“Of course it was Diamond,” her father spat out, sounding bitter. “I suppose he didn’t like being thwarted.”
Then he turned to Caroline.
“Hewasthwarted, wasn’t he?”
She felt a flush of heat creep up her neck and over her face. This was a discussion she had hoped never to have with her parents.
“Hewasthwarted, Father,” she insisted.Was that the truth?She didn’t know if Geoffrey’s fingers upon her counted as ruining her, but she doubted it. It must be theact of creating children that was the true destruction of a woman’s virtue.
“He was thwarted!” her mother insisted. “I told you that I barged in on them. The rascal had kissed her, but that was all.”
Her father sighed. Then he threw the newspaper onto the table.
“I suppose Mangue will cry off any marriage arrangement after this.”
“That’s convenient,” Caroline said, “because I don’t intend to marry the man.” Furtively, she leaned forward and pulledThe Timestoward her.
“Isyourdaughter speaking to me that way?” her father asked, looking at her mother.
“Yes, dear, but she isourdaughter after all. Would you have her be a noodle-headed namby-pamby?”
“I would have her be sensible and obedient,” her father retorted. “If I go to the trouble of arranging a fine young man to marry her, I think she should be both grateful and agreeable.”
“Speaking about me as if I am not in the room is intolerable,” Caroline said. “If I am old enough to be married, then I am old enough to be treated as an adult and not a mischievous child. I don’t find Lord Mangue to be afineman, at least not fine-looking. Moreover, he has a tepid nature.”
She wrinkled her nose, unable to explain why he reminded her of runny custard or tasteless blancmange while Geoffrey Diamond was like the best juicy piece of roast beef or a delicious slice of buttered toast.
“Why are you smiling then?” her father demanded.
“Merely looking forward to dinner.”
“I tell you what,” Lord Chimes said, “marry Mangue, if he’ll still have you, and I’ll add a little something extra to your dowry for your marital allowance.”
“I cannot be bought,” she insisted.
“It is dreadfully difficult to live a happy life without money,” her mother pointed out.
“Are my own parents threatening me with penury?” Caroline asked.
There was a moment’s hesitation, and then her father blinked.
“No, of course not. I was only thinking to gift you with more if you decide to be sensible.”
“And if I decide to marry for love?”
“Do you fancy yourself in love with Diamond?” Lady Chimes asked. “You scarcely know him except for his dark-haired looks.”
Caroline could hardly confess to how many conversations and kisses they’d actually shared. She merely shrugged.
“If he did tellThe Timesabout your tryst in the pantry, then he is a blackguard,” her father reminded her. “After all, it’s unlikely it was Mangue unless he wants to appear a fool. Why would he blacken your name before he takes you as his wife?”
They were back to Lord Mangue. Caroline hoped he did in fact cry off because of the article in the paper, despite a ruined reputation being nothing to celebrate. Yet if Geoffrey had been the one to disclose their encounter, then she didn’t want him either. Such a betrayal was the opposite of chivalry and gentlemanly behavior. It was unforgivable.
She scanned the single paragraph in the column on London’s fashionable folk. While the rag-writer only vaguely referred both to her and to Geoffrey, their identities would be clear to anyone who knew the members of theton.
“Young Lady C__ who chimes like a bell and Lord D__ who knows well how to ring said bell with sparkle to spare...”
As she came to the conclusion, she stifled a gasp.
