Reggie raked a hand through his hair. “It was the way Margaret stated it, claiming they were much smarter than her. She is so quick to dismiss her own intelligence or the many other fine qualities that make her a wonderful person. It wasn’t her fault that her parents saw no purpose in educating her.”
“Cherish adores her,” Gawain said. “I expect she, Margaret, and Fiona will be thick as thieves throughout the week, no doubt plotting to get you to the altar before summer’s end.”
Rob winced. “That’s what I am afraid of.”
“Well, you might like their choices,” Reggie said. “Fiona is especially clever about this matchmaking sort of thing.”
Yes, he knew.
Rob drained his glass and rose. “Mind if I take a walk before the others arrive?”
Reggie rose along with him. “I’ll go with you. I need to stretch my legs as well.”
Rob had wished to be alone, but Reggie was always good company. He had been a trusted friend for years, and it would not hurt to confide in him if ever he felt the need.
Not now, of course. Nothing had happened yet.
But all hell would break loose at some point.
Fiona was determined to match him with one of her handpicked choices, but how would she react when she saw him paying attention to any of these young ladies? Fiona felt things so deeply. How was she going to respond if he led one of these hopefuls into the garden for a turn around the flower beds? Or danced a waltz with any of them?
Well, there were no answers to be had just now.
The pair made their way outdoors while Gawain returned to Cherish’s side to assist her in greeting more new arrivals.
“Do you know who they plan to foist on me?” Rob asked as he and Reggie wandered among the well-defined paths that were a mix of lush foliage and floral blooms in a blaze of summer colors.
Reggie nodded. “I think they chose well for you, avoiding this year’s crop oftondiamonds because they felt these debutantes were too young for you. They were certain you would dismiss them as peahens.”
“Good. I do not want to be listening to some eighteen-year-old goose going on about whatever nonsense comes into her head.”
“Ease up, Rob. You are barely in your early thirties and would not be considered too old even for the freshest debutantes. Norare they all so witless that you would consider them inane and boring.”
“I am not saying I would…only that I probably would.”
Reggie shook his head. “Most of them were raised as Margaret was, lacking in academic education. Since Fiona and Cherish consider you particularly intelligent, they sought out bluestockings for you. Ladies in their twenties who had experienced a couple of London Seasons.”
“And who might those bluestockings be?”
Reggie gave him a friendly poke in the ribs. “Gad, Uncle Gawain was right. Stop looking as though you are about to be marched to the gallows.”
Rob laughed. “Sorry. I’ll try to do better.”
Reggie studied him a moment longer. “I know these ladies are not Fiona. But give them a chance, won’t you? You need to get over her, because she will not marry you.”
Rob’s heart lurched. “Why do you mention Fiona?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Perhaps because you light up like a chandelier whenever she is present. You are hopeful of making a match with her, aren’t you? But it will never happen, Rob. No one wishes the circumstances were different more than I. You know I love you both dearly. I also think you are a perfect complement to each other, for you are the solid anchor she sometimes needs to keep her firmly grounded, while she is the spark to jolt you out of your set ways when you become too serious.”
“And your point in telling me how right we seem to be for each other?”
“By pressing your suit, you will only cause her anguish. If you love her, as I know you do, then let her go.”
Rob felt as though his heart was being ripped out of his chest. “Message received, Reggie.” He stalked off because he needed to be alone to recover his composure.
Everyone, even Fiona herself, was insisting he move on.
He thought so, too. But thinking to do it and actually doing it were completely separate matters.
