Annalise cast him a practiced pout. “She had several hours to sleep in the big chair in my bedchamber while waiting for me to retire. She always waits up for me. This is part of her duties. It isn’t as though she has all that much to do,” Lady Annalise grumbled. “I am the one who exhausted myself.”
“Yes, with all the dining and dancing and cards playing,” Max muttered.
“While she slept,” Annalise pointed out with a nod for emphasis. “She ought to have noticed the earring was missing then. But the silly cow brought the outfit I wore last night downstairs for airing and pressing this morning, and then she had to hurry back downstairs to hunt for the earring.”
“Well, she found it. No harm done.”
“I would have her discharged without references if she hadn’t. Good help is so hard to find these days. That’s what Mama always says.”
Max did not like what he was hearing. “Has your maid made mistakes before?”
“Well, no. But this was a significant error, don’t you think? Those pearl earrings are my favorite.”
“Then aren’t you the one who ought to have used more caution?”
Annalise pinched her lips. “No. Must I do everything for myself?”
Max changed the topic of conversation before he said something even ruder. As far as he could tell, Lady Annalise did nothing for herself. And while he was not completely exonerating the maid who might have been more careful were it not the middle of the night and she was probably exhausted, it was an innocent mistake that had been corrected.
When Annalise turned to speak to her father, Max took his chance to move away and sit beside Lady Beatrice who seemed quite content to slowly sip her tea. He asked the same question about her day so far this morning and braced himself for the idle prattle he expected would spout from her lips.
However, Beatrice surprised him by giving a sensible answer.
“I slept later than usual and only came downstairs about an hour ago. Since hardly anyone else was in the dining room, I decided to stroll along your portrait gallery. I hope you do not mind.”
“Not at all. It is open for all who are interested.”
She smiled. “To my surprise, the gallery was as busy as Regent Street at the height of shopping hour.”
Max chuckled, for he was not surprised his guests would avidly peruse those portraits of his ancestors.
“Lady Marianna and her mother were there. So were a few of the other ladies. They all declared you the handsomest of the Pendrake dukes.”
“Did you, as well?”
She arched a delicate eyebrow. “No, because I could not get a word in edgewise. Lady Rose and Lady Philomena were quite enraptured and went on and on about your virtues for a full ten minutes.”
“I do not think I am quite that fascinating.”
Beatrice took another sip of her tea and then calmly set the cup down on the table. “It is your title and wealth in addition to your obvious good looks that dazzles them.”
“And you, Lady Beatrice. What do you think of me?”
“I think you are probably England’s prize catch. Do you mind that I speak so bluntly?”
“Not at all. Your candor is refreshing.”
“Well, it is best to be honest if one hopes for a successful marriage. This is what I believe, although I am not certain my family feels the same.”
“Rest assured, I always prefer honesty.”
She smiled. “So do I.”
Max decided to spend more time engaging with her over the course of the next few days. The house party was almost over and they had little time left to get acquainted because he had dawdled too long.
Beatrice seemed promising, although his heart did not lighten the way it did whenever he looked upon Harriet.
Perhaps it was in the smile.
