He turned to her with close attention. “And is it?”
Beth wished the earth would swallow her. Why, oh why, had she beenbetrayed into those unforgivable words on this very terrace? “You know itis,” she muttered.
“And you know what I mean. Are you with child?”
“No, of course I’m not,” she said sharply. “You said you would neverraise that ridiculous conversation again.”
“Because if you were,” he continued, “that would be cause to break offthis engagement. Even my father wouldn’t insist on it.”
Beth forced herself to look at him. “I am afraid I cannot offer thatescape route. And though it would suit you, my lord, it would be a poorsort of freedom for me, with a bastard in tow.”
She could almost see the strain as he forced his mouth into a smile.“We are becoming heated, Elizabeth. Remember, we are the twoturtledoves.”
As they made their way back to the ballroom, Beth said, simply from thedesire to hurt, “Doves of Drury Lane, perhaps?”
She was amazed to see him color up, but at that moment her next partnercame to claim her. She smiled through her headache and cast a languishinglook back at her betrothed.
Once she was away from him her headache began to fade. Another poorindicator for their future.
Eventually it was the supper waltz, for which the marquess was herpartner. Beth joined him with some trepidation, wondering if he would pickup their quarrel. She was also concerned about her ability to maintain herhigh standard of dancing. The daring waltz had not been taught at MissMallory’s.
But all went well. He did not refer to their earlier conversation, andBeth found her recent lessons to be adequate when reinforced by anexcellent partner.
Beth found the risqué dance something of a disappointment. Certainly tobe with the same partner for the whole dance was strange and could lead tointimacy, but at such close quarters it was also possible to stare overone another’s shoulders and address scarcely any conversation at all, asthey proved.
When they sat down to the meal they were at a large table, and Bethfound she had Mr. Beaumont on her other side. She liked this man verymuch, for he was of easy address and had a wry sense of humor and, ofcourse, she felt sorry for him because of his injury. Though he was astall and strong as the marquess Beth never felt intimidated by him,perhaps because of the softer lines of his sun-darkened face or the warmthof his dark brown eyes.
She was less pleased to have Phoebe Swinnamer at the table, for shealways felt the young lady would like to skewer her with the nearest sharpimplement. The beauty’s supper partner was Lord Darius. Beth could onlyhope the son of a duke would assuage the beauty’s vanity though she fearedthe fact that Lord Darius was not the heir would weigh heavily with thegirl, who had thought she had such a one in her grasp.
Beth turned to Mr. Beaumont. “Have you been a friend of the marquessfor a long time, Mr. Beaumont?”
“Since Harrow, Miss Armitage,” he said with a smile. “And I can revealthings about his school days he wouldn’t want known.”
Beth could tell from his manner he was not going to offend her, but themarquess overheard and broke in. “What are you up to, Hal?”
“Why, Luce, I think it only fair to tell your bride-to-be your terriblesecret.”
“Not the cow,” said the marquess in alarm, causing Beth’s eyebrows torise.
“Of course not,” said Mr. Beaumont, straight-faced.
“The bells?” queried the marquess anxiously.
“The merest peccadillo,” replied his friend with a dismissive gesture.“In fact, I think you’re still rather proud of that one.”
Beth turned and saw the marquess grin as he said, “I am indeed. It tooka great deal of ingenuity to cross all the wires on the servants’ bells atschool. Mind, it wasn’t such a good idea to try it here.”
Mr. Beaumont hooted with laughter. “You didn’t!”
“I did,” said the marquess ruefully. “I had to sort it all out againand then my father ?” perhaps only Beth caught the little catch in hisvoice before he continued, “made me run useless errands for him all overthis place to teach me not to cause the servants unnecessary work.”
“How extraordinary,” drawled Miss Swinnamer. “What does it matter to aservant whether they are called correctly or not? They can always makethemselves useful.”
“Well then,” said Lord Darius dryly, “look at it from the point of viewof the guest who rings for breakfast and doesn’t receive it because theservant thinks the bell rang in quite another chamber.”
“Oh, I see,” said the young lady with a warm smile at her partner.Obviously a duke’s son in the hand was worth something. “Of course, mylord, that would be most annoying.”
“Doubtless gets the servant a fine jawing.”
