“So you said. So uncomplicate it.”
Chapter Forty-five
VANESSA COULDN’T STOP THINKINGabout the very close call that morning when Monty’s family had stopped them on the road. What could be so important to cause them to come after him like that? Would they keep him from returning to her mother’s house? Would he come back only to collect Charley? And there could have been consequences if they had thought to look inside the coach before hieing off with him. It made Vanessa realize she’d been taking far too many risks with Monty.
She hadn’t done the instigating, but she hadn’t tried to put a stop to his tagging along with her when he ought not to, either. Because she enjoyed his company too much! Even when he wasn’t caressing her or trying to kiss her, she simply delighted in his presence, was loath to give it up. But she had to. She knew the rules and she’d been breaking too many of them. They could never be alone like that again. He’d understand. Of course he would. He knew the bloody rules, too.
Having made the decision, she fell into a dismal mood that bordered on tears. She’d been so excited about buying her own stable, but even securing an agreement from the owner didn’t lift her spirits.
She stopped by the office of her father’s solicitor to have him finalize the deal for her. She was glad to make his acquaintance because she would likely need his help in transferring her money back to William before her marriage—if there was going to be a marriage. But if there was, the Rathbans weren’t going to get a single copper from her.
She received a surprise when she returned home. The twins heard her open the door to her bedroom and rushed out of theirs into hers before she could close the door.
“You will never guess!” Layla began.
“Why wouldn’t she?” Emily said. “The real question is, why did it take so long?”
“I’ve no interest in guessing,” Vanessa said wearily, and dropped down on her bed and closed her eyes.
“He called on you, your aloof fiancé,” Emily spilled their news. “We were beginning to wonder why he wasn’t more solicitous. Or does he think no further effort needs to be made because the engagement was arranged for him?”
Vanessa didn’t want to try to defend a man who had no clue he was engaged because there was no bloody engagement yet, only the expectations of both families. “I have a dreadful headache. Go away.”
They didn’t leave.
“He departed the moment he was told you were not at home,” Layla said.
“And where did you go?” Emily asked. “You not only missed Lord Daniel but also both breakfast and lunch.”
Vanessa growled under her breath as she sat up again. “I raided the kitchen before I left. And you do not need to know how I spend my time when I’m avoiding that bloody parlor and all ofyouradmirers. As for Daniel, did you not consider that he might feel out of his depth, competing with younger men? And why would he subject himself to niceties, inane conversation, and tea when he doesn’t have to? We’re already engaged! And we’re getting to know each other quite well at the parties we attend, or haven’t you noticed? So do not expect him to behave like your beaus when he’s already won me.”
She finally sighed over their surprised expressions and reminded them by way of an excuse, “The headache? It makes me snappish. I’m sorry.”
“He shouldn’t have won you, Nessa,” Emily said stiffly, but in apparent concern.
“We just think you can do better with a man closer to your age,” Layla added before taking her twin’s hand and leading her out of the room.
Vanessa yelled, “He’s not old!” before she lay back on the bed. Now she felt a headache coming on.
She was curious, though. She could even think of a number of reasons why Daniel had braved the lady’s den, including his mother having made an emotional appeal for him to get married. However, if Lady Rathban were going to do that, she probably would have done it back when all those other brides had been offered. Or maybe what Vanessa had implied last night at the theater about his getting disowned had him worried and he wanted to know who gave her that information. Or maybe she was just getting to him. Could he actually want to start a real courtship? She supposed she would find out tonight.
THE TWINS CAME BYto collect Vanessa when the hour approached for Kathleen’s party. They were wearing their usual colors, white for Layla, pink for Emily, but Vanessa was impressed and somewhat amused by how the dressmaker had managed to differentiate the twins’ many white and pink gowns so that they didn’t all look alike. Layla was so excited she seemed to be glowing tonight. Vanessa wondered if she was starting to fall in love with the Harris boy.
The guests had started to arrive, the girls saw as they reached the bottom of the stairs. Kathleen was there to greet them at the door and direct them to the parlor.
“The dining table has been extended to seat twenty, which I think is going to leave only one extra seat,” Layla said. “Two from my list are coming.”
“And two from mine,” Emily added. “But two other debutantes as well, with their respective chaperones, since this is a social event, not a showcase for us, more’s the pity. A few of Mother’s friends were invited, too. Oh, and the three Rathbans.”
Vanessa frowned, aware that the only reason Kathleen was giving this dinner was specifically to get Daniel here for her. “Three? Daniel doesn’t like his father. If Lord Albert shows up, his son won’t.”
Layla nodded. “Mother said as much, but etiquette, you know. She couldn’t very well not put his name on the invitation.”
“It doesn’t sound like there is going to be room at the table for our own guests,” Emily said.
Monty had told Vanessa he wouldn’t be attending, and she wondered if he would even continue to reside with them after being dragged home today by his father, as it were. But she didn’t mention this to the twins.
“That was discussed prior to the invitations being sent,” Layla replied. “Charley will be attending, but Monty declined. Something about his not being able to shine when he’s underfoot. He’s so droll.”
