He’d never felt this way about a woman before, and he wasn’t at allsure it was healthy.
As a result of these thoughts he took a leaf out of his betrothed’sbook and went to ground, in his case in the billiard room, aimlesslypotting balls.
Hal Beaumont found him there. “Blue-devilled?”
Lucien looked up. “Weddings are hell.”
Hal laughed. “You should have eloped.”
“Elizabeth said that once. Perhaps I should pay more attention to hersuggestions.”
“Perhaps you should. She seems to be a woman of sense.”
Lucien dropped his cue on the baize. “Not at the moment, shedoesn’t.”
“I can’t say either of you are showing to advantage. You can tell me togo to the devil, Luce, but I have to ask. What’s going on?”
“Go to the devil,” said Lucien amiably.
Hal shrugged. “As you will. I’ve been halfway to hell and back as itis.” He must have seen something on the marquess’ face, for he grimaced.“I apologize. Nasty kind of emotional pressure to exert.” He sighed. “It’sjust that a brush with death changes things. I hate to see people makingstupid mistakes. I wouldn’t like to see you in an arid marriage.”
“I don’t much want to be in one,” said Lucien grimly. He looked around.The billiard table had been set up in a wide gallery which still boastedmassed ranks of medieval armaments on the walls. “Come on. It must be thisroom that’s depressing us both. If one of those hooks gives way we’ll besliced to ribbons. Let’s find more convivial surroundings.”
Hal’s strong right hand stopped him. “Why, Luce? If it’s all been amistake there must be a way out. I can’t believe Miss Armitage isdesperate to hold you to this marriage.”
It went against all sense of right to lie to Hal. Lucien tried to givehim part of the truth. “It’s an arranged marriage. Elizabeth is myparent’s choice.”
Hal seemed to read a great deal from the words. After a moment hereleased his grip. “Then make a go of it. She’s a warm woman ofintelligence and humor. I think you suit very well.”
“Like a Bedlamite and a straitjacket,” snapped Lucien and escaped. Hal,being a man of sense, let him go.
The next day was the reception for all the local people. The gentry andother local worthies were entertained in the ballroom with wine, finedishes., and Mozart. The lesser tenants and local residents were in themeadow where various large carcasses were roasting, jugs of ale neverseemed to empty, and a band played for dancing.
Beth paraded around both locations on the marquess’ arm. She exchangedpleasantries with the doctor, the lawyer, and the prosperous farmers. Shemade stilted conversation with the wives of small holders and farmlaborers. It wasn’t that she felt above them but that they were so clearlyin awe. Couldn’t they see that despite her new finery, she was just likethem?
The simple fact was that all these people gained pleasure from a fewwords from the future duchess when they would have thought nothing of aday spent with Beth Armitage, schoolmistress. It was a preposteroussituation and yet Beth couldn’t deny them that pleasure when thiscelebration was clearly a red-letter day in lives of endless, tediousdrudgery.
She did enjoy the children, for they were more natural with her. Shesat down at one point with a group of little ones to teach them a fingersong.
The marquess stood by watching. When she finally escaped he said, “Youdo that very well.”
“It is my profession.”
“Not anymore, I’m afraid.”
Beth didn’t argue. “I’m less at ease with their parents. I feel soawkward, as if I’m acting in a play. ‘Enter future duchess, stage right.’I have never been very good at that sort of thing.”
“Nonsense. They love you. You don’t just speak to them. You listen. Youmake it seem as if you are, for a moment, one of them.”
Beth looked at him. “But I am one of them.”
He was arrested. After a pensive moment he shook his head. “Notanymore, I’m afraid.” There was a trace of apology in it.
“I know,” said Beth with a sigh. “But at least I can remember.” Shelooked around the meadow full of people ? chattering, dancing, eating,drinking. “Can you imagine,” she demanded, “what it feels like to be oneof these people? To worry about food for the table, a roof over your head,medicine for a sick child?”
“No,” he retorted. “But if necessary I will put food on their table anda roof over their head, and send a doctor for their child. Who has thegreater worry in the end?”
Before Beth could make a response he looked behind her. “Here’s someoneof the same lowly order as yourself. I’ll leave you to wallow in yourrighteousness.”
