“I beg your pardon, but I was so concerned for Miss Franklyn’s health that I picked up the nearest one to hand.”
“If you had asked, I could have told you that the green cashmere was hers, which at least matches her gown.”
“Here, take it,” Bea said, ripping the shawl from her shoulders and thrusting it into Miss Grayling’s hands. “I neither want nor need it. Mine is much finer, anyway.”
“Certainly, if one has more money than taste. I shall leave you to your tryst with my brother.”
Head high, she stalked away.
Lord Grayling chuckled. “Miss Franklyn, unlike my sister, I suspect these two gentlemen are not intending to leave us to our tryst. Shall we relieve them of their anxiety on your behalf and return to the house? After all, Mrs Atherton would never forgive her son if you were to take a chill, and we would not wish to cause a family rift, would we?”
“Well…”
He leaned close to whisper in her ear. “There will be other evenings, and other trysts, I sincerely hope.”
In the still night air, his words carried and Bertram glowered at him. Now, why was he so anxious to interfere? It was too bad of him to prevent her from testing Lord Grayling. There was so little time left! Only three more evenings at Landerby, that was all. Three more opportunities for a tryst, whatever that was. Surely Bertram understood the urgency? But there was nothing to be done about it tonight. Silently, the group made its way back to the house.
19: Prospects
Bertram followed Bea and Lord Grayling seething with rage. Even now, Grayling was flirting with her, and she, silly girl, was drinking it all in. Perhaps she was already halfway to being in love with him, and who could blame her? He was everything that a girl could want in a man — except steady of character, of course. Grayling was a hardened libertine who had no intention of marrying her. She had to be protected from him, and if her parents would not do it, then Bertram and his friends must step into the breach.
How fortunate that Fielding had been watching Bea, and saw her disappear with Grayling. He had summoned Bertram to his aid, and Bertram had snatched at the only excuse he could think of. His mother’s ploy had worked once before, and happily it had worked again. Bea was safe for the moment, but how to keep her safe in the future? How was she to be kept away from Grayling? He shied away from the prospect of explaining his true nature to her. For one thing, she would not believe him, and he hated to destroy her innocence. An unmarried woman should be pureand trusting, and he could not bear to tell her of the wickedness of the world.
But she had to be protected somehow, so as soon as he returned to the saloon, Bertram sought out Lady Esther.
“I wonder if I might have a word with you, ma’am — privately?”
She was too well-bred to show any sign of surprise, merely inclining her head in acquiescence and leading him out of the saloon into an ante-chamber. It was one of the unused rooms, so their feet threw up clouds of dust, and the flames on the candelabrum he carried flickered in the draught from a broken window pane.
“We are quite private here, Mr Atherton. What is it you wish to say to me?”
“Were you aware that Miss Franklyn was out in the garden with Lord Grayling just a few minutes ago?”
“And what of it?”
Such a response threw Bertram entirely off his stride. “You knew? But… it was dark… they were very secluded.”
She laughed easily. “Mr Atherton, the young must have time alone to discover whether they are suited or not. A man may be brought to the point of a proposal the more readily by a closer degree of intimacy than is afforded by a crowded saloon.”
“A proposal! I do not think he has a proposal of marriage in mind, Lady Esther. I have heard him say so, just a few days ago.”
“So say all men, until it happens. Believe me, Mr Atherton, your concern for Beatrice does you the greatest credit, and even though I cannot approve of your encouragement of her inclination for book learning, I am deeply grateful to you for obtaining this invitation for us. It is such an excellent opportunity for Beatrice, and there is Lord Grayling, so attentive and such aneligiblematch. A baron, and with a good income!Mosteligible. If he has an eye for her, then I shall not be theone to throw a rub in his way, of that you may be sure, and I shall thank you not to interfere. You take a great interest in her affairs. I cannot help thinking that, despite your protestations to the contrary, you want her for yourself.”
Bertram could not in honesty deny it. But even if it were true that he wanted to marry Bea, and at that moment he wanted it very much, if only to save her from Grayling’s clutches, he could not be sure that he would ever be able to provide Bea with the noble title she wanted and deserved.
If only he could convince her that Grayling was a libertine who had no intention of marrying Bea… but there was no hope of that. Lady Esther had set her mind too firmly on the prospect of marriage. She saw only a man of charm and great address, well-mannered and unfailingly courteous. With the title and all that went with it, nothing could make her believe him unworthy of Bea’s affections.
So he bowed and said no more. Lady Esther smiled and swept majestically from the room.
When he returned to the saloon, the first sight to greet his eyes was Bea and Grayling sitting side by side on a sofa, closer than propriety dictated, their heads together in intimate conversation. Bertram almost groaned aloud in despair. Something must be done, and at once! There was not a moment to lose, for tomorrow he might find a way to get her alone. But what could he do? He had no right to interfere directly. Only one man could do that…
Mr Franklyn was in a gaggle of other men talking heatedly of the political situation. Bertram went to him at once, managed to extricate him and drew him agitatedly into the same ante-chamber he had used when speaking to Lady Esther.
“I beg your pardon for drawing you from your discussion, but something must be done to protect Bea. What he proposes… it is unthinkable! She must be got away from him at once!Lady Esther will do nothing. You must rescue Bea before she is irrevocably entangled with him.”
Franklyn raised a delicate eyebrow. “We are speaking of Grayling?”
“Yes, yes, of course Grayling! He is trying to ensnare her… she was out in the garden with him just a few minutes ago, but Fielding and I got her back inside before he could do anything to her. I have talked to Lady Esther but she sees nothing wrong in him… she does not understand… thinks him a pattern card of upright behaviour, no doubt.”
