Without waiting, he went to the women and said he wanted to win a fair lady. Vaughan turned to Philip and just shook his head slowly.
“I know, I know,” Philip said quietly. “I shall behave.”
“Don’t do it for your own sake,” Vaughan whispered. “Think of Miss Tilney’s feelings if she sees you quarrelling with the man she has settled on to preserve her from Northanger.”
Lady Alice brought two chairs to the centre of the room and put Eleanor into the seat next to her. Eleanor looked calm, but Philip thought she wore the expression she often did when her father was demanding something unreasonable from her. A sort of weary patience, a calm resignation to what was now happening no matter how much she disliked it.
“My lord,” Lady Alice said to Vaughan. “Since Sir Charles wants all the men to make their addresses, why do we not begin according to rank?”
Vaughan took his right arm out of his coat sleeve and tucked his arm at his side, leaving his coat resting on his shoulder. He approached Alice with a quick and determined air. “Madam, you have undoubtedly heard of me, but I have not had the pleasure of being introduced to you. However, upon seeing you, I am certain that no other lady could better cheer my empty hours as I recover from action off the coast of Spain.”
Lady Alice gave a little laugh. “How bold and impulsive of you to propose to a woman you do not know.”
“I know beauty when I see it, and in my profession, boldness and impulsivity can save the day. Will you have me, my lady?”
“And will you be as devoted to me as you are to the sailors under your command?”
“I amyoursto command,” Vaughan said, bowing.
Lady Alice pretended to consider, but then shook her head. “I am afraid I am not suited to be a sailor’s wife.”
“Sailor!” Vaughan cried in mock outrage. “Madam, I am a rear admiral and shall save England from the French.”
“What can a left-handed admiral accomplish?” Sir Charles said. “You have had your turn, Nelson, and have been found wanting.”
Vaughan stepped aside after giving Lady Alice a flourishing bow as Sir Charles approached the two ladies. Philip watched him look between them, a hand on his chin, as he appraised both of them.
“I am the youngest prime minister in the history of England, madam,” he said, bowing to Eleanor. “The longevity of my ministry, which faces significant challenges in coping with revolutionary France, and the favour I have of His Majesty, show that I am an able partner in life. I am the choice of the people—”
“Through corruption and patronage,” Philip muttered. Vaughan swatted him on the arm.
“—and would beg to be your choice as well,” Sir Charles finished, holding out his hand like a courtier.
Philip did not want to watch, but he could not hide how he stared at Eleanor. She was silent. She looked at him for the first time since he entered the room. Her colour was heightened, and the embarrassment across her face was acute. Eleanor was looking at him with all the affection and keenness that he believed no other eyes than hers possessed.
Then she put on a false smile, the look he had seen on her face a hundred times before when dealing with her father. One of resolve and resignation. Her eyes shifted from his to land on the man standing before her. Eleanor held out her hand to Sir Charles and said, in a tone not quite like herself, “I am grateful for the sentiments you avowed, Mr Pitt, and I accept your proposal.”
Sir Charles pulled Eleanor to her feet and swiftly kissed her hand. Lady Alice clapped from her chair and said, “Eleanor, your new husband must now salute you!”
This was too much to bear, and Philip busied himself with looking anywhere else, though he could still hear another man’s lips against Eleanor’s. He was certain it took much longer than was necessary for a mere parlour game.
“Mr Brampton,” Lady Alice called, and he slowly turned round. Eleanor was now sitting next to her “husband” on the sofa. His arm was across its back, and Sir Charles was looking down the front of Eleanor’s gown. “It is your turn.”
He did not want to play this ridiculous game and now everyone was looking at him. Philip now had Eleanor’s attention, Eleanor who needed this ruse to continue to endear herself to this unlikeable politician and secure herself a life away from her domineering father.Damn it.Philip gave a long exhale and approached Lady Alice.
“I am a dashing, enthusiastic hero, madam.” He heard stifled laughter behind him, and even Lady Alice smiled. “I fear I have no fortune, but I do have a noble character. I despair of being separated from my love, and will fall in with bad company if you will not have me. I fear I shall gamble away what I have if you are not with me. Shall we elope?”
“I hope you don’t get shot in the arm, Valancourt!” Vaughan cried.
“Who is he supposed to be?” Sir Charles asked Eleanor.
“He is young Valancourt, who courts Emily inMysteries of Udolphoand whose integrity goes under trial,” she answered, looking at Philip. “Valancourt deserves Emily in the end, Sir Charles.”
“You did not call me Mr Pitt, or William,” he said. “You must forfeit a kiss.”
Before Philip could look away, Sir Charles pressed another kiss to Eleanor’s lips. She sat very still, her eyes open, and only blushed in reply to Sir Charles’s self-satisfied smile when he was finally done. Philip did not care for how he had come to rest his hand on Eleanor’s waist as he drew her closer.
“Were you paying me your addresses, sir?” Lady Alice said sharply, and Philip started.
