* * *
“Isn’t he divine?” Lady Tressingham lifted her fan, shielded her face, and glanced across the room at the man staring back at them. He smiled, and she answered back with a practiced flick of her wrist, expertly employing her fan in the art of flirtation. “Isn’t Sussex the most attractive man you’ve ever seen?”
There was no doubt that the Duke of Sussex was attractive, but there was something more appealing about the man on his right. “The duke is quite attractive, Mama,” Alyssa answered dutifully. “But tell me, who are the viscounts, and which one is the marquess?” She tried to sound as if her question were born of polite curiosity instead of a sudden, aching need to know.
Lady Tressingham gave a pained sigh. “You should have been studying your Debrett’s instead of refolding all the linens and making a pest of yourself with the housekeeper and the staff. Did you bother to memorize the pages I marked? Or any of it? Haven’t you been listening to anything I’ve said during the past few weeks? I cannot believe I reared such an ignorant daughter.”
Alyssa looked her mother in the eye. “I’m not ignorant, Mama. Just indifferent. Since I didn’t intend to marry, it made no sense to waste time memorizing information I didn’t need. And when you insisted I reconsider my decision, I decided to wait to memorize the pages of Debrett’s that will apply to me once you and Papa decide who I’m to marry.”
“That’s very sensible,” Lady Tressingham admitted, “except that you need the information before you choose a husband. Otherwise, how will you know what you’re getting? What if the duke doesn’t come up to snuff and offer for you?” Lady Tressingham frowned. It didn’t bear thinking on, but it was possible. After all, young Sussex had failed to offer for her three other daughters despite his exalted mother’s wishes.
“Quite right, Mama, but I knew there was no need for me to worry about that because I knew you were very familiar with Debrett’s and I didn’t know about the duke or his mother’s plans. Besides, I was busy gaining other knowledge—housekeeping knowledge every bride”— Alyssa said the magic word—“needs. Now, will you please tell me which viscount is which?”
“The only real housekeeping knowledge a bride needs is how to supervise a staff,” Lady Tressingham insisted stubbornly. “Your Debrett’s would be of more use in this situation. Now that you’re well on your way to becoming the Incomparable Beauty of the Season, you suddenly care about the knowledge you should have already gained from Debrett’s.”
“Yes, Mama, now I care. But even if I had memorized Debrett’s, it wouldn’t help, because Debrett’s doesn’t include likenesses, and no one wants to look or feel ignorant in front of a prospective suitor’s companions,” Alyssa replied quickly, praying her mother would supply the necessary information without further comment because she didn’t like dissembling. Especially to her mother. “And it’s obvious that those three men are friends, so tell me, who is who?”
Her mother sighed once again. “The one on the left is Viscount Grantham. The one in the center is Viscount Abernathy…”
Good heavens! So that was Lord Abernathy…Abernathy who wasn’t ignorant or a fool, but who was a sworn Free Fellow. Whatever that was.
“I had no idea Sussex was a part of their group. He’s a year or so younger.” Alyssa turned her attention back to what her mother was saying. “Shepherdston, Abernathy, and Grantham are boon companions, and now it seems that Sussex is as well… Of course, that will probably change after your marriage. It is always understood that once a gentleman marries, he relinquishes his previous friendships with his unmarried friends and begins a new life with his wife and their friends.”
“How horrible!” Alyssa was shocked.
“You say that now,” Lady Tressingham said, “but you’ll feel differently when you’re a duchess. Look up and smile. He’s headed this way.”
“A duchess?” Alyssa blinked. “I don’t want to be a duchess.”
Chapter Six
“I’ve met the future Viscountess Abernathy. We appear to share similar sensibilities. I’ve no delusions of grandeur. Fortunately, neither has she.”
—Griffin, Lord Abernathy, journal notation, 26 April 1810