He looked at Marcus, who grinned broadly. “We are hoping for a girl this time.”
“Congratulations.” Rupert stole a quick glance at Vivian. Perhaps by next year they would have a child to celebrate as well.
The music began again, and soon he was left alone with Phoebe.
He settled on one of the chairs next to the sofa, and she turned to him. “You seem quite taken with Lady Beresford.”
“Does it show so much?”
She raised one quizzical brow. “Have you been trying to hide it?”
“Not really.” Not at all, truth be told. “I want to ensure she is . . . taken with me as well. I can only do that by spending time with her.”
“I wish you well, Rupert. You know that. And, despite what others have said, I do not think you are too young to marry. I will say that I have been given to believe something was very wrong with Lady Beresford’s marriage, and that may make her shy of a second one.”
“She said something that gave me the same impression.” He scrubbed his face with a hand. Did the path to love never run smoothly? “I do not wish to frighten her, but I don’t know how much slower I can go.”
A peal of laughter rang out. “My dear, if this is your idea of moving slowly, I do not know that I wish to see you moving quickly. You have only known her for about a week.”
“Do you not believe in love at first sight?” He took out his quizzing glass and turned it upon her. “I thought you were more of a romantic.”
“Only now.” Her gaze was drawn to the dance floor and her husband. “Marcus swears he fell immediately in love with me. It took me much longer.”
Rupert had heard something of the idiot Marcus had made of himself before he’d been banished to the West Indies. Phoebe had not taken what she’d seen as his betrayal at all well, and for years she had held a grudge against him. Given that Vivian had been married before, her experience could have been much worse than Phoebe’s. Rupert might have a harder time than he had expected bringing Vivian up to scratch. “Thank you. I needed that reminder.”
Phoebe reached out, tapping his knuckles with her fan. “If you truly love her, don’t give up. She needs a gentleman who will care for her.”
“I won’t. I only wish I knew what I was up against.” He slid a hopeful look at Phoebe.
She was quiet for a few moments, then apparently caught sight of something across the room, before saying, “I would not betray a trust, but if I can help you, I shall. I think she cares for you more than she will allow herself to acknowledge.”
“You will have my heartfelt thanks.” Rupert knew that his friends had helped one another secure their ladies, or gentlemen, as the case may be.
“Yes, I know”—Phoebe grinned—“and you shall name your firstborn child after me.”
“Not if it’s a boy!” He drew back in mock horror.
Phoebe giggled. “You will make an excellent husband.”
The look on his friend’s countenance was the type of happiness he rarely saw on Vivian’s face. What had happened to her? More importantly, would she allow him to help her?
Vivian and Lord Evesham came together again as they performed the simple steps of the reel. She glanced at Lord Stanstead and found him looking at her as well.
“You seem fond of young Stanstead.”
“Young?” She didn’t want to talk or even think about her feelings for Lord Stanstead. That would lead to nothing good for her. “He does not give that impression.”
“No, he came into his title early.” The steps of the dance separated them again. “Because of that and a natural tendency toward conscientiousness, he is older and wiser than his years.”
“How old is he?” Not truly wanting to know the answer. That she was falling in love with a child would make it worse.
“Two and twenty.”
Good God! Two years younger than I.No wonder Lord Stanstead’s friends were protective of him.
“My lady?”
Vivian just stopped herself from shaking her head in an attempt to focus. “I beg your pardon, my lord, but I hardly know how to answer you.” She raised her chin and a brow. “He has been kind to me.”
