modest countenance.

Martha shook her head. 'There ain't no help for it,' she said dourly, and Sally giggled, only to be silenced by a furious look from the upper servant. 'We had best choose another gown, my lady.'

The clock on the mantel struck nine o'clock. 'There is no time,' Aurora said. 'You know how prompt Trahern always is. Fetch the deep blue velvet cape, Molly.' She turned back to Martha. 'I have no intention of staying out too long, at any rate. I'll be back before anyone has had the time to dwell on this gown,' she promised. Then she fitted her pear-shaped pearl earbobs into her lobes and gave her hair a final pat. 'Do you think it looks all right without the twin curls on either side, Martha?'

'I like the chignon, my lady. It gives you a sophisticated look, and besides, a change now and then is good,' the servant reassured her mistress. She handed Aurora her cloth-of-gold reticule. 'Your handkerchief and little painted fan are inside.'

Aurora exited her apartment, Molly hurrying behind with her velvet cloak.

Trahern, at the foot of the stairs, looked up, his eyes widening. 'I say!' he blurted out.

'Well, Trahern, you did say spectacular,' she mocked him.

His eyes fastened a moment too long upon her bosom, then met her gaze boldly. 'I would not have expected such a garment existed in your wardrobe, Aurora. In Calandra's, yes, but not yours.'

'The color is better suited to Cally,' Aurora admitted. 'I don't know why I chose this material, but it fitted your instructions.'

Molly set the cape over her mistress's shoulders and fastened the silver frog closures.

'Where are we going?' Aurora asked her companion as they settled themselves in his carriage.