Duke of Disrepute (Dukes of Distinction #3) - Alexa Aston Page 0,61

to work with, encouraging Elise to be bolder in her color selections and even more daring in the cut of her gowns. She’d praised Elise’s figure, especially her breasts, declaring them meant to be seen. Though she was self-conscious about putting them on display, glimpsing into the mirror told her the dressmaker had been correct.

She looked divine.

Opening a small box, she withdrew the sapphire earrings that her father had presented to her on her sixteenth birthday. He’d told her to wear them on special occasions and hoped she would remember him when she did so. Tonight was one of those nights. She put them on and admired her reflection in the mirror. Satisfied with what she saw, she slipped from her room and sneaked up the stairs. Though the children were supposed to already be in bed, she’d arranged with the two governesses to keep them up a bit so she could come and show them her dress.

She entered the room that had been the one she shared with Claire when they were in town and was now solely her daughter’s. It had taken some explaining for Claire to understand why her mother now slept downstairs instead of with her daughter. Elise had bragged on what a big girl Claire was becoming and how she would be like her cousins and have a bed all to herself.

Claire now sat in bed, the pillows propped behind her. Joseph and Josiah perched at the foot of the bed. All three children gasped as she came in.

“Mama! You are beautiful.”

“Auntie Elise, you look like a princess,” Josiah said.

“No, a queen,” Joseph corrected.

She hugged each of them. “Thank you very much. I hope everyone at the ball will also think the same.”

Claire reached up and touched the earrings. “These are pretty, Mama. Where did you get them? Why don’t you wear them?”

“My papa gave them to me years ago. One day, I will give them to you,” she promised.

“Do you have a necklace to match them?” Josiah asked innocently.

“No, I only have the earrings.”

“You need a necklace. I’ll bet all the ladies will wear one,” Joseph said. “Should I go ask Mama if she’ll loan you one?”

“No. Your mama is busy getting ready and shouldn’t be bothered,” she told her nephew.

It did sadden her to think of the jewelry she’d once had when she was the Countess of Ruthersby. Although Norwood had given her a piece on every birthday and Christmas, as well as when Claire was born, the new countess demanded they be returned. Elise had explained they were personal gifts from her husband and not part of the Ruthersby collection of jewels to be worn to social events. It hadn’t mattered. What the new countess wanted, she got. In this case, it was every bit of jewelry Elise had.

Except for these earrings.

It didn’t matter. She was going to a ball tonight. She might even dance with her future husband. Though she didn’t long for jewels to wear, he still might give her some after they wed. She couldn’t wait for the day she and Claire could leave this place and begin a new life together.

“All right, my darlings, into bed with you all.”

She tucked Claire in and kissed her and then went to supervise her nephews getting into bed.

“Remember, keep my visit to yourselves,” she said, not wanting the boys to get into trouble for being up past their bedtime.

“We will, Auntie,” Josiah promised solemnly.

Elise returned to her bedchamber and collected her reticule and a filmy wrap, placing it about her shoulders. Easter had come early this year, which meant the Season started sooner than usual. The March winds were still strong and brisk. Word had come that Napoleon had entered Paris two weeks ago. She supposed that would be the talk of the ball tonight. Or perhaps not. With it being the first social event of the Season, people might be more interested in fashion and flirting than discussing a long-term war.

She went downstairs to the foyer, knowing Weston was coming for them in his carriage. It surprised her to already find him standing there. As she descended the stairs, his face lit up.

Taking her gloved hand as she reached the bottom, his admiring glance told her all she needed to know.

“You are simply breathtaking, my lady.”

“It’s the gown. Actually, the modiste who created the gown. Samantha told me she was a genius.”

Weston had been right about believing she and his sister would become fast friends. Though Elise hadn’t thought a