Beatrice casually leaned closer to the window to observe him stopping at Lady Mary’s carriage.
The lady was practically hanging out the window! It was very brazen, she thought.
Did he not see it as such?
Beatrice attempted to parse what must be in Van Doren’s mind, to be so pursued.
It occurred to her that he might be flattered. He might not even see the impropriety of it. Had it been Beatrice, herself, leaning out a carriage window in such a manner, he’d have no end of scolding to deliver.
And yet, he appeared quite unruffled.
Mr. Cahill leaned down in his saddle and said in a low voice, “Mark me if there is not an engagement before the season’s end. At least, if Lady Mary has anything to do with it. I only say, if Lady Clara has any notion of securing Van Doren, she better step quick and look lively.”
“Lord Van Doren has no need of an engagement!” Beatrice said. She’d said it quite suddenly, before her good sense had a moment to stop her. Why on earth should she have said such a thing? Out loud? It was stupid enough that she had, for a moment,thoughtsuch a thing.
“Every lord has need of an engagement,” the earl said jovially. “The question is never that, it is only when he will get round to it.”
“Lady Mary comes from an old family, has a sizable dowry, and is well-respected,” Darden said.
“I do not seeyouchasing her around, Darden,” Beatrice said.
This had the effect she thought it might. Darden was twenty-one and her father had not yet pressed him to find a wife, but that would not go on forever. This conversation was perhaps skating too close to another conversation Darden was definitely not ready to have.
Ahead, Van Doren turned his horse, and it appeared as if he would not linger at Lady Mary’s side.
It was then that she saw it. On the back of his mask was embroidered,Much Ado.
It took her some seconds to understand how it could be. Then she saw precisely how it could be, it was another of her brother’s jokes.
“Darden,” she said, “did you happen to acquire Van Doren’s costume for him?”
Darden leaned forward and looked out the window as Van Doren rode forward.
“Ah, I see the jig is up on that,” he said with a smile.
“What is the jig?” the earl asked.
“It is only much ado about nothing, father—Beatrice is Beatrice and Van Doren is Benedict,” Darden said.
The earl erupted in laughter. “Oh, that is very good! Because they argue so much!”
Beatrice narrowed her eyes. Her costume was supposed to hint to her tortured gentleman that she was both a wit and a devotee of Shakespeare. She supposed Darden had amused himself with the idea that he could accomplish thatandplay a joke.
Lord Jericho broke the silence. “What do you say, Cahill? Let us repair inside and see if one of us has the nerve to inquire of Conbatten whether he has a tailor do something with his domino.”
With that, the two gentlemen bowed and moved their horses forward.
Finally, their own carriage moved forward too.
“Now that was a very pleasant interlude,” the earl said.
Beatrice forced herself to smile, though her feelings were running in a not as pleasant direction.
*
Matthew had onlyjust got inside the doors and he was already entirely irritated.
First, he was waylaid by Lady Clara on the street.
