“Oh, indeed. So many mothers were chirping about it today. He is quite a catch, and it’s such a surprise that he’s finally putting himself on the marriage block.”
Monty looked at Vanessa before he replied, “I’d say he’ll fight it tooth and nail, but don’t repeat that. Merely my opinion.”
Claire snorted delicately. “Don’t think I don’t know you’re talking about yourself, brother, not Daniel Rathban.”
Vanessa waited for Monty to deny that teasing charge, but he didn’t, merely said, “Give it a rest, Claire. There’s nothing left of that bone to gnaw on.”
It was a disquieting moment to have his aversion to marriage confirmed by a member of his own family. After the siblings hugged and parted, Vanessa moved ahead of him to return to her mother and stick close to her, determined to ignore thatconfirmedbachelor for the rest of the night.
Her mother was standing with Lady Roberts and another old dame, and she heard Lady Roberts say, “Silly boy fancied himself in love with a housemaid. It was barely a tidbit, when so many young men get their first taste of amour with servants who are conveniently under their roof. Always underfoot, available, etcetera. It was never confirmed, but the consensus was that his father paid the gel to leave England. But it was all rather typical, so it wasn’t noteworthy gossip at the time. But why the interest in such a lothario, Kathy? D’you want him for one of your gels?”
Kathleen smiled. “As you know, I’ve been away from London for a few years. And who better than you to tell me about the current eligibles.”
Lady Roberts shook her head. “I’m not so sure our Danny is all that eligible. He keeps three mistresses, you know, yes, I did say three, and they even like each other! And he still philanders on the side. But his father obviously thinks this is the year to change all that. Hope springs eternal!”
The other matronly woman standing next to Lady Roberts finally piped up. “It won’t happen.”
“We don’t know that, Gerty,” Lady Roberts disagreed.
“Of course we do. That rift ’tween father and son is so wide now, all of England could fit in it! The boy went from gloomy to enraged, that his father would do it again!”
Vanessa almost intruded to ask “Do what?” but she really didn’t want to draw attention to herself and have the two gossips tone down what they were saying, which was far too pertinent to her ears.
“That was a low blow,” Lady Roberts agreed, “though it’s been several years now since Danny fell in love with that second gel. And what else was Lord A to do after he heard she didn’t have a spotless reputation?”
“It was more likely that he felt she didn’t have sufficiently distinguished bloodlines to enter his family,” Gerty said. “You know how snobbish he can be.”
“Well, it’s too late now for Lord A to figure out that might have been his last chance to get his boy wed. She’s living up north now with the minor noble she married instead. But obviously he must think there’s still a chance. Why else would he host a ball, which he’s never done before?”
“That family has had its share of trials and tribulations with brothers dying too young and recalcitrant sons. So dreary!”
“Indeed,” Lady Roberts concurred.
Vanessa wondered if the already-agreed-upon engagement to her might have had something to do with Albert’s refusing that second woman Daniel had loved. But it was daunting, knowing what else she was up against. Not once, but twice Lord Albert had ruined his son’s chances for romantic happiness. No wonder Daniel hated his father so much that he would do exactly the opposite of what Albert wanted.
“However, young Montgomery Townsend is a prime subject!” Lady Roberts added. “If that boy really has developed a taste for maturity—I think I’ll go flirt with him m’self.”
There was that high tittering laugh again before the lady moved off with her friend. And Kathleen remarked in a low tone, “I can see now why Lord Monty wanted a sojourn in the country, which makes me wonder what brought him back to London. Why set all these tongues wagging again?”
Her mother was giving her a pointed look, pretty much accusing her of encouraging him, but Vanessa managed a disinterested shrug. “Of course I like him. How could I not, as amusing as he is?”
“Not too much, I hope.”
No, they couldn’t have that. Fall in love with the wrong man? Not a wrinkle either of them wanted. But she dismissed the subject when she asked, “I take it you actually asked Lady Roberts about Daniel?”
“Of course. And I noticed your arrival. You heard the gist of it. I’m sorry their gossip wasn’t more useful to your campaign.”
It wasn’t, but then what had she expected? To learn something that would help her to mend the fence between father and son? “I’m not so sure it was entirely useless. It was a little encouraging to know that Danielcanfall in love.”
“Or just the opposite, that after two heartbreaks he won’t be willing to risk a third. I hope I’m wrong and you’re right, but he’s here if you’d like to test which of our theories is correct.”
Vanessa immediately looked about the room until she spotted Daniel standing with his mother near the ballroom entrance, but her eyes didn’t stay on him. She continued looking until she found Monty at the refreshment table talking to a pretty woman. Up went the bristles again. What the devil? She had no right to get jealous. He wasn’t hers, would never be hers, so—whatthe devil?
“He’s coming,” Kathleen whispered.
Vanessa’s eyes flew back to Daniel. She noted again how handsome he was, imposing in size, and looking bored again. She could definitely harp on about his jaded reputation. Three mistresses! She still mustered a smile when their eyes met across the room.
She didn’t offer a hand when moments later he bowed curtly before her because she was absolutely certain that he would ignore it. So she was quite surprised when he simply grasped her elbow to lead her out to the dance floor. Without asking!
