Dominic furrowed his brow. “I do not understand.”
“Well, I do not know if you have noticed, but despite these being games for her supposed fortune, there are rather a lot of non-familial connections in attendance.”
Dominic opened his mouth to contradict his cousin but realised he was right. In the hustle and bustle of arriving, Dominic had not noticed that many of the guests were in no way related to their family.
“That is rather odd,” he admitted.
“And grandmother seems to have invited a great many single and eligible young men and women to this event.” Thomas gave him a meaningful look. “And interestingly, there is almost an even number of both. Oh of course, not everyone is single, but there are rather a lot of us.”
“And you think she wishes to play the matchmaker?” Dominic ran a hand through his hair.I can just picture her orchestrating meetings and the like. Truly a terrifying thought.
“I would not put it past her.” His cousin took another sip of his drink, swilling it in his mouth a moment before swallowing. “The woman is like a spider, and we are all insects trapped in her intricate web.”
Dominic had to admit that his cousin had a point. His grandmother was a master tactician, and it was almost impossible to escape her machinations.
“It might just be a coincidence,” he suggested though he did not believe his own words.
Thomas gave him a flat look and gestured to the partially eaten pudding. “Do you really think that is a woman who does anything by chance? Mark my words, this is all part of her plan.”
“It is hard to argue with that logic, and it really would be just like grandmother to orchestrate such a thing.” Dominic was even more glad of his arrangement with Charlotte.One lot of games is quite enough to be focusing on without worrying about matchmaking.
“And she would delight in knowing that any match that came out of it was her doing. She would be utterly unbearable.” Thomas shook his head.
“She is already unbearable,” Dominic said. “The gloating you would be subjected to. And more to the point, it would be brought up at almost every family occasion.”
“Exactly.” Thomas shook his head. “Well, this is one man she will not trick into marriage. I do not need her money, and I need her to find me a wife even less!”
Dominic pointed out reasonably. “You could always stay and simply refuse to engage in it.”
“And how do you propose I do that? No, grandmother is entirely too wily. Just you wait, if I stay, I guarantee I will leave this place with a wife, and I will have no idea how it happened.” Thomas sighed.
“Do you think Grandmother will ever stop meddling in our lives?” Dominic asked as they left the kitchens and began to make their way back to their bed chambers.
“No. Not until she is dead, and even then, I am not entirely convinced she will not continue to do so as a ghost,” Thomas said.
“A truly horrifying prospect.” Dominic shuddered, imagining the ghostly image of his grandmother haunting him whenever he did something she disapproved of. “I would never know peace again.”
“Nor I.” Thomas sighed. “I hate being controlled. Much less having my love life interfered with. I am the future Marquess of Elington, and I do not need some old woman who has been thrice married to find me a wife. I do not want that life. I am quite content being happy and unattached.”
“I understand that completely,” Dominic agreed.What good will a wife do me? More to the point, why would I do that to an innocent woman?“I must say, it makes me all the more glad that I have Charlotte with me. I can only imagine what other tom foolery I would be subject to without her.”
“Perhaps I should have found my own such arrangement,” Thomas said, and Dominic could not tell if he was joking. “Still, I have my own plan, and I intend to be well away from here by tomorrow morning.”
“You know she will never let you hear the end of it, do you not?” Dominic looked at his cousin as he reached the door to his chambers.
“I do. But better that than be married.” Thomas shuddered. “It has been good seeing you Cousin, and I wish you all the luck with your endeavour.”
“Thank you.” Dominic nodded to his cousin and slipped into his room.
As he clambered into bed, he tried to mull over all that had happened. Now that Thomas had pointed it out, it seemed frightfully obvious that there was indeed a glut of single lords and ladies in attendance.
“Well, I am one fly she will not trap in her web,” Dominic murmured. “I am already engaged.”
And there is no fear that that will turn into a marriage — it is the last thing either of us want.
Chapter Fourteen
IF YOU PLAY YOUR CARDS RIGHT
