“Well,” she said coming up to him, “what do you think of your prospects?” She took a seat in the chair next to his.
“They are all lovely young women,” he replied, returning to his chair.
“Some not so young. Lady Lila is five and twenty.” Thea had to point that out.
He nodded, took a sip of his drink. “The age of my sister,” he said. Thea wanted to groan, because he said it as if Lady Lila’s age was a credit to her chances.
“Sir James will be arriving on the morrow,” he told her.
“Sir James? I didn’t know he was coming,” Thea said.
“I’m surprised Lady Palmer didn’t tell you. He was supposed to ride with me today, but unfortunately business kept him in London.”
“It will be a pleasure to see him again,” Thea said.
There was a beat of long, uncomfortable silence. She realized an easiness with him was gone, banished by a budding sense of regret.
Perhaps she had been wrong in her thinking. She’d said she’d felt nothing but friendship that summer years ago, and yet his defecting without a reason had stayed with her. He’d hurt her more than if what she’d felt had been friendship alone.
The awkward silence was broken by the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Pomfrey and their daughter, Miss Susanne. Thea had no need to talk as they monopolized Neal.
Very shortly, Lord and Lady Montvale and their daughter joined the group. Lady Montvale was not happy to see the Pomfreys there but didn’t hesitate to elbow the Pomfreys aside.
Mirabel came up beside Thea. “Did you notice the elbow? Interesting how quickly friendship dies.”
“Imagine how it will be if he chooses one over the other,” Thea said.
“All I know is that when I return to London, I shall dine for a week on stories of hosting Vanessa Montvale and Sarah Pomfrey. My tale will be all the more delicious because of this little feud.” She smiled at Thea and then raised her voice. “Come, everyone, dinner is served. Lord Lyon, will you escort me to the table?”
“I would be honored, my lady.”
Mirabel’s chef had prepared an excellent repast of pheasant, venison, and numerous side dishes. There was one hastily cooked beef dish. Wine and cider flowed freely.
After dinner they all returned to the sitting room, where each young woman had the opportunity to show off her talents. Lady Cynthia did indeed have a lovely voice. Miss Susanne entertained them with a complicated piece for the pianoforte, Neal sitting beside her on the bench turning pages.
But the others sang and played instruments as well. Lady Lila had even brought her own violin and walked over to Neal as she played it. She stood in front of him, the music a mournful piece, which she turned into a lively jig.
If this had been another gathering, there might have been dancing, but since each young womanwas in competition with the other, the atmosphere was rather tense.
Thea kept an eye on Neal. She told herself it was important she gauge his reaction to each candidate.
She also had a personal interest. She found herself hoping he chose exactly the wrong woman. Then she could label him as shallow, which would put a dent in the noble armor he wore in her mind.
For his part, Neal complimented everyone and managed to spend a few minutes of private conversation with each girl. However, he appeared happy when Mirabel announced that, with the hunt tomorrow, it would be an early day and perhaps they should all retire.
There was a comical moment when not one girl wished to leave before Neal and the others did. They all hovered around him. He was too polite to just leave, so it was up to Thea to extract him from the group. Everyone followed them up the stairs for the night.
Before he turned the corner to go to his room, Neal managed to place himself beside Thea. “This is harder than I thought it would be.”
“That was my wish,” she said brittlely. Yes, the girls were lovely and had impeccablebloodlines and connections—but their characters were sorely lacking. He must see that? Mustn’t he?
He glanced around. The two of them were at the crossway of the two halls. The fathers had gone immediately into their rooms. Their wives and daughters lingered by their doorways. A few of the girls even gave Neal little waves good night.
“And you have chosen well,” he whispered, conscious that they were being watched. “I don’t think I could fall in love with any of them. Thank you, Thea.”
He didn’t say those words happily, and Thea felt a great weight settle on her shoulders. He was pleased. “You are welcome, my lord.”
He nodded and went to his room. Thea watched him open his door and disappear inside, a hollow feeling inside her. Always before, she’d felt good about putting two people together, but not this time. Neal was making a mistake wanting to marry one of these women. She knew it.
