“Changing the subject, are you, Miss Prim?”
“I think it best, don’t you? Your mother introduced us to two of the patronesses of Almack’s. They seemed to enjoy talking to Gwen. I’m sure we’ll be receiving vouchers sometime during the Season.”
“Her Grace wouldn’t have helped you if she hadn’t wanted to.”
“Louisa, there you are!” Gwen said, running up to her and taking hold of both her hands. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you. Your Grace,” she said, giving him a hurried glance and half a curtsy before turning back to her sister. “This evening has been absolutely heavenly. I’ve had the most wonderful time of my life. You’ll never guess what has happened!”
“I’m sure I can’t possibly guess what has you so thrilled.”
“I need your very best wishes because I’ve met the man I’m going to marry!”
Miss Gwen giggled excitedly. Miss Prim’s shocked gaze flew to Bray’s. Her sister’s pronouncement didn’t surprise him. This was what innocent young girls did when they found themselves at their first ball and in the company of a handsome gentleman who was showing them attention, but apparently, Miss Prim didn’t know it was to be expected. She was looking as if nothing could have shocked her more.
“You can’t have,” Miss Prim admonished her sister lightly. “This is only your first ball. You’ve been here less than four hours.”
“And I didn’t even need all four hours to find him,” Miss Gwen declared. “I only had to look into his eyes once, and I knew he was the husband for me. And he dances so divinely.”
“Gwen, you can’t be serious.”
“But I am,” she said again, and gave Bray another quick glance. “I swear I knew it the moment I saw him.”
Miss Prim looked at Bray, too, as if to suggest he could do something about her silly sister’s proclamation. Bray was staying out of this fray.
“Did I meet him tonight? What is his name?”
“Yes, you met him.” Miss Gwen’s eyes turned dreamy. “Mr. Stanly Standish. Wait until you see him smile, Louisa—you will fall in love with him, too.”
I hope not,Bray thought.
Miss Prim looked to Bray again. And again, he remained noncommittal. Helping an innocent deal with her first blush of love was beyond him. Besides, he was usually the cause of the infatuation.
“He’s the most handsome gentleman I’ve ever seen. I’m in love, Louisa. Be happy for me, I’m in love.”
“But you can’t be in love—surely you know how outrageous that sounds,” her sister argued.
Miss Gwen gaped at Miss Prim as if she were daft. “But I am. Remember you told me you would not try to tell me whom I could and couldn’t marry.”
“I told you that, but I didn’t think you were going to fall for the first gentleman you met.”
“Oh, you can be so picky sometimes. He wasn’t the first gentleman I met, but I knew the moment I saw him that he was the one for me. And he must be in love with me, too, because he asked me to go for a ride in the park tomorrow afternoon. I told him I’d go.”
“Well, you can’t go,” Miss Prim countered defiantly.
“Of course she can,” Mrs. Colthrust said, stepping away from Seaton to add to the discussion. “This is just the sort of thing we want for her. She needs to be sought after by acceptable young men like Mr. Standish. His uncle is an earl, and he’s third in line for the title!”
“I don’t care who or what his uncle is,” Miss Prim said. “It’s much too soon for her to be riding in a carriage alone with a man, especially if she thinks she loves him.”
“Where do you get these odd ideas, Louisa?” Mrs. Colthrust said. “It’s a good thing I am handling her Season and not you, or she’d never make a match. It’s perfectly acceptable for her to ride in the park with Mr. Standish. It will help her gain attention from other gentlemen when they see she has met the favor of a well-sought-after young man so soon.”
“It won’t help her if she is already declaring herself in love!” Miss Prim looked at Bray again. “Do something, Your Grace.”
Bray reached over and picked up a glass of champagne. He handed it to Miss Gwen and said, “Congratulations.”
Miss Prim’s eyes shot daggers at him.
Chapter 18
Why, this is very midsummer madness.
