“Oh dear.” Doubt crossed Charity’s face. “What did he say to that suggestion?”
“That we could talk further at the Marchants’ ball.”
“That sounds reasonable at least. You don’t think you hurt his feelings when you rejected him out of hand?”
“Well, perhaps. But it would be dishonest of me not to have done so. He has made it clear he disapproves of a wife undertaking anything outside of her usual duties. He laughed at my notion of making cosmetics.” She wrung the sodden scrap of linen in her hands. “I would far prefer to marry Lord Bellamy.”
“Father would never agree to Bellamy,” Charity observed. “And I’m not sure I’d be so happy about it either.”
“Why? He’s charming and makes me laugh.”
“He’s a good deal too charming, with every debutante he meets. I know him quite well. He’s good friend of Robin’s, and often at Harwood.”
“Oh. That rake thing again. They do tend to settle down you know.”
“Some of them. And some can break a woman’s heart.”
She frowned. “Mother thought Northcliffe was a rake at first.” Mercy fiddled with the lace edge of her handkerchief. “I have to think of a way to make him cry off.”
Charity left the chair and came to sit beside her on the bed. “I do hope you don’t get hurt. My first impression of him was favorable. Perhaps he will change his mind about your business…”
“Charity! I always liked Robin, even when you’d stated plainly you didn’t wish to marry him. Did I try to persuade you?”
Charity laughed. “No, you did not. But dearest, don’t be too hasty. Take time to get to know Northcliffe. You may change your mind.”
“Robin was never secretive. You always knew where you stood with him.”
“Yes,” she smiled mistily. “He is a darling.”
“There’s something mysterious about Northcliffe. At first I found it intriguing, but when it comes to placing your life in a man’s hands, it’s different. Now he worries me. There’s a hard edge to him beneath the sociable façade.”
Charity’s brows knitted. “You suspect he might have a violent side to his nature?”
“I was very grateful when he came to my aid at Vauxhall Gardens. But you should have seen how he dealt with that rogue. It was so thorough! As one would expect of a soldier.”
“He could not have been part of the war; it was over by the time he was old enough to enlist,” Charity said thoughtfully. “Many gentlemen learn to box at Gentleman Jackson’s Boxing academy.”
“Yes, but this wasn’t the way I envisage gentlemen would box one another. He flipped the man onto his back! His actions were quite ruthless and not at all orthodox. I was enormously grateful of course, but I did fear he might kill the fellow.”
Charity narrowed her eyes. “I would not have cared if he had. But perhaps you could tell Father about it?”
Mercy shook her head. “Father would approve. He would say Northcliffe is a manly fellow!”
“Yes, he would.”
“He’s coming to dinner. I do hope you and Robin are too.”
“We cannot, dearest. We have another engagement. However, I shall be at the Marchants’ ball, and will take a closer look at Lord Northcliffe. If I don’t like what I see, I shall make my opinion known, although I doubt Father will put much store by my opinion.”
Mercy flung her arms around her sister. “Thank you, sister dear. Just having you on my side makes me feel much better.”
When the door closed on her sister, Mercy lay back and stared up at the swag of rose damask bed hangings above her. Lord Northcliffe’s eyes reminded Mercy of her mother’s amber necklace. Handsome eyes, fringed with thick black lashes, but they were not soft. At least not when they had last looked upon her. She could not explain to him the mistake which brought all this about, she’d told Arabella she wouldn’t. And it was hardly his sister’s fault that Mercy went to look for her. Whatever she said, Northcliffe would continue to think badly of her. And a marriage which began on such a shaky foundation could only founder.
Chapter Nine
GRANT WALKED INTO the Marchants’ ballroom having seen the engagement announcement in the newspaper. Friends congratulating him on his coming nuptials surrounded him. Adam slapped him on the back. He winked. “You’re a sly dog. Saying you wasn’t to marry for years. ’Pon my soul! I witnessed how the lovely Mercy Baxendale claimed your heart at first glance myself.”
“Yes, well. She is the prettiest debutante this Season, is she not?” A warm flush of pride surprised Grant.
