Belle had wondered if this dinner would further illuminate Harry’s feelings for Miss Danworth. And of course, it most certainly had. Miss Danworth, in the natural throes of upset after the death of her father, vowed she would never marry. The lady could not conceive of such a thing at this moment. This wish to retire from society forever was all nonsense, of course, every woman of sense married. What else was one to do with one’s life?
However, it was not surprising that poor Miss Danworth should feel her resolve permanent just now. She’d had a shock and must rest her mind from it.
Her dear Harryhadbeen surprised by the idea, though. He’d all but railed against it! Miss Danworth must not think such thoughts!
She supposed he was so besotted he could not imagine waiting a year or two to claim her.
Now, he was sitting at the table in the drawing room, partnering Miss Danworth at whist with Belle’s parents. She supposed the picture she viewed just now spoke of things to come. Miss Danworth would become Lady Burke and she and her husband would be great friends of Lord and Lady Bartholomew and they would often play at whist.
Where would Belle Minkerton be in all of this? Married off to some fellow who was not Harry. Always comparing the poor fellow to the superior Harry. Who could measure up? Who had his looks, his kind and thoughtful nature, his natural high spirits?
“Miss Minkerton,” Lord Dalton said, interrupting her thoughts, “would you terribly mind to show me the sea charts your father mentioned that he has collected?”
Belle forced a smile. Lord Dalton was a weak cup of tea compared to Harry. He was one of those fellows who confused seriousness with dignity and intelligence. Still, she was left to entertain him and must do her best.
As she pulled down one of the heavy books from the shelf and showed him how to use the reference, she said, “I imagine Lord Burke will impatiently wait in the wings until Miss Danworth decides to return to the world.”
She could not explain why she said such a thing, other than she wished to have further confirmation of her ideas. She already knew the truth though, so it was silly to hear it told twice.
Lord Dalton looked rather surprised at her boldness, and said, “Will he?”
“I expect so,” Belle said. “Certainly, you do not view him an unsteady gentleman?”
“Unsteady? No, I suppose not.”
“Then why pretend we do not see what we have clearly seen with our own eyes? He will wait, I am sure of it.”
Lord Dalton turned and looked toward the whist table. “I had not thought…”
“In any case, Lord Dalton, allow me to show you the key to the map. Here is the chalk flats and just there are the depths noted.”
Belle bent her head over the maps as if she’d never seen anything so interesting in her life. Harry might be across the room besotted by the charming Miss Danworth, but Belle would not be such a ninny as to allow anyone to notice that she cared about it. She would entertain and inform Lord Dalton as if her life depended upon it, though she could not conceive of a more tedious task.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
As they made their way slowly home from the Minkertons, Lord Dalton ahead of them on horseback and going very carefully as clouds had overshadowed the moon, Mrs. Jellops said, “They give a fine dinner, I would not mind knowing the details of the sauce on the chicken for Mr. Flanagan’s edification. Though, my dear, perhaps you might think better of being so forthright about…”
“About my intentions,” Daisy said, already knowing she ought to hide them but not being inclined to it.
“Yes, and your feelings toward Lord Childress. It is all well and good for me to know them—I was there and saw the truth of it. They are entirely justified, but for people recently met…”
“They might think me an unfeeling she-devil,” Daisy said.
“I do not think they thought that at all,” Mrs. Jellops said kindly. “They are a very good sort of people and I imagine they understand your circumstances. Lord Burke would have told them of it, is my guess.”
“I do not imagine they think of me at all just now,” Daisy said. In a quieter voice, lest her words carry in the still night air, she said, “They have introduced their daughter to Lord Dalton and must see the prospects.”
“Lord Dalton?” Mrs. Jellops said. “Oh, I see, they may not have heard of his reputation and so think him a likely catch.”
Daisy could not know if they’d heard of Lord Dalton’s peculiarities or not, but she did not think it mattered much. She’d watched him over the seasons and this was the first time she’d ever seen him really engaged with a lady.
Oh, how they’d bent their heads together over those silly maps!
Certainly, Miss Minkerton was not at all interested in nautical maps. Certainly, Lord Dalton would have known the same. In fact, she was not at all surehewas much interested in them. And yet, they stayed there a very long time while Daisy was at whist.
More telling, Lord Dalton seemed exceedingly awkward afterward. The gentleman was never awkward! What else was to account for it but Miss Minkerton?
Daisy supposed she should not be surprised. Belle Minkerton was everything she was not. She was friendly and warm and had that pretty way of almost shyness, but not the sort of shyness that put one off and made one feel they were forced to do all the work. She was not simpering or fanning, she was simply adorable.
