She was alarmed that he would suggest a duel and appear utterly serious about it. The manwasjealous. Maybe he had deeper feelings for her than she realized. Or maybe her interest in a match with Rathban had aroused his ridiculous male competitive instincts. In either case, she felt compelled to say, “It will bring my father back,” but that was all she was going to admit.
“To walk you down the aisle?”
She jumped on that excuse, lying, “Yes,” when she knew very well that Rathban would insist on the wedding taking place before he relinquished his grudge.
“And marriage to a decent chap won’t do?”
“No, and stop trying to figure out why. At least Daniel isn’t ugly,” she added.
“Just in spirit.”
“It still may not come to pass,” she said, hoping the subject could be dropped. “You saw how thoroughly he dismissed me with a bloody flick of his hand.”
“You bore him.”
She gasped, even sputtered, “How—?”
“Oh, settle down,” he cut in. “I warned you he was a rake of the worst sort, while you’re too typical, dressed and coiffed like every other young debutante here. You have to stand out from the pack if you want him to notice you. Sweetheart, your beauty already makes you a beacon to most men, but it’s not enough to attract Daniel Rathban, who is jaded beyond redemption.” Then he relented, giving her a half smile. “If you haven’t noticed, the cur has left the room. So enjoy yourself, Nessi. This is your first ball, after all.”
She intended to—if she could now, when none of what he’d just said reassured her. If anything, it brought on more worries. Monty was himself a professed rake, and he certainly didn’t ignore her. Jaded? Did that imply nothing could pique Daniel’s interest anymore?
ACROSS THE ROOM,KATHLEENbraced herself when she saw Lord Albert bearing down on her and quickly moved toward the terrace, hoping to prevent a scene. He looked angry enough not to care if he caused one. But he did follow her and, thankfully, it was too early in the evening for anyone else to be out there.
“Didn’t you explain to your gel what would be necessary?” he demanded immediately.
She blushed. “You saw her, she’s utterly dazzling—I thought that would be enough.”
“It’s obviously not enough, but I did warn you this would be difficult. He’s thirty, for God’s sake, and still refusing to marry, which is why he won’t attend these affairs on his own and only showed up tonight because his mother asked him to.” Albert suddenly looked exasperated. “He even swore to me that if he couldn’t have who he picked, then he would die a bachelor. He proved that by continuing to shun my choices for him, and they were all nice gels from good families. And I have no idea if he’s still adamant about it because he and I have been at odds for too many years to have simple conversations about anything, much less personal matters. Whenever I bring up marriage or duty, he just disappears for a few weeks.”
Incredible, Kathleen thought, that he didn’t even know if this marriage between their children was possible. And she was afraid that Vanessa would balk if she knew what she might have to do to win Daniel Rathban. Why couldn’t this just be a normal courtship, albeit with Vanessa doing the courting?
Annoyed that the entire matter was being placed on her family, she reminded him, “You hold the purse strings. Are you worried he will hate you if you force the matter?”
“I already tried cutting him off. He found other rakehells to live with and embarrassed me further with his multiple mistresses, his drunken binges and brawls, the immoral clubs he frequents when he’s not living here.”
“Then promise him he doesn’t need to change a’tall after the marriage. I doubt my daughter will mind if she rarely sees him.”
His brows snapped together. “I need heirs from this union or there is no point.”
“One heir may be all my girl will want to deliver,” she warned.
“She’ll bloody well do as she’s told!”
“You haven’t asked for a coward, Lord Albert, you asked for my heir. She’s amenable to this arrangement but only to get her father home. She has a mind of her own and the courage to stand up for herself. She ended up leaving the country with her father and has been with him these past six years. I believe I told you that’s why she didn’t have her come-out last year. And William raised her differently than I would have.”
“But she was charming, even in the face of Daniel’s insulting manner.”
“Because she wants this match as much as you do—for her father’s sake. Why don’t I bring her here tomorrow so she and Daniel can get further acquainted apart from the crowd? You may not need to force the issue. Vanessa is determined.”
“I begin to wonder who is the lamb being brought to the slaughter. Fine. I will tell Margaret to expect you. I fear this marriage still must be Daniel’s idea or it won’t happen a’tall. And apparently it’s going to take a little longer than I’d hoped. I will feign an illness so my wife can insist that Daniel escort her while she’s in town. He’s fond of her so won’t refuse. So keep me apprised of your gel’s agenda for the Season and I will obtain invitations for my wife if she doesn’t already have them.” After issuing that command, he turned and walked back into his mansion.
Kathleen stared after the man who had sundered her family. He was old-school and not the least bit sophisticated. But this arrangement with him made her feel like she was in bed with the devil. And if anyone was at odds with a child, it was she. So how was she going to have such an embarrassing, unmotherly talk with Vanessa about what might need to be done to win Daniel Rathban? But now that Vanessa had met the “boy” and seen that he was older than she’d expected, did she still want the marriage?
Kathleen suddenly felt like crying. The unpleasant conversation she’d just had with Rathban could be moot. Vanessa could have already decided not to go through with this arranged match. And she realized she was afraid to ask!
Chapter Thirty-two
VANESSA HAD HOPED TOsleep late but should have known her sisters wouldn’t cooperate. They both barged in and woke her when they pounced on her bed the next morning. They were as excited as they’d been last night about all the charming young noblemen they’d danced with at the Rathban ball. Vanessa felt exhausted just looking at them.
