“I see by your expression,” Mr. Beaumont said, entirely mistaken, “that you are not undisturbed by the prospect of your brother getting into trouble.”
“What trouble?” She was already fed up with his innuendo and intimation.
“It is not for me to say. I only urge you to stand by him, if something untoward comes to light. The company needs him at its helm.”
Mr. Beaumont rose to his feet, and she did the same, feeling more confounded after their conversation than before.
“I do not un…understand,” she confessed, aghast at the slightest faltering of her speech.
“Hopefully, you won’t need to.” Again, he took her hand, and once more, he kissed her knuckles.
She was hard-pressed not to wrench it from his grasp.
“I don’t think you should tell him of our little talk,” he advised.
Oh, she most definitely would, she thought, glad when the engineer had left.
In fact, as soon as her brother returned from his club, she cornered him.
“Are you well? Is something of import happening?”
Thomas wore his usual affable expression, however for the briefest of moments, she saw concern flash cross his features.
“Such as?” he asked.
“I’m sure I do not know.”
Thomas cocked his head. “What is this all about, Dilly-girl?”
“You must ask Mr. Beaumont. He stopped by today and seemed worried about you.”
At this, Thomas looked surprised. “I have no idea what that’s about. Perhaps he really came to see you and to determine if you showed any interest in him.”
She frowned. “Very well. We shall set it aside for now. At least he didn’t declare his intent to court me.”
“Would that truly be so terrible?”
“Absolutely,” Adelia declared.
*
As soon asOwen entered the Tourney’s ballroom that night, trying to look amiable despite the constantly churning desire to punch someone, he searched for Lady Adelia. Not for pleasant social reasons, but on the advice of Westing’s wife. Unfortunately, Lady Jane had no more knowledge of a handkerchief with an anvil than her husband.
“You must go to every social event,” Lady Jane had advised him.
Owen had shaken his head. “And walk around demanding handkerchiefs? I shall find myself confined to an asylum.”
“If you have a lady friend who could help you,” Lady Jane had suggested, “she would undoubtedly have better luck securing gentlemen’s handkerchiefs than you. From my recollection, Owen, you have an entire battalion of ladies at your disposal.”
With a sardonic grimace, he had told her, “Not an entire battalion, I promise you.”
Moreover, the women whom he had wooed and left were not his friends. Each had wanted a proposal; each had wanted to become his viscountess. They all had been sorely disappointed.
Nonetheless, he might be able to enlist the aid of Lady Adelia since he had never wronged her. Unobtrusive, she would be able to sidle up to any number of gentlemen and obtain a handkerchief without drawing attention to what she was about. And since she didn’t speak, much less appear to gossip, her task wouldn’t spread like fire around the room.
If she was willing to help him.
To that end, he found her easily in the very place he’d always seen her, at the far end of the ballroom, against the wall, her head turned as if speaking to an invisible companion. She must have heard his footsteps, for she turned at his approach, verdant eyes widening slightly in alarm before she nodded by way of greeting.
