Page 25 of The Marquess’s Forbidden Bride

‘It would make my Season more enjoyable if he would just acknowledge that we are entirely unsuited and look for another well-dowered lady! There should be a handful of females eager enough to become a viscountess that they would not be much concerned about the limits of his wit.’

‘I promise to run him off if he appears tonight.’

‘I’d be most grateful.’

A glitter at the room’s threshold, candlelight reflected off the gems in necklaces and earrings, caught his eye. An older matron stood there, flanked by two younger women, her gaze scanning the room until it locked on Charles. After murmuring to the younger ladies, the party fixed bright smiles on their lips and headed towards him.

He leaned towards Miss Wellingford. ‘Do you know those ladies? They seem to be making straight for us.’

Looking where he indicated, she said ‘That’s Lady Brockhaven with her daughter Miss Jane Weatherfield and the cousin she’s sponsoring, Miss Mannersby.’

By the time the ladies arrived, he felt an itch at the back of his neck in premonition. Sure enough, after an exchange of bows and curtsies, Lady Brockhaven said, ‘Miss Wellingford, you must present us to your friend.’

After raising an eyebrow at Charles, she said, ‘Of course. Lady Brockhaven, Miss Weatherfield, Miss Mannersby, may I present a good friend of the family, Lieutenant Marsden. Lieutenant, Lady Brockhaven, her daughter Miss Weatherfield and her niece, Miss Mannersby.’

‘Honoured to meet you, ladies,’ Charles said.

Lady Brockhaven tittered. ‘Oh, Miss Wellingford, you are a sly one, aren’t you? Lieutenant Marsden is much more than an army officer, isn’t he?’ Lowering her voice conspiratorially, she added, ‘We should more properly address you as “Lord Richland”, should we not? Unfair of you to keep the marquess all to yourself, Miss Wellingford!’

While Charles felt his smile wither, his companion pinned a bright one on her lips. ‘I’m not attempting to monopolise the lieutenant, my lady. As his close acquaintances know, since he has not yet been formally presented to the Lords, he is not using his title publicly, as is proper. Naturally, he will do so in due course.’

Her gentle reprimand went unremarked upon. Lady Brockhaven said, ‘Oh, my, I hear the orchestra tuning up for the next dance. May I present my daughter as a desirable partner, my lord?’

While Charles stood mute, trying to think of a polite escape, Miss Wellingford said smoothly, ‘Miss Weatherfield dances beautifully, I’m sure. Unfortunately, the lieutenant has promised to attend my sister, Lady Englemere. Indeed, I’m afraid I have kept him here too long already. I must ask you to excuse us.’

Before the matron could reply, she curtsied quickly and took Charles’s arm. ‘Shall we?’

‘My apologies, ladies. I must save the delight of dancing with you for another time.’ After bowing, he let Miss Wellingford lead him away, leaving behind an obviously irritated Lady Brockhaven and two disappointed young ladies.

‘I take it those two are definitely not the sort of damsels with whom I can casually flirt?’ he asked as they made their way across the ballroom to where her sister was holding court.

‘Definitely not! Dance twice with either of her charges and Lady Brockhaven will be whispering of a pending engagement before the music stops.’

‘Thank you for the rescue, then.’

‘After you speak with my sister, you might wish to avoid dancing altogether tonight and take refuge in the card room. We can probably trust Lady Brockhaven not to say anything about your change in status to other matrons—she will want her own charges to have the first chance at you before others learn of your inheritance. But if she has somehow discovered it, the news will soon be known by all. Although after enduring slighting treatment for years at the hands of Lord Thurton and his ilk, you might find it pleasant to be sought out and lauded.’

‘For wealth and position alone? You don’t seem to like it.’

‘True, but I’m not deserving of any attention. I’ve done nothing but help raise my siblings and grow a few plants. You have spent years serving your country, risking life and limb to preserve our nation’s independence.’

‘I wouldn’t mind being lauded for that—by other soldiers. Not by civilians who know nothing about the army or the sacrifices involved. Who only pay compliments about it as a means of ingratiating themselves.’

‘Now who is disparaging himself without reason? It’s only right for you to be honoured for your service, and though they may not be as knowledgeable, most of the civilians who offer thanks will be sincere. Besides, as I’ve mentioned before, your wit, charm and handsome countenance would win you admiration and pursuit by the ladies, even without a high title and greater wealth.’

‘Are you flirting with me, Miss Wellingford?’

To his delight, she pinked. ‘Only offering truth, as we agreed we would. If I admit I possess a modest attractiveness beyond my dowry, you must allow you would attract a good deal of female attention even without this inheritance. Now—I’m afraid you will be an open target!’

‘As I’m unhappily aware. I think you’d better make me a list of those matrons I might safely charm and the unmarried maidens I must try to avoid.’

‘A wise idea. I shall do so before your next engagement—for by then, I suspect the news will be out.’

‘I will be exceedingly grateful,’ he said with relief. ‘But how should I return the favour? Not all suitors can be blocks like Lord Aldersby. You must let me know whom I should encourage. Have you truly met none for whom you could develop a fondness?’

‘I could admire someone like you or Lord Englemere. Someone who’s done or is doing something—serving his country, guiding the nation, restoring an estate, as Englemere assisted my brother in bringing Wellingford back to its prime. But as you know, I’m in no hurry to marry.’

By this time, they’d waded through the mass of dancers to reach her sister.