It was preposterous.
As far as he could understand it, Lady Beatrice had fallen in love with a phantom gentleman who did not exist and Lord Van Doren went on as he always did—stifling yawns while Miss Mayton read fromThe Terrible Goings-on of Montclair Castle.
The goings-on in question grew more and more bizarre. Now the one-eyed duke was randomly killing villagers. Somehow, the Bennington ladies all found the murders highly romantic.
Tattleton was certain that other fine families did not carry on in such a manner.
He was certain of it, but there was not much he could do about it.
“There is nothing for it,” he said with great determination to the now empty servants’ hall. “I must only hold on tight while this out-of-control sleigh of bizarre plans and wrong-headed ideas flies down its mountain of absurdity to eventually crash at the bottom.”
Chapter Thirteen
Matthew eyed thecostume in his valet’s hands gravely. “I should have known,” he said. “I am sure I told Darden a domino would suffice. I suppose he found it amusing to send over this monstrosity.”
The monstrosity in question was an old-fashioned soldier’s uniform with more gold braid on it than would be suitable for an entire regiment, some very tight-looking pantaloons, and high-shined hessians. There was a sword belt with a hilt, but when one pulled it out there was no actual sword. The mask itself was black, its back band embroidered with the words,Much Ado, should anybody be in doubt as to the nature of his costume.
“At least you are to go as a soldier,” Marcus said.
“But Benedict fromMuch Ado About Nothing? Why? I am nothing at all like that fellow, always arguing and throwing round insults as if it were his career.”
Marcus did not answer, and Matthew noticed he’d turned away rather quickly.
“What?” he asked. “I do not carry on so. Oh, I know of what you think—my scolding of the Bennington girls from time to time. That has not been for my own amusement, but a necessary duty. In any case. Darden does not make a joke of that. I am certain he is rather grateful for the help.”
“I suspect Lord Darden did not give much thought at all to the costumes, but just took what he thought looked interesting.”
“I do not suppose there is any way to get hold of a domino on such short notice?”
Marcus shook his head. “You leave in less than an hour.”
Matthew sighed. “I did not even wish to go. However, Darden says Conbatten will certainly be there. He must be stopped, somehow.”
“I wonder what the great duke will don as a costume?” Marcus said. “Whatever it is, the irritating Henri will no doubt brag of it.”
“If I understand that duke at all,” Matthew said, “Conbatten will come as Conbatten and everybody will think it’s marvelous.”
Marcus sniffed. “If the great Henri expects to wheedle a compliment out of me forthat, he will be very much disappointed.”
With that denunciation, Marcus began to dress him in an entirely ludicrous costume. How Conbatten would appear, and what exactly Matthew would do to keep him from Beatrice, he did not have the first idea.
*
Beatrice was delightedwith her costume. It was a lovely dark green silk, cut in the old style with very full skirts and a lace fichu. The composer of the costume had been clever, because really it could have been taken as so many different things. On the back of the mask,Much Adowas embroidered to signal that she was Shakespeare’s Beatrice.
Darden was going as Puck, the devilish sprite who caused so much trouble and confusion inA Midsummer Night’s Dream. His spiky ears were rather marvelous and his cloak of green silk was stitched together in pointed layers to seem as leaves from a forest’s tree.
Miss Mayton had decided to go in widow’s weeds, in honor of all her dead gentlemen. Rather than a mask, she had draped a long black lace veil over her head. Averylong veil—it nearly reached the floor. Beatrice thought she looked rather otherworldly, like a ghost from the past who drifted through the halls at night.
The earl, vastly entertained by the costumes around him, went in a simple domino.
As their carriage set off, Beatrice saw Van Doren mount his horse to follow them behind. He was dressed as a dashing soldier of old, with enough braid for a general. Perhaps he was meant to be a general of some sort?
“Van Doren is looking very dashing,” the earl said. “A soldier’s uniform suits him. I must say, though, I am rather surprised that he comes. It is the sort of thing I would have imagined he’d find foolish.”
“I think he has discovered that while in Town, it is perhaps not so wise to denounce things foolish,” Darden said. “If Lady Bloomington wishes to have a masque, then her circle of acquaintances and anybody she deems worthy must go to a masque.”
“I suppose Van Doren’s admirers will be very charmed by him in that outfit,” the earl said, laughing.
