‘Etta, darling. You really must marry him, you know. His sister adores you, all the gossipy old tabbies of theTonare talking and besides, he can’t keep his eyes off you.’
A loud and very pointed cough drew their attention. Etta looked up to see the subject of their discussion looming attractively over them.
‘Ah, Miss Bainbridge. I see you’ve befriended the Bramley clan,’ said Max, looking rather resigned.
He waved away the pipe offered to him from a grinning Lord Bramley. Etta was surprised by how relieved she was to finally see him.
‘George,’ he nodded in acknowledgement. ‘Always good to see you and your delightful sisters.’
Etta felt momentarily jealous as Tessa and Lissie smiled at Max, but then turned to find him looking at her.
Tessa’s voice cut through her haze. ‘Oh, is it, Lord Stanhope? Seems like all you can see is our new friend Etta.’
‘Yes, tell us, Stanhope. When can we wish you happy?’ drawled Lord Bramley.
‘Just as soon as Etta tells me so.’
Etta and Max entered a stare-off and she couldn’t look away.
The rest of the group started gossiping about a supposed secret liaison between Maria Marley and Smythe, but Etta felt as though the whole world was melting into nothingness around them. Only Max mattered now.
Max’s expression became serious and he dropped his voice. ‘When will you tell me so, Etta? The Bramleys are right – the tabbies are talking. Besides, I have ruined you.’
‘No,’ Etta whispered, the marijuana making her feel elated and honest all at the same time. ‘You haven’t ruined anything. Everything is absolutely perfect.’
‘Then marry me.’
‘Why? Because I have to?’
They were nose to nose, but Max suddenly seemed to recollect their surroundings and hauled her up to her feet.
‘I think I’d better return you to your mother, Miss Bainbridge. Spending too much time with these reprobates and their mysterious herb will do nothing to help your reputation and will likely addle your mind.’
Lord Bramley laughed. ‘See you at White’s, then, Stanhope? I’ll expect to read the engagement announcement before the end of the week.’
Max jaw was clenched tightly as he led her back through to the ballroom. ‘Miss Bainbridge, I am sorry that I have put you in this position, I really am. I should never have let things escalate as I did. But you must accept my hand in marriage. You truly must. When may I ask your brother?’
Etta sighed. She knew he was being noble and well-mannered and chivalrous and all the things a young lady in 1817 would be lucky to find. Marriage with him would promise financial stability, and high societal standing, and plenty of hot carriage snogging. But he was also using a few too manymustsandshouldsfor her liking. Being strong-armed into a marriage of convenience was not on the table for her.
He was looking at her expectantly, but her mind was a jumble of competing thoughts.
‘Will you give me Christmas to think about it?’ she said eventually. ‘I didn’t really expect to be getting married any time before thirty. It feels … weird, I guess.’
‘Thirty?’ he repeated, appalled. She saw anxiety in his eyes and realised suddenly how intensely vulnerable he looked.
‘It’s not that I’m totally against it. It just feels so quick,’ she added.
Max rocked on his feet. ‘I’ve barely slept this past week. If anyone finds out I’ve compromised you …’
‘Compromised!’ repeated Etta, stifling a laugh. The whole thing seemed so absurd to her all of a sudden – she felt giddy with it.
‘Etta, this is serious. This is your reputation we’re talking about. This is about the rest of your life. If anyone at all in this room, even a servant, had even an inkling of what has passed between us—’
‘I know, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. It’s just rather surreal, that’s all,’ said Etta.
She supposed that her whole reality now was surreal, but somehow over the last weeks she had stopped questioning it. Was she really in a ballroom right now, in 1817, rebuffing a male supermodel’s marriage proposal?
The old ladies on the Tube had asked her if she wanted a holiday in Regency London, but this had become so much more than that. Marriage was meant to be a lifelong commitment, wasn’t it? Was that what was holding her back?
