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‘Do you blame him for leading you on?’
‘Perhaps I should, but I can’t claim ignorance of Hugh’s financial situation. His aunt mentioned it to us at Vauxhall even before he’d turned up to be introduced. I knew he must marry an heiress, yet still made it clear to everybody that I had set my cap at him.’ A wry smile tilted her lips. ‘I would have felt dreadfully miffed if he’d not responded to my pursuit.’
‘And respond he did!’ Elise chuckled. ‘There was no doubt he was equally smitten.’ After a pause Elise continued. ‘Alex mentioned that Hugh has been visiting the Chapmans.’
Beatrice met her sister’s eyes in the glass. ‘I’m not surprised; Verity is now spoken for, but Fiona is not. And they are very nice people.’
Elise nibbled at her lower lip. The same thought had occurred to her: that Hugh might turn his attention to Fiona and her small inheritance once all hope of marrying Beatrice had gone.
‘Don’t look so glum,’ Bea rallied. ‘He needs a wife with a dowry; it was silly to expect we could survive on love alone.’
‘Did you really love him?’ Elise asked, the hairbrush remaining idle in her hand while she awaited her sister’s answer.
‘I expect it was just infatuation. I so wanted to find a nice attractive gentleman who I knew would be kind to me and our children. Hugh met my requirements, you see, and I forgot that money is so very important, too. But constantly fretting over bills would have made us argue, then we’d have grown to hate one another, and that would have made our children sad.’
Elise knew that her sister was recalling how they had suffered from living in a cold home atmosphere when young.
‘Hugh didn’t send word with Alex, did he?’
‘No,’ Elise finally said. ‘I’m not sure Hugh realised Alex was coming to see us in Hertfordshire.’
‘I am.’ Beatrice’s huffed a laugh. ‘It doesn’t matter. That day at the park Hugh said it would be best if we made a clean break. At the time I thought him heartless. Now I see he was right.’ She stood up, gathered her lemon gown from the bed and held it against her figure. ‘I shall wear this for your engagement supper this evening. I wish now I had done as you said and stitched my new turquoise ribbon about the hem.’
Elise enclosed Beatrice in a fierce hug. ‘Thank you...’
‘For what?’ Bea asked, chuckling.
‘For being a good sister...for agreeing to be my bridesmaid...oh...for lots of things.’
‘I shall want you as my maid of honour when I wed, viscountess or no.’
‘And you shall indeed have me!’ Elise pulled back, looking deep into Bea’s blue eyes. ‘Colin Burnett likes you and you’ve not yet known him one full day.’
‘I know.’ Bea’s lips twitched in a private little smile. ‘And I like him. But as you say, I’ve not known him very long at all.’ She turned to her reflection, assessing the dress against her body. ‘I am determined to henceforth be sensible and take things slowly so I don’t raise my hopes, or Papa’s.’ She suddenly grinned, in the excited way that reminded Elise of the old Beatrice who was never at all sensible about gentlemen admirers. ‘Colin is very well situated. He has told me his uncle is a baronet and he is his heir...and he is very interesting to talk to. He knows a good deal about lots of different things besides the work of a physician—’
‘Are you two young ladies ever coming below stairs?’ Mrs Francis had poked her head about the door, interrupting Beatrice. ‘The gentlemen have arrived. The doctor came first on horseback and is joining you at the table. He was pleased to see your father looking so well. The viscount turned up a few minutes ago in a carriage. They have all been having a jolly talk and a drink before dinner while waiting for you to join them.’ Mrs Francis closed the door behind her as the sound of their father’s laughter was heard. ‘All getting on fine and dandy they are.’ She wagged a finger. ‘But you know how your papa is with a few tots inside of him.’
Elise and Beatrice exchanged a rueful look at that caution. Indeed, they did know how easily their papa could overindulge and empty a decanter.
‘Get dressed and come down quickly so I can serve up,’ Mrs Francis instructed. ‘You won’t want your father ending up with his head in his soup bowl, will you?’
* * *
‘Capital!’ Walter raised his glass in a toast. ‘I think Friday is a fine day for a wedding.’ Having just heard from his future son-in-law that he had made the necessary arrangements for the end of the week, Walter beamed at his blushing daughter. ‘What say you, my dear? It will suit us all, won’t it?’
