to see him, as she would be exceptionally busy, but he wanted to guarantee that Lady Romney and the new earl and countess received invitations as well. Even if it was last minute, he could not have her slighted by his family.
He passed by his home and headed to Grosvenor Square. Within a trice, he was walking into the house and searching for her. After attempting to discover her whereabouts from more than one servant, he finally located the mad lady up upon a ladder in the ballroom, no less.
"Mother, get down from there before you fall!" His voice echoed through the large chamber full of servants, who all halted and turned toward him.
"Great heavens, child! You nearly frightened me right off this perch. Now come and speak to me like a gentleman ought, and stop that ridiculous shouting."
George put his hands on his hips as he approached. "Whatever are you doing up there?" Indeed, his mother did not know how to stay out of the thick of things. Even he could not fathom standing on a tall ladder in the middle of the room. “Indeed, it looks dreadfully unsafe up there. You must come down.”
"Someone has to stand here and see that all gets put to rights, George. It is much easier to direct everyone when I can see what they are all about."
"Of course it is, Mama, though I do fear for your safety. And in a gown no less."
She sighed and turned toward him. "And so does half the staff, but no one is going to persuade me off this ladder until the ballroom is ready. So either hush your mouth or help the servants if you are troubled over my safety."
"I would if I were not terrified that you would become more exasperated than you already are as soon as I blunder something up."
She laughed. "No doubt you know me well. Now, whatever do you want? ’Tis not like you to show up in the midst of hosting preparation chaos."
"I have come to ask a favor of you."
She glanced over at the chandelier and then called. "Thomas, I wanted the floral wreath around the top of the chandelier, not the bottom. You did not need to come, George. I have already done it."
"You have already done what?" he asked.
"Invited the widow for you, and her family as well."
"You did not!"
"Most certainly I did. As soon as I saw you mooning over her like a calfling, I sent the invite over immediately. That is what you came to ask, is it not?"
"To procure invitations, yes, though I am surprised you have already done so. Have they replied?"
"Of course, dear. This is the Earl of Kettering's ball—one does not simply ignore an invite."
"No, but they could have declined."
"Do you wish to know if your Lady Romney will be in attendance, dear? If so, you need only to ask, and I will reveal the answer."
"You know perfectly well that is what I wish to know."
She chuckled. "You were always the easiest of my sons to get riled up. Yes, she is attending. They accepted a sennight at least."
His chest became warm, and his breathing attempted to tame itself. "Good. It is essential that she feels a part of society once more."
Lady Hamson held on to the ladder and put her other hand on her hip. "I surely hope you do not plan on alienating all of the other lovely ladies and only dancing with her. You are my son—you are expected to do your part."
"Yes, Mother. I promise to behave and dance with the other ladies, though if I do not dance at least a set with Lady Romney, I fear my heart may break."
"Your heart has lasted all these years and been a great beating force for more than one young lady, so do not go about displaying this nonsense. Besides, have you thought of what to do about Miss Hemming yet?"
"I have only just now returned from that deucedly awkward conversation. It was all I could do to stand there and hear their gossip about Lady Romney. Another few minutes, and I would not have been able to hold my temper."
Lady Hamson began to descend the ladder. There was nothing more exciting than idle gabble when one was hosting the same events those gossiped about
He passed by his home and headed to Grosvenor Square. Within a trice, he was walking into the house and searching for her. After attempting to discover her whereabouts from more than one servant, he finally located the mad lady up upon a ladder in the ballroom, no less.
"Mother, get down from there before you fall!" His voice echoed through the large chamber full of servants, who all halted and turned toward him.
"Great heavens, child! You nearly frightened me right off this perch. Now come and speak to me like a gentleman ought, and stop that ridiculous shouting."
George put his hands on his hips as he approached. "Whatever are you doing up there?" Indeed, his mother did not know how to stay out of the thick of things. Even he could not fathom standing on a tall ladder in the middle of the room. “Indeed, it looks dreadfully unsafe up there. You must come down.”
"Someone has to stand here and see that all gets put to rights, George. It is much easier to direct everyone when I can see what they are all about."
"Of course it is, Mama, though I do fear for your safety. And in a gown no less."
She sighed and turned toward him. "And so does half the staff, but no one is going to persuade me off this ladder until the ballroom is ready. So either hush your mouth or help the servants if you are troubled over my safety."
"I would if I were not terrified that you would become more exasperated than you already are as soon as I blunder something up."
She laughed. "No doubt you know me well. Now, whatever do you want? ’Tis not like you to show up in the midst of hosting preparation chaos."
"I have come to ask a favor of you."
She glanced over at the chandelier and then called. "Thomas, I wanted the floral wreath around the top of the chandelier, not the bottom. You did not need to come, George. I have already done it."
"You have already done what?" he asked.
"Invited the widow for you, and her family as well."
"You did not!"
"Most certainly I did. As soon as I saw you mooning over her like a calfling, I sent the invite over immediately. That is what you came to ask, is it not?"
"To procure invitations, yes, though I am surprised you have already done so. Have they replied?"
"Of course, dear. This is the Earl of Kettering's ball—one does not simply ignore an invite."
"No, but they could have declined."
"Do you wish to know if your Lady Romney will be in attendance, dear? If so, you need only to ask, and I will reveal the answer."
"You know perfectly well that is what I wish to know."
She chuckled. "You were always the easiest of my sons to get riled up. Yes, she is attending. They accepted a sennight at least."
His chest became warm, and his breathing attempted to tame itself. "Good. It is essential that she feels a part of society once more."
Lady Hamson held on to the ladder and put her other hand on her hip. "I surely hope you do not plan on alienating all of the other lovely ladies and only dancing with her. You are my son—you are expected to do your part."
"Yes, Mother. I promise to behave and dance with the other ladies, though if I do not dance at least a set with Lady Romney, I fear my heart may break."
"Your heart has lasted all these years and been a great beating force for more than one young lady, so do not go about displaying this nonsense. Besides, have you thought of what to do about Miss Hemming yet?"
"I have only just now returned from that deucedly awkward conversation. It was all I could do to stand there and hear their gossip about Lady Romney. Another few minutes, and I would not have been able to hold my temper."
Lady Hamson began to descend the ladder. There was nothing more exciting than idle gabble when one was hosting the same events those gossiped about
Similar Books
