Last Dance in London (Rakes on the Run #1) - Sydney Jane Baily Page 0,46
title. The Crown could and probably would send your sister back to obscurity in a heartbeat if someone at the palace wanted the Worthington earldom.”
Julia couldn’t help her eyes widening at this heretofore unknown information.
“What has that to do with myself and Lord Marshfield?” She cringed. Even linking their names sounded as though they were up to something sordid.
Lady Daphne pursed her lips for a moment.
“You truly are not one of us.” She sighed. “It works like this. If you are disgraced by Marshfield, you must throw yourself into the Thames or flee to the Continent even with the continued unrest against the English. Or you may go into hiding in the country and never return to London. And your sister would then be looked upon as less than desirable company. You will taint her tenuous hold upon fine society. When they see her, they will think of you and Marshfield, who will escape unscathed as usual because men will be men. The quality set will believe you might not have been innocent to begin with. They’ll think you were trying to entrap him and set your trap unwisely since no one who knows Marshfield believes he will marry one of the many foolish females he plays with.”
The lady rolled her eyes in silence with a shake of her head, and Julia’s heart fell. The rebuke sounded worse when coming from someone who was not her sister.
“Make no mistake, though,” Lady Daphne continued. “The earl is one of us and will be forgiven because it is easier to blame an outsider. Including your sister. Obviously, people will say you weren’t raised properly, and she must not have been, either. The whispers that only recently died down about her being a fortune-hunter, a scab who prays with her knees up, will begin anew.”
Slightly shocked, Julia soaked in all the complexities of the small world of Mayfair. She certainly didn’t want to harm Sarah in any way. A scab, indeed!
“I do understand,” she said, more emphatically. At the same time, she resented the notion of giving up her flirtation with Marshfield because of disapproving tongue-waggers.
Something must have shown in her eyes, for Lady Daphne shook her head.
“Oh dear! Never say you have feelings for the man.” For the second time, the woman broke down in laughter.
“For Marshfield? Don’t be a silly goose! He will have to marry someday, of course, but it will be to a titled lady at the very least, and more probably to a titled lady with a splendid fortune. And most certainly, to a newly minted debutante in her first Season, with the purest of reputations. She will have to be strong enough to hold her place in society even while everyone knows how he continues with his rakish ways. Most of the noblemen of my acquaintance have a mistress, just like the Prince Regent, and many bring these courtesans to balls and dinners instead of their wives.”
Then Lady Daphne frowned. “It can become a bit tricky as a hostess, especially if the wife also shows up and has a lover with her, although that is much rarer.” Then she shook her head. “This is all making me weary. Don’t fall for a rake, Miss Sudbury. Men like Marshfield do not change their feathers for fur. Either do as your sister did and get yourself a nice old man whose nearly ready to slip the wind, or get yourself a man firmly in your own class, who will be more than happy to come home to a lovely wife like you. It will save you a great deal of heartache.”
Julia could do nothing but nod.
“Come now,” Lady Daphne said, “don’t look glum. It doesn’t mean you can’t dance with Marshfield tonight and a few other handsome gentlemen.”
With that, they returned to the party. Julia’s partner had long since given up waiting for her and was on the floor with another. Lord Marshfield was leaning against the far wall, looking like thunder, and Julia knew why. He’d caught her red-handed, a fact she’d nearly forgotten among all the words of wisdom and caution from Lady Daphne.
It might be best if she didn’t dance with the earl or, indeed, even go near him again that night. Alas, she wasn’t given the choice.
When she was escorted from the floor following the next dance, Jasper awaited her. He didn’t ask permission, but highhandedly took her away from her partner and toward a quiet corner.