Belgravia Read Free Page B

invited the Magician?” His wife looked bewildered. “Wellington’s main supplier. What’s he doing here?”
    The Duchess turned severely to her nephew. “The Duke of Wellington’s victualler? I have invited a merchant supplier to my ball?”
    Lord Bellasis was not so easily defeated. “My dear aunt, you’ve invited one of the Duke’s most loyal and efficient helpers in his fight for victory. I should have thought any loyal Britisher would be proud to receive Mr. Trenchard in their house.”
    “You have tricked me, Edmund. And I do not like to be made a fool of.” But the young man had already gone to greet the new arrivals. She stared at her husband.
    He was rather amused by her fury. “Don’t glare at me, my dear. I didn’t invite them. You did. And you have to admit, she’s good-looking.” At least that was true. Sophia had never looked lovelier.
    There was no time to say more before the Trenchards were upon them. Anne spoke first. “This is good of you, Duchess.”
    “Not at all, Mrs. Trenchard. I gather you have been very kind to my nephew.”
    “It’s always a pleasure to see Lord Bellasis.” Anne’s choice had been a good one. She cut a dignified figure in the blue silk, and Ellis had found some fine lace to trim it. Her diamonds might not have rivaled many in the room, but they were perfectly respectable.
    The Duchess could feel herself becoming slightly mollified. “It is hard for the young men, so far from home,” she said, pleasantly enough.
    James had been struggling with his certainty that the Duchess should have been addressed as “Your Grace.” Even though his wife had spoken and no one seemed to have taken offense, yet still he could not be sure. He opened his mouth—
    “Well, if it isn’t the Magician.” Richmond beamed quite jovially. If he was surprised to find this tradesman in his drawingroom, you could not have told it. “Do you remember we made some plans in the event of the reservists being called to arms?”
    “I recall it very well, Your—your schedule, I mean. Duke.” He spoke the last word as quite a separate entity, having nothing to do with the rest of their conversation. To James, it felt like suddenly lobbing a pebble into a silent pool. The ripples of its oddness seemed to engulf him for a few awkward moments. But he was reassured by a gentle smile and a nod from Anne, and no one else seemed disturbed, which was a relief.
    Anne took over. “May I present my daughter, Sophia?” Sophia curtsied to the Duchess, who looked her up and down as if she were buying a haunch of venison for dinner, which naturally she would never do. She could see that the girl was pretty, and quite graceful in her way, but one look at the father reminded her again only too clearly that the thing was out of the question. She dreaded her sister learning of this evening and accusing her of encouraging it. But surely Edmund couldn’t be serious? He was a sensible boy and had never given a minute’s trouble.
    “Miss Trenchard, I wonder if you would let me escort you into the ballroom?” Edmund attempted to maintain a cool manner as he made his offer, but he could not deceive his aunt, who was far too experienced in the ways of the world to be distracted by his dumb show of indifference. In fact, the Duchess’s heart sank as she saw how the girl slipped her arm through his and they went off together, chatting in low whispers as if they already owned each other.
    “Major Thomas Harris.” A rather handsome young man made a slight bow to his hosts as Edmund called his name.
    “Harris! I didn’t expect to see you here.”
    “I must have some fun, you know,” said the young officer, smiling at Sophia. She laughed, as if they were all so comfortable to be part of the same crowd. Then she and Edmund walked on toward the ballroom, watched by his anxious aunt. They made a pretty couple, she was forced to admit, Sophia’s blonde beauty somehow emphasized by Edmund’s dark curls and