The Shocking Secret of a Guest at the Wedding (Millworth Manor) by Victoria Alexander Read Free Book Online Page B

present tonight were on the dance floor just as Teddy had intended. There would be no wallflowers at this ball if she could help it. She had pointedly mentioned to several of the unmarried gentlemen in attendance that it never hurt to exert their charm toward those young ladies who had not been asked to dance. After all, one never knew if a less than extraordinary face hid a fine mind and a wicked sense of the absurd. She also subtly reminded them that heiresses did not wear signs indicating them as such. Not that nearly everyone here, with the exception of the Americans, didn’t know, or know of, everyone here. Still, family circumstances changed with an unexpected and alarming frequency. Teddy’s own life was a prime example.
    She had also had a private word with the mothers of several of the young, unmarried ladies present and suggested their daughters might wish to extend the hand of English friendship to those American friends—those very wealthy American friends—of the groom who had traveled such a long way to attend his wedding. Even though Grayson had grown up at Fairborough, a nearby estate, he had spent more than a decade making his fortune in America and he had apparently invited everyone he had ever met there to celebrate his nuptials. It did seem that for every two of Her Majesty’s subjects there was at least one American visitor. Even those mothers determined to snare their daughters a lofty title were practical enough to see the benefits of a liaison with a rich American. Eligible men with respectable titles and decent fortunes were in short supply these days.
    Teddy’s gaze constantly shifted between the guests and the hired waiters. Millworth Manor simply did not have the staff necessary for a gathering of this size. Part and parcel of her job was doing all in her power to make certain every guest had as good a time as possible. It would not do for a dissatisfied guest to gossip about what a dreadful time he or she’d had. She stopped a passing waiter and directed him to a group of gentlemen discussing whatever it was gentlemen were compelled to discuss when they clustered together at social events. But the gentlemen’s glasses were empty and that would never do.
    Those not dancing milled and mingled, renewing old acquaintances, sharing the latest bit of gossip and, without question, dissecting every detail of Camille and Grayson’s wedding. Teddy allowed herself a small, satisfied smile. Such dissection would only serve to greater solidify Teddy and her mother’s position as one of the preeminent planners of society events in England. When they had started planning parties and weddings, they had been engaged primarily because there was nothing society hostesses liked better than having the socially prominent Countess of Sallwick and her daughter organize their events. Then too, not everyone could afford their exorbitant rates, which only served to add to the social prestige of the hostess hiring them. Rates her mother explained to prospective clients with a blithe wave of her hand as she charmingly pointed out there was a high price to be paid for the very best.
    Of course, charm was Mother’s greatest contribution to their efforts, a reality of their new life Teddy had realized almost from the beginning. Teddy knew as well that the functions they planned had best be rousing successes if their business was to succeed. She might not have been born to the world of business but she understood that even a prestigious name would not make up for shoddy service. Teddy could name quite a few ladies who still suffered the taint of unsuccessful soirees held years ago. But social successes were not as easy as they looked. Teddy never imagined the organization of parties, fetes, soirees, and weddings would be quite as all-consuming as it was. She had never worked like this in her life. Still, it was worth it. They’d come a long way in a few short years.
    Teddy gazed out over the crowd and wondered what