She climbed into bed and pulled the covers under her arms, but it would be a long time before sleep overtook her.

Chapter Sixteen

Veronica woke the next morning to an aching head and a winter wonderland outside her window. She hurried over to pull back the curtains to see pure white covering every surface. The snowstorm they’d outpaced on their way back from Whitmore Manor had finally caught up to them and blanketed London in a beautiful expanse of snow, and it was still snowing.

Mary arrived to help her dress, and she chose a ruby-red gown. Sebastian’s favorite color on her. Would he remember that he’d told her that once? He’d draped her in rubies and diamonds the last time she’d worn this gown. All she’d ever wanted was him, not jewels. She asked Mary to spray her with the lily perfume, also Sebastian’s favorite. And she ensured her hair was caught up in a chignon at her nape, the informal but elegant style Sebastian liked best.

“How do I look, Mary?” she asked, while surveying her countenance in the looking glass atop her dressing table. Despite her lack of sleep, she didn’t look tired. In fact, she looked quite awake. Why precisely was she trying to attract him? She chose not to examine that question for too long.

“Like a veritable queen, my lady,” Mary replied, giving her an encouraging smile. If Mary wondered why they were at her husband’s town house in London and not back in the countryside at Edgefield Hall, she didn’t say a word. Mary had heard Veronica grousing about Sebastian on more than one occasion. No doubt the servant wondered what was going on. And Veronica would tell her. When she figured it out herself. Come to think of it, Mama hadn’t questioned the fact that she and Sebastian were going back to London together either. At the time Veronica had assumed it was because Mama didn’t want the question to seem out of place to Grandpapa, but now Veronica wondered why her mother hadn’t taken her aside to ask her why she was going back to London with her husband. Had Justin had told Mama? Veronica supposed it didn’t matter.

She swept down the main staircase, through the corridor, and into the breakfast room. A frown marred her brow when she realized the room was empty. She hadn’t admitted it to herself, but she had hoped that Sebastian would be there. One of the kitchen maids arrived, however, and brought her a cup of tea with cream and sugar and a plate of eggs, fruit, and a biscuit, as requested. She ate while reading the Times, which was a delight. In the country, the news was always old, but this news was fresh, and Veronica immediately turned to the gossip pages.

The Duke and Duchess of Edgefield are expected to attend the Hazeltons’ Twelfth Night ball.

That bit of news nearly jumped off the page at her.