A Marriage Of Inconvenience Chapter 4

CHAPTER IV

Jumping down from his lofty perch, the driver walked over to the carriage door, opened it and helped Lavinia alight. Gerald followed grumpily.

FatheringamHall was brilliantly lit up with flood lights. Lavinia paused to admire the Georgian architecture, and the gracious grounds, lavish flowerbeds, beautifully manicured lawns, gracious trees – it all took her breath away.

She and Gerald walked up the long steps leading into the foyer of the Hall. Their hosts, Lord Edward, and Lady Leticia Fotheringham, and their son James were waiting to greet the line of guests that led up into the Hall.

Both Lord and Lady Fotheringham were short and rotund. Lord Edward had a round shiny face and a red nose, due probably to his over enthusiasm for whiskey on the rocks. Lady Leticia was equally roley poley , with several double chins that wobbled as she laughed heartily which she often did. A kind good-natured woman, she was well liked in ton circles. Men liked her because she made them laugh and reminded them of their mothers, and the women liked her because she posed on threat to them in their quest to make a good marriage, nor was she likely to steal the affections of a faithful husband. The Fotheringhams also gave the best parties in the ton, and entertained on a lavish scale.

“GERALD, HOW IN THE HELL ARE YOU?” Lord Edward boomed. “And who is the lovely lady you’ve brought with you tonight?”

“Good heavens,” Lavinia whispered. “Gerald, he doesn’t recognize me and thinks I’m one of your doxies.” She couldn’t contain her giggles, and even Gerald smiled.

“Eddie old chap, this lovely lady is my wife, Lady Lavinia. Surely you remember her?” he couldn’t resist saying.

Lord Edward’s face went beet red. “Yes, yes, of course I do. ” he huffed. “Lady Lavinia, please do excuse my… blunder … the light is poor in here,” he muttered half heartedly.

Lavinia smiled and patted his shoulder gently. “It’s perfectly alright Lord Edward. I have reinvented myself tonight and decided to come out of my shell.”

Lord Edward beamed. “The transformation is exquisite dear lady. And may I express the hope that you will never… go back into your shell?” Raising her hand to his lips, he kissed it with a great deal more ardour than was strictly necessary.

“Now, now Eddie, quite enough of that,” Lady Felicia said with a laugh. “Lady Lavinia, have you met our son, James?”

“No, I don’t believe I have.” Lavinia turned to smile at James, who gulped nervously, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down his throat. He was a miniature version of his parents, tubby and round faced, with a shock of blond curly hair, making him look like a fat little cherub. He awkwardly shook her hand then realized he was supposed to have kissed it. He tried to drag her hand to his lips, but by then, she’d dropped her arm so blushing furiously, he let go of it, covering his confusion by saying “I say, I say…” then saying nothing at all.

Lady Lavinia felt sorry for him. Leaning forward, she whispered in his ear “I must say, I admire you taste in waistcoats. Yours is most… handsome.”

He beamed happily and bobbed his head up and down. “Thank you – you are most … kind.”

“Shall we go in?” Gerald said taking her hand and leading them forward.

At the entrance to the lavishly decorated ballroom, Lavinia stopped a minute, gazing at the spectacular site of couples dancing, while a string quartette in the gallery overhead, played a rousing quadrille; waiters and waitresses with trays of food and champagne flutes mingling their way amid the onlookers.

Lavinia was totally unaware what a spectacular picture she made standing there, watching with a slight smile on her face, or how many male eyes were appraising her.

Gerald grabbed a couple of flutes of champagne and handed her one.

“Gerald, old boy. I was hoping you’d be here tonight,” a man called out.

“Why, what’s up Monty?” Gerald sighed turning.

“I need to discuss hiring your Thunder to cover my mare Treblinka, who’s coming into season very soon.”

Sighing Gerald turned away. By the time he got back to where he’d left Lavinia, she was nowhere to be seen. He searched the room and finally saw her dancing a waltz with that scoundrel Phillip Lord Montrose. “That cad is holding her much too closely,” Gerald muttered. Impatiently he tapped his foot waiting for the dance to end.

When Montrose finally escorted her back, Gerald stepped forward. “May I have the next dance?” he asked.

Lavinia looked at her dance card. “I’m sorry Gerald, but I promised the next dance to Lord Ambercrombie.”

“What about the dance after that?”

Lavinia laughed lightly. “It looks as if my dance card is completely filled,” she said apologetically. Gerald glowered.

“I can’t even dance with my own wife?” he sputtered.

“Wife…?” Lavinia raised an eyebrow. At the silent rage she saw on his face, she patted his shoulder gently. “Never mind Gerald, look, Lord Heathcliffe and Lord Raingrow are both over there,” she pointed “And you know how much they enjoy talking about horses. Why don’t you go and amuse yourself with them?”

Cursing under his breath, Gerald said “Very well – enjoy yourself,” he muttered, grinding his teeth.

Lavinia smiled “Thank you, I believe I will.”