Victoria narrowed her eyes in anger, and Edmund turned on his heels and started to walk away from her. She did not want to be seen as someone who trailed after a man who had shown no interest in her, but she could also not let that incredible Duke get away.
He was just nervous that is all, she convinced herself as she fanned her face. The heat was so intense she just knew that her face was stained red. And he clearly did not know how to dance well. If I speak with him alone without any music or pressure, I shall get to know him better.
Making a snap decision, Victoria scooped up the skirts of her dress and followed Edmund out into the hallway where he had just escaped the stifling atmosphere of the ballroom.
Upon hearing footsteps behind him, Edmund was surprised to see that Victoria had followed him. His words got lost in his throat for just a second, and he found himself speechless. He did not know exactly what was happening, but he had a feeling he would not like it.
Victoria could feel herself about to do something rash and utterly crazy. It was an act that she had been driven to by desperation alone. If this were her first season, or maybe even her second, she would not even consider acting in such a manner, but something had to change. She could not carry on the way that she had; it would not do again.
With determination, she made it to Edmund in a heartbeat and reached up to hold onto his shoulders once more. Only this time, she lifted her body up so high that her lips reached the side of his mouth, leaving Edmund utterly stunned.
This is not done! he thought anxiously while freezing to the spot. If this moment is spotted, then both of our reputations shall be ruined.
He could not even work out what had caused it to happen; he had not given Victoria any indication that he was interested in her. He was very careful about that. There was certainly no explanation for why she would act this way.
No, I cannot do it.
Finally, sanity claimed Edmund, and he pushed Victoria back lightly. As he stared into her eyes, totally confused, he spotted a flash of determination in her gaze. She had not done this for nothing; there was something there that Edmund could not yet see. He just needed to dig a little deeper ...
That was when it hit him.
She orchestrated that; she wanted that to happen. Victoria wanted them to get caught. She knew that if Edmund ruined her reputation – even if it were not of his own doing – then he would be forced to marry her.
Shocked at the manipulation, he staggered backwards in despair. His eyes flickered everywhere as panic tore through him, but it appeared that they were alone. Whatever Victoria’s plan was, she did not get the audience that she needed for it.
“I think it is best that I leave,” Edmund told her coldly. “And I do not think we should ever speak of what just happened again.”
He paused as Victoria slammed her hands onto her hips. He could tell from the fire flashing behind her gaze that she had a lot to say, but thankfully pride stepped in the way and shut any of those arguments down.
Edmund straightened himself up, and he turned towards the door which would take him to the outside world. Trying to find a wife at a ball such as this one was not the way for him; he had proven that with utter certainty now. He would have to consider what other options he had available to him, even if that meant he had to reconsider the woman he promised himself he would never marry.
In all honesty, a little eye roll from Mary Roberts was nothing compared to what he had been subjected to tonight. Maybe she was not so terrible after all ...
Chapter 8
As the carriage took Mary past the row of shops along the main street in London, she gazed out the window with a wish in her heart. She would have loved the chance to wander into one of them, to pick out the outfit that she wanted, and to maybe have some fun along the way.
But that was not becoming of a Lady. Stepping out of the carriage and moving freely among the shops was something that was just not done. That was why she had to go to a special dressmaker instead. She would visit Gloria in her home to get measured and to pick out the fabrics and design of the dress that she required. Usually, that was something that she enjoyed very much, but today, she could not muster up the enthusiasm at all. With her future hanging in the balance, she could not get excited about anything. She had only decided to come out to get a new dress to show Walter that she was making an effort. She hoped that if she could start attending society events with the hope of finding a husband that she actually liked, he would relent. Mary felt that he was sticking to her father’s vague rules too strictly.
“Are you feeling alright?” Daisy asked Mary. Once she made the decision to go to see Gloria, she asked her new friend to come with her. It was under the pretence that she would help to dress and undress the Lady if there was anything she decided to try on, but really it was for the friendship. “You have gone very pale.”
Mary smiled to herself, enjoying the way that Daisy felt more comfortable around her now. Once, she would never have been brave enough to speak without being spoken to, but now she felt content enough to ask questions about her appearance. That was a change that Mary found rather refreshing. “I am quite well, thank you, Daisy. I am just thinking.”
“Yes, I presume that you have a lot to think about, considering the area of town that we are in.”
Mary’s eyes automatically glanced outside once more, only this time she was given a wholly different view of the city. Things had dramatically changed from the lovely street of shops to a place where much poorer people lived. It was not the poorest part of the city, but it was bad enough to have Mary’s heart thumping wildly.
The homes were cramped and dirty; grime spilled down the brickwork like it belonged there. People in filthy brown and beige clothing yelled loudly at one another in what Mary considered a very uncouth manner, and children ran and screamed. From the day she could speak, Mary had been told that children should be seen and not heard. Clearly, the same rules did not apply here. There was even one man who had fallen to the floor in an apparent drunken state. A wet patch stained his trousers which made Mary avert her eyes quickly.
No wonder Charlotte was affected by this ... we have spent our whole lives being sheltered from this side of life.
Mary’s stomach churned while her pulse raced, and her whole body shook.
Then her eyes spotted something even worse, something that made her heart stop dead. A young girl, possibly the same age as Mary, stood just outside a pub with what looked like material wrapped around her for a dress. The garment had absolutely no structure and fell off her shoulder, almost as if it were designed to reveal as much of her body as possible. She clutched a fan between her fingers and peered seductively at the men who loitered near her.