Cloaked Heart

.·:*¨༺ Sixteen ༻¨*:·.

When the time came to take their places at the head of the stairs to greet the guests, Win was truly terrified. Lady Vanderveer had contrived to invite the most important people in the land and Win felt he had a great responsibility to make the evening a success. However, learning that The Son of the Devil was finally making its way within the beau monde could only adversely affect his nerves to a greater degree. That knowledge was constantly at the back of his mind. How he wished he had destroyed it long ago.

As they took their places Win caught sight of Lady Lily darting around in the shadows. The girl put one finger to her lips, and chuckling to himself, Win turned away, pretending not to have seen her. However, the marquis had seen his sister and without a word to anyone turned around to hoist the protesting child onto one shoulder before taking her up the stairs.

"We are altogether too indulgent of that child," Lady Vanderveer confided.

"She is merely afflicted with the excitement of the evening, as we all are," Win defended.

The marquis returned just then, straightening his coat. "Brielle Lily has been warned in the strictest of terms and she must not come down again. That child has a making of an obstinate brat, I fear."

His stepmother laughed. "I cannot envisage you administering any form of punishment on Lily, and she knows that full well."

"Do not be so sure," he warned, and Win could not help but cast him a malicious smile.

"Lord Vanderveer dislikes spirit in a child of a tender age."

"I dislike it in any person of any age," Bright countered, not to be outdone.

Cars of different models that were worth a property has begun to arrive and the footmen were stirring in the hall below. Win began to shiver slightly and Bright glanced at him, asking, "Cold, Sir Win?" Before he could deny it, Bright had already adjusted his coat, something which made him shiver all the more.

As the guests began to stream into the Vanderveer House, Win's head swam with the effort it took to try and retain some memory of whom he had been presented to, and after a while, his back ached from so many bends and curtseys.

"Here comes Dixies," the marquis whispered as the most elegant of gentlemen climbed the stairs towards them. "I did wonder if he would cry off in the end."

"We must do everything that we can to keep him as far from the King as possible," Lady Vanderveer replied in a whisper.

"Why is that?" Win asked.

"Dixies and the King are not in speaking terms at the moment," the marchioness explained.

"The last time they met they parted brass rags," Bright added. "One does not insult His Majesty with impunity. Welcome, Dixies my dear fellow."

Dixies raised his quizzing glass to inspect the marquis. "By gad, Vanderveer, how dare you venture forth with your neckcloth so dishabille?"

Win looked at Bright who wore an immaculately folded neckcloth and back to Dixies whose own did not look much different. To his surprise, Bright Lucas laughed. "That is indeed a compliment from you, Dixies."

The famous dandy bowed before them and passed on to the ballroom. "How toplofty he is, without possessing a drop of aristocratic blood in his veins!" Win exclaimed.

"You should be exceedingly honored he has graced us with his presence this evening," Lady Vanderveer explained. "I can only think that this rift with the King causes him to elicit as much elevated company as he can contrive. Even now a gentleman's social standing can be made by a nod of his head."