"Yes, thank you both for coming," he said, trying to take charge of the situation. "And we will look forward to seeing you both at the ball at the Assembly Rooms next week."
???
Constance knew she was quiet on the journey back to their grandmother’s, but she wasn’t sure if her sister even noticed. Charity filled the silence with chatter, as she generally did, while Constance replayed the tea conversation over in her mind.
The Dowager Countess of Gracewood had very clearly preferred Charity to Constance. Everyone always did. But it had never hurt like it did today. It had never mattered before.
She could live with the Dowager Countess preferring her sister; she wasn’t sure she could ever feel the same about Ezra preferring Charity.
She just had to hope that he wouldn’t fall for her sister’s infinitely more attractive face.
???
"Lady Charity Beaumont seemed very pleasant," his mother said when she invited herself to dinner that evening.
"Yes, she was very pleasant," Ezra said equitably. And indeed, he had nothing bad to say about Lady Charity. She had seemed perfectly nice. But he found it hard to pay attention to anyone else when Lady Constance was present.
There was something about her that captivated him. He wasn’t sure he could say exactly what. There was no one feature – just something about her entire being that made him want to turn toward her, as though he were a flower and she were the sun.
Internally, he laughed at himself for thinking something so ridiculous. When had he become such a romantic?
"Although, if you are looking to wed again, and you know I think you should, I think you can do far better."
"Far better than whom?" he asked, feeling like he had missed some vital part of the conversation.
"Than Lady Charity Beaumont! Although she would not be a terrible choice for you."
Ezra sighed. His mother really could be obtuse when she wanted to be. "I have no interest in Lady Charity, Mother," he said.
"But you are considering marrying again?"
"I—" Was he? He supposed he must be, because the feelings he had for Lady Constance were not going away, and he would never propose anything other than marriage to such a respectable young lady.
The thought of marriage terrified him – the thought of loss even more. Marshall had been right; there were issues he needed to face from the past. And yet, he thought that perhaps being without her might be even worse than that fear.
"I’m considering it," he said.
"I am not sure you have an appropriate candidate in mind," his mother said calmly.
"If you knew who I had in mind, why did you mention Lady Charity?"
His mother sighed. "I hoped you might see sense without me having to be plain, but I see it is not so. They are sweet girls, I am sure. But Lady Charity has the looks and the social skills to be a countess – and frankly, her sister does not. Even you must admit she is plain-looking."
"I will admit nothing of the sort," Ezra said hotly.
"And she is quiet and shy and only seems to want to talk about castles. How is she going to be one of the leaders of the county?"
Chapter Eighteen
"The earl won’t be able to take his eyes off you," Charity said, as Lucy put the finishing touches to her hair. She was wearing a new purple gown, one she had purchased when she had visited Amblewood with her grandmother and sister. It had been rather more expensive than her usual gowns, but her grandmother had insisted that she ought to have it – even offering to pay for it.
"I couldn’t let you do that!" Constance said, running her fingers across the fine fabric. "I have enough in my dress allowance. After all, I’ve saved a fortune by not being out in London this Season."
"Well, there you go then. Miss Corda is the best around – I’m confident you will be pleased with her creation."
"Well, I may not have saved money this year, but I think I deserve a new dress too," Charity had said, selecting a rose-coloured fabric for herself. "After all, we want to make a good impression on the county, do we not?"
Constance knew that her sister would take any opportunity to buy a new gown, but she couldn’t help but smile. Charity always made a good impression, wherever she went. She was the sister everyone remembered – and Constance had no doubt that she would be the diamond of Northumberland society.
