“Tickets!” Beatrice cried. “If we are to go, we must have tickets too. Remember, Mr. Cahill did tell us of the tickets. Anybody might be turned away if they go without tickets.”
“I am sure your father will arrange it,” Miss Mayton said. “Wemight be better served to put our efforts to shopping on the morrow. For accessories and the like. I will hazard a guess that you will choose to wear the new violet silk for your first outing, but you are in dire need of a reticule that will complement it.”
“Oh yes, a reticule to carry my voucher and my ticket,” Beatrice said.
“Just so,” Miss Mayton said.
“We might all go shopping together,” Rosalind said. “A lady not yet out in society may still shop, may she not? Should we not all have new reticules?”
“Oh, yes, yes,” Miss Mayton said. “Naturally, we will all go together. I am determined that you should all have as many entertainments as possible. In any case, I have warned your father that we shall spend all of his money in the shops, so he is well prepared for the bills.”
The sisters happily contemplated the genial news that their father was fully prepared to be bankrupted by new reticules.
“Now that I think of it,” Miss Mayton said, “these excursions round the town may serve a vital purpose for all of my girls. Rosalind is to come out next year and there is every possibility that her true love might spot her passing by and vow to wait for her return.”
Rosalind appeared very gratified to hear it. Cordelia said, “Or any of us, really. After all, if a gentleman is in true love, he might vow to wait two or three years, or even five. What choice would he have?”
“I am going to keep my eyes wide open,” Juliet said. “It would be quite something to see my true love and then dream about him foryears.”
“Nothing is impossible when it comes to true love,” Miss Mayton affirmed.
These interesting considerations were interrupted by the gentlemen coming in.
Beatrice leapt up. “Papa, our vouchers have come, but we must be in all haste to secure tickets for Wednesday evening.”
Rather than the earl positing some plan, Darden answered for him. “You did not think I would shirk my responsibilities to a sister? Tickets have been procured, Bea.”
Beatrice threw her arms round her brother’s neck. “Dear Darden, I should have known.”
“Van Doren,” Cordelia said, “I do not suppose our Beatrice will see you amongst the select guests at Almack’s?”
“I imagine not,” Van Doren said.
Darden led Beatrice back to the seat she had recently vacated, and the men took their places round the tea tray.
“I am certain Lady Jersey would have extended the invitation to you, Van Doren,” Juliet said, “had she been aware of your existence.”
“You see, Darden,” the earl said, “how the girls like to tease our poor neighbor. He holds up against it remarkably well.”
“Do I?” Van Doren said darkly.
“I might be able to fix it up for you, Van Doren,” Darden said agreeably. “Lady Jersey is feeling particularly fond of me just now, as I have advertised far and wide that the YBC is closed on Wednesdays. Or, as I told her, what foolish gentleman would wish to be at his club when there is an Almack’s assembly in the offing.”
Van Doren took the teacup handed to him. “Well, I do not know—”
“He does not wish for the favor, Darden,” Beatrice said, “as it is in his nature to be contrary.”
“Of course he wishes it,” Darden said jovially. “Van Doren is all sense and as he is also twenty-four and does things very by the book, I presume he’s come to Town to look for a wife. No place on earth gathers together so many suitable young ladies coming along with handsome dowries than Almack’s ballroom. You do look for a wife, Van Doren?”
“I…well I do not imagine I need proclaim what my plans might be,” Van Doren said.
“Iimagine that is rather a confirmation than otherwise,” Darden said. “You will find yourself struck by some lady and we will soon enough have a new viscountess in the neighborhood.”
“I do not believe Van Doren will ever be struck,” Rosalind said, “he does not have the romance in his heart for it.”
“Certainly not in the nonsensical manner you imagine,” Van Doren said testily. “My choice, when I make it, will be grounded in sound principles. Is the lady of steady temperament and prepared to manage a household? Considerations of that nature.”
“Full of good sense,” the earl said. “Though one never knows how the thing will play out. Feelings are a funny thing, after all, and they sometimes have no respect at all for good sense.”
