To Win a Widow - Alexa Aston Page 0,3

had been forced to remain within it the past two weeks, all because of her role in The Debacle. Just thinking of that made her throat grow thick with unshed tears. She thought she had cried herself out, knowing Anna had been banished to the country and Dez sent away to the army. The two people she loved most were gone. Out of her life. And Dalinda had no idea when she might see either of them again.

She hated her father. Hated him. He had never liked her or Dez.

Probably because they had killed her mother.

No, she couldn’t think like that. Women died in childbirth all the time. She couldn’t help that her mother had given birth to twins and it had been too much for her. Of course, Ham had also blamed her and Dez for Mama’s death. He was five years older than she and Dez and the biggest bully she knew. Ham had called the twins murderers for doing in their mother. As they grew up, Ham had played tricks on them. Mistreated them. Blamed them for things he did. Taunted them that he would be the earl one day and they would be no ones. Ham had said when their father died and he became the Earl of Torrington that he wouldn’t even speak to her or Dez.

That would actually be a relief.

A bird landed on the windowsill and Dalinda held her breath, not moving so that it would remain in place. The bird pecked on the windowsill a few times and then warbled before flying away.

This was the most interesting thing that had happened to her in her two weeks of incarceration. She should be out enjoying herself. It was her first Season and in the month she had attended events, Dalinda had proven quite popular. A bevy of gentlemen had called upon her each afternoon. They vied to dance with her. Take her on carriage rides. Escort her through gardens and into supper.

Now, though, she languished in her bedchamber, wondering if she would ever be let out. She had nothing to read. Nothing to do. It was a wonder she hadn’t gone mad.

At least she was still in London, though. Poor Anna had been sent back to Surrey, her brief Season coming to an abrupt end. Dalinda missed her best friend terribly. Anna was the closest thing Dalinda had to a sister. They had been friends throughout their entire childhood, thanks to the fact they lived on adjoining estates, and had eagerly looked forward to their first London Season. Dalinda had known, though, that her twin harbored feelings for Anna. She had come across them too many times in the last couple of years where they both wore guilty expressions, looking as if they’d just sprung apart. When she did catch them kissing last Christmas, she had eased from the room, not confronting either of them.

Dalinda thought Dez and Anna were perfect together but knew their fathers had other plans for the pair. When Anna’s father had proclaimed his daughter was to wed a man old enough to be her grandfather, Dalinda knew she had to act. She had suggested to Dez and Anna that they elope to Gretna Green and the couple had eagerly taken her suggestion to heart. Unfortunately, someone betrayed them. Anna was sent home in disgrace without finishing her Season. Dalinda’s father was going to choose a husband for her because of her meddling. And Dez, who was supposed to go to university in a few months before entering the army, had his education cut short. Their father had purchased his younger son’s commission and now Dez, too, was gone.

“Your father is allowing you to attend tonight’s ball at the Duke of Gilford’s.”

Dalinda whipped around and saw Aunt Mathilda had entered the room.

“What? I may?” she asked eagerly.

“Yes. I am to help you dress for the occasion.”

She hadn’t even known her aunt existed until a week ago. Aunt Mathilda had come to Dalinda’s bedchamber and informed her of their relationship and that she would be taking her in hand in light of The Debacle. Dalinda had been too frightened to ask why she had never heard of this aunt, who revealed she was the sister of Torrington. Mathilda had visited her each day for a few, brief minutes but had revealed nothing else of her background.

“I think this gown will do nicely.”

Dalinda didn’t care if she wore a flour sack to the ball. She was itching to leave this room