To Bridget’s surprise, Lady Eamont only blinked and shook her head. Apparently, she was too stunned to speak.
“Mama!” Adelia stamped her foot.
“Heavens, Adelia!” Lydia exclaimed. “Doddy and I are in love!”
“Doddy!” Jefferson exploded at Dodsworth. “She calls youDoddy? Since when? When did all this happen? In the last hour?”
Lord Dodsworth hung his head and made no answer.
“Papa!” Adelia shrieked. “What do you have to say about this?”
Lord Eamont blinked as though he’d suddenly become conscious. “I say, Dodsworth, a gentleman should ask the lady’s father before proposing,” he said, but there was no anger in his voice. It was merely an empty statement.
But Dodsworth grabbed it like a rope thrown in the water to save a drowning man. “You are quite right, my lord. That was rude of me. I quite understand. It’s all my fault. We’ll call it off. I’m sorry, Lydia, but your father is right.”
Lydia looked wildly from Dodsworth to her Papa. She opened her mouth, presumably to shriek her objection when her father said, “No, no, Dodsworth. There’ll be none of that. Lydia has already said that the two of you were alone in the garden. She announced it to everyone, so that is it then. She will be Lady Dodsworth.”
“Well, this calls for a toast!” Lady Eamont stood and raised her teacup with a forced smile. “My daughter is getting married!” she said, her face flushed and her eyes a little wild so that Bridget couldn’t quite make out whether she was pleased or not. But she thought the woman probably wasn’t as pleased as a mama desperate to see her daughters married ought to be.
“I think this calls for a real toast, with champagne.” Bridget stood up. “I’ll go and see to it.” She stooped to pick up Bijou and then took the opportunity to slip back indoors before anyone could stop her.
*
Nate was utterlybewildered. He had known Dodsworth for years. The man was a sworn bachelor. And now, suddenly, to become betrothed to Lydia Eamont, of all people! It was unbelievable. Something was afoot. The poor chap looked quite miserable. And clearly, Jefferson had been kept in the dark because he seemed downright shocked—and not in a good way.
Other than congratulating the couple, Nate did not have a hope of speaking to Dodsworth alone as Lydia had latched onto his arm and looked as if she’d never let go.
“I say, that was a surprise, wasn’t it?” Frederick appeared next to Nate. “I had no idea Dodsworth was interested in Lydia Eamont.”
“It makes no sense. He’s obviously not happy, so what is going on? He can’t have done it for the money. At least, and as far as I know, he doesn’t have money problems.” Nate folded his arms. “I wonder what happened. She must have tricked him into being alone with her—caught him off his guard.”
“You don’t say.” Frederick slipped his hands in his pockets and eyed their mutual friend.
“Do you suppose it could have been the mushrooms that did it?” Nate asked, sensing an opportunity to get some information from Frederick. “The ones that give you Kubla Khan visions? Dodsworth talked about searching for them that first night he was here. I have to say, I was quite surprised—it seemed rather out of character for him. He’s never been a wild man.”
“They don’t make you wild,” Frederick said. “They have more of a calming effect.”
“So, you’ve been indulging too?”
“On occasion. They put you in a sort of poetic dreamland. Isn’t that the spirit of the lakes?”
“I suppose it is.” Nate smiled. He couldn’t argue with that.
“Who knows what form Lydia took in poor Doddy’s eyes when he was in his hallucinatory state? She could have been Venus or Helen of Troy herself—whomever he saw, he liked her well enough to propose.”
“Good Lord.” Nate shuddered. “Well, better Dodsworth than me. I can promise you that I won’t be caught alone with Adelia Eamont. There’ll be no chance of her tricking me into compromising her.”
“Hmm.” Frederick ran a hand over the cleft in his chin. “I suppose that’s the way to do it—don’t ask—just announce in public how you compromised a rich viscount’s daughter and are now marrying her. Then all your money problems will be over.”
“Don’t even think it. If you try that, Lord Eamont will likely challenge you to a duel. Then you’d be up for murder.”
“Yes, I do believe you’re right. He won’t be so friendly to me now that his mistress is dead. I am no longer useful, so I presume it won’t be long before he starts demanding repayment of my remaining debt.”
“I wish I could help you, but all of my money is tied up in this place. The garden was in perfect shape, but the rest of the house wasn’t. I had to spend quite a bit to get it ready, and the upkeep certainly isn’t cheap.”
“Not to worry. I’ll think of something.”
Nate followed Frederick’s gaze, which, he saw, landed on Helen. She strolled next to her husband and his manservant, who pushed his chair. Helen must have felt Frederick’s gaze on her because she turned to him and smiled.
