“I do not see why that is so scandalous.A man like that would choose some very young lady to bear his heirs and continue right on with his debauchery.”
“That is just it, Mama.The scandal is not so much that he is to wed, but to whom.”She took a dramatic breath.“He is to marry Lady Rocksley!”
Lady C’s brow creased.“Lady Rocksley?”
“El knows who she is.”Benedict said, smirking at her.
Heat rushed to her cheeks.Damn him.It did not matter if he referred to her attending Lady Burfield’s salon—the sister of Lady Rocksley—or having seen Lady Rocksley and the earl in the maze, but either way she would not let him throw her.“I know of her.”
“Yes, how do you know of her, El?”he queried, his eyes dancing.
She would kill him.Absolutelymurderhim.“I have seen her a time or two,” she said vaguely.“She is the widow of Viscount Rocksley.”
“Oh, yes, of course.I know of her.”Lady C frowned.“She moves in vastly different circles to him.How would they even have met?”
Amanda beamed.“I do not know, but there is much speculation!Is it not delicious?And Catherine Hastings said when they announced the engagement, he led her in a dance and they could not keep their eyes from one another, and she fairly melted.It was all dreadfully romantic.”
“Perhaps it was arranged?”Lady C mused, almost to herself.“But why would it be arranged?She had no fortune to speak of, nor demonstrable fecundity.”
Benedict cleared his throat.“Lady C, perhaps that should not be discussed in mixed company?”
Lady C looked up.“Hmm?”She caught sight of Amanda watching her with great interest, her smile still beaming.She blushed.“Oh dear, that was not very discreet of me, was it?Amanda, you are to forget what you heard.”
Her smile brightened even more.“Of course, Mama.”
“You are the very worst child.”
“Yes, you say it often.”
Lady C lifted a brow at Benedict.“If even the Earl of Malvern can wed, Benedict, then you shall have no excuse.”
Amanda turned the full force of her attention onto her uncle.“Uncle Benedict, why will you not choose someone?”she demanded.“There are many delightful ladies this season.”
Sourness swum in Eleanor’s stomach.She did not like the direction this conversation had taken.Not at all.Keping a benign smile pasted to her face, she attempted to keep her dislike to herself.
“Despite what your father insists, Amanda, I am not interested in marriage.”He sighed.“If I dance with some ladies, will you all cease?”
“Perhaps,” Amanda said archly.
Benedict sighed again.“Pick someone for me and I will dance with her.”
Amanda clasped her hands together.“I shall be delighted!”
The conversation devolved into Amanda assessing each young lady and weighing up her attraction for her uncle.
Eleanor kept a pleasant smile on her face even as her stomach churned.She had not fooled Benedict, though.He glanced at her and shifted, as if he were uncomfortable, too.Which he most likely was.After all, discussing your future bride while your current lover stood beside one could not be agreeable.
Of a sudden, Lady C’s gaze sharpened.“Amanda, there is a gentlemen I wish you meet who has just arrived.You can assign a young lady to your uncle after.”
“A gentleman?Who?”
“Come, and I shall introduce you.”
Lady C led a chattering Amanda away.
Eleanor watched them go.
“I am sorry you were uncomfortable,” Benedict said.
