“That I will not say, as I do not yet know if that story is true. I shouldn’t like to pass on what might be only a groundless rumor.”
“But Darden,” Cordelia said, “what if this person becomes struck by Beatrice? What if he, or some other reprehensible person, approaches our sister?”
“Never fear,” Darden said, “I shall give a thorough going over to any gentleman hanging about Beatrice.”
Matthew was rather nonplussed by where the conversation was going. Why had Darden not pressed him to put his name forward for the club? He would refuse, naturally. But he had expected to be asked.
“Darden, we will tell you all about Beatrice’s requirements over tea in the drawing room,” Viola said. “You can use that as your yardstick against any hopefuls.”
Darden nodded agreeably. Matthew wondered how agreeable he’d be when he actually heard the list.
“And if we don’t run too late,” Miss Mayton said, “you might even hear me read from a wonderful story we are in the middle of just now. A one-eyed duke widower is in love with the governess of his children but neither of them know whether she can love a one-eyed man. They are positively tortured over the question.”
“That sounds suitably dreadful, Miss Mayton,” Darden said goodhumoredly.
“The governess is trying to see under the patch,” Cordelia said.
“Of course she is,” Darden said laughing, “what else would she be doing?”
“But she’s having no luck with it,” Rosalind said.
“No, I suppose she wouldn’t,” Darden said. “At least, not until somewhere near the end where she will discover she can bear it and all will end happily.”
And so the dinner went on, from one nonsensical topic to the next.
*
Miss Mayton pouredthe tea as her charges gathered round it. The earl, Darden and Van Doren had stayed behind to have their port in the dining room, though Beatrice did not think they’d stay long at it.
She was certain that Darden, though always so cordial to everybody he met, would not wish to hear too very much from Viscount Scoldy-Breeches.
As her aunt passed Beatrice her teacup, the lady said, “I could not help noticing that there was a quite natural moment in which Lord Darden might have invited Lord Van Doren to put himself forward for membership in the YBC.”
“And he did not do it,” Rosalind said. “Our good brother stood firm with the house against our meddling neighbor.”
“Do you suppose that was why?” Juliet asked. “That he ignored the moment in solidarity with all that his sisters have put up with?”
“We ought to ask him, whenever we can pry Van Doren out of the house and we have a moment alone,” Cordelia said.
“Very sensible,” Miss Mayton said. “Now, while we wait for the gentlemen, we will not be without entertainment.”
Miss Mayton reached into her sewing box and pulled out a stack of letters. “Tattleton handed these to the earl, who handed them off to me for perusal. They are all invitations, I believe.”
Beatrice felt as if her breath almost caught in her throat. Of course, she had understood that she would be invited various places, but to see the evidence of it! It was positively thrilling.
The sisters all stared with wonder at the stack in Miss Mayton’s hands.
“There it is, Beatrice,” Rosalind said. “Your own future, held in our aunt’s hands. Through one of those invitations, you will meet your true love. Fate will make it so.”
Beatrice clasped her hands to stop them shaking. “Oh, let’s do have a look.”
Miss Mayton opened each missive, passing them one by one to Beatrice. There were all sorts of people hosting all sorts of entertainments. Balls, routs, musical evenings, theatricals, there were even several cards, one of which was Lady Jersey’s.
That was very promising, Beatrice thought. She did not have a mama to escort her round to all her vast connections and Miss Mayton was, due to her history, not so very familiar with Town.
She would have to depend upon her father’s and her brother’s connections, which had already produced this pile of invitations, and the earl’s cordiality with Lady Jersey, to expand her circle of acquaintance.
“Ah, here it is,” Miss Mayton said, “our vouchers for Almack’s. And hereweare on a Monday, with Wednesday coming so soon.”
