The sound of the door opening made her jump and a guilty flush heated her cheeks.
‘I beg your pardon, I did not mean to startle you.’ Dominic stood in the doorway.
‘I—there is no mirror in the tower room....’ Her words trailed off. She knew she must sound very conceited.
‘You look very well.’ He cleared his throat. ‘Everyone else is in the drawing room. I was merely coming to check that the salon and the library were in order. The orchestra will be setting up in here while we are at dinner.’
He seemed ill at ease, whereas Zelah’s fine new clothes gave her an added confidence.
‘I have just come through the library, Major, and I can assure you there is not a book out of place.’
‘No, of course.’ He seemed to battle with himself for a moment before meeting her eyes. ‘Very well, then, shall we join the others?’
He held out his arm to her. Zelah placed her fingers on his sleeve. She could feel the ribbing of the wool-and-silk fabric through her glove. Expensive. Everything about his coat—the sheen of the material, the fit, the exquisite cut—it all shouted quality. Tonight he was every inch a viscount’s son.
And she was a parson’s daughter, an encumbrance that he was trying to marry off by inviting her to his ball. Had he not said as much?
The silence was uncomfortable and she searched for something to say as they crossed the hall.
‘I met your brother earlier. He came into the library.’
‘I know. He said you had given him his marchingorders.’
‘I hope he did not think me uncivil. I tried very hard not to be.’
‘No, but you surprised him.’ A glancing smile touched his lips. ‘He is not accustomed to being turned away.’
As the footman jumped to open the door, Dominic released her arm and allowed her to precede him into the drawing room. It was filled with a chattering, glittering crowd and Zelah knew a moment’s panic, but it subsided when Sally Hensley came forward to meet her.
‘My dear, how charming you look. I have just been talking to your sister. She is over there by the window, but you can find her later. First I want to introduce you to everyone....’
It was not to be a large dinner, a mere ten couples were sitting down, but that was more than a dozen new people for Zelah to meet and remember their names. She realised Sally had chosen the company with care, they were all close friends of Dominic or family. No one to stare or comment upon his scarred face.
At dinner she found herself beside one of Dominic’s army colleagues. Colonel Deakin was a jovial, bewhiskered gentleman who lost no time in telling her that he had served with Dominic in the Peninsula. He patted his empty sleeve.
‘Wasn’t long in following him home, too! I’ll not complain, though, my wife and I have settled into a nice little house in Taunton and she says she’s glad to have me under her feet all day, even if I only have the one good arm.’ He raised his glass at the plump little woman sitting opposite, who twinkled back at him and addressed herself to Zelah.
‘I’m lucky to have him and I thank the Lord for it, every day.’
Colonel Deakin chuckled. He leaned a little closer to Zelah, lowering his voice. ‘And I’m pleased to see Coale looking so well. He was a good officer. Thought we might lose him, y’know.’
‘Was he very badly injured?’
‘Barely recognisable,’ replied the colonel, cheerfully helping himself to a large slice of raised pie. ‘Fortunately we had a good sawbones who patched him up pretty well, but even then when we sent him off to England I never really expected to see him again. Pity about his face, of course. He was a dashed handsome fellow.’
Zelah glanced to the head of the table, where Dominic was engaged in conversation with his brother. With the two of them together she had no need to try to imagine how Dominic had looked before he went to war, but the scars mattered very little to her now.
By the time the guests left the dining room the first carriages were pulling up on the drive. Zelah and Maria went off to tidy themselves before the ball and Zelah took the opportunity of thanking Maria for her gown.
‘With the fan, and new shoes and gloves—it is all too much. How I wish you had not spent your money on me, Maria.’
‘Oh, tush! If you will not think of yourself, then please think of what my feelings must be on the occasion. Reginald is highly respected here and I would not have it thought that we could not afford to dress you.’
Zelah hugged her sister, tears starting to her eyes. ‘Then I will accept it all very gratefully, my love. Thank you, dearest sister!’
Maria had to stay to feed the baby, so Zelah made her way back downstairs alone. The great hall and the salon were already full and she saw Dominic greeting his guests. She thought she had never seen him look better. His black frock coat, tight-fitting breeches and stockings only accentuated his powerful physique. Now he was no longer limping his movements were graceful and assured, those of a man at the peak of his physical power. Dragging her eyes away, she spotted Reginald talking to Sir Arthur Andrews and on the far side of the room stood Sir Oswald Evanshaw, resplendent in a lime-green coat. She descended the final few steps and was caught up in the crowd. Almost immediately Dominic was at her side.
‘I was looking out for you.’
‘You were?’
Her spirits soared, only to plummet at his next words.
‘Yes. Lerryn has not arrived yet. I have given instructions that if he turns up he is not to come in until I have had a word with him.’ He touched her arm. ‘Do not worry. He will do nothing to harm you.’
She murmured her thanks and watched him walk away. The harm was already done. Dominic knew what she was. Sally came up and took her hand.
‘You are looking very pensive, Zelah. I hope everyone is being kind to you?’
‘Oh, yes, in all the noise and confusion no one has time or inclination to question too deeply why Major Coale should invite his librarian to the summer ball. Indeed, most have no idea of my identity, and I think the guests who were at dinner merely look upon me as a poor little dab of a girl who is on the receiving end of the major’s charity.’
Sally laughed. ‘Oh, no, my dear, you are much more important than that! All Dom’s friends know he was becoming a positive recluse. When he moved to Rooks Tower we thought we had lost him but now, barely six months later, he is holding the most important local gathering of the summer.’
‘But I had nothing to do with this—’ Zelah protested.
‘You taught him that he is still a person worthy of note,’ Sally cut in. ‘He told me as much. We all owe you a great deal.’
Zelah saw her chance. ‘Then perhaps I could ask a favour of you,’ she said. ‘Would you be kind enough to supply me with a reference? I am sure a good word from yourself would mean a great deal to any future employer.’
‘Oh, my dear, you are looking so lovely tonight that I am sure you will have no need of a reference—’
‘But I will.’ A note of desperation crept into Zelah’s voice. ‘My work here is almost done and I have had a very favourable enquiry from a widow in Bath. She has three children in need of a governess and has asked me to provide references. My father has offered one, and Reginald, but they are family and therefore not as valuable... I would be most obliged if you would provide one for me.’
Sally squeezed her hands. ‘I will, of course, Zelah, if that is what you wish. But on one condition.’
‘Anything!’ was Zelah’s grateful response.
‘That you forget all about being a governess for tonight and enjoy yourself!’ Bestowing an airy kiss upon Zelah’s cheek, she dashed off to greet more guests.
When the music began Zelah moved to one side of the room. She knew so few people that she had little expectation of dancing, although, with Sally’s words still ringing in her head she did hope that Dominic might claim her hand later in the evening. That could not be for some time, of course, because there were many ladies with whom he must stand up first. She watched him from the side of the room. He strode proudly through the crowds, seemingly unaware of his scarred face and because he took no note of it, most of his guests did the same. She was aware of one or two sly looks, the odd hesitation when someone was introduced to him, but she saw no signs of the repulsion Dominic had feared would mar his return to society. She was glad, for his sake.