As much as she felt a pull toward Van Doren, it would not suit. He could not be what she needed. He was not passionate, and she could not live life without passion.
He was ever so handsome, but he did not have the temperament for a lady like herself.
And this was all assuming he harbored some feelings for her, which seemed too improbable to be true.
“Lady Beatrice,” he said, coming to collect her.
Beatrice felt herself pink. The way he saidLadyBeatrice, as if he had not always known her, sent a shiver down her back.
“Lord Van Doren,” she said, resting her hand on his arm.
He looked at her quizzically. “You have taken to addressing me as lord?”
“Well, youareone, and you have taken to addressing me as lady,” she said.
He did not answer and led her to the floor. As the first couples took their turn, he said, “I suppose you wish for an explanation regarding recent…events.”
“If you mean ripping my card away from the duke, I have told the duke you had too much champagne. He assures me he will not challenge you.”
“I am not afraid of a challenge,” Van Doren said.
He said it a little heated, Beatrice thought. Who was this person, getting heated all the time?
“Nor do I require you to play my second with that duke,” Van Doren said.
Thatduke? What did he mean by it?
“Van Doren,” she said, getting a little heated herself, “you have spent all your life never putting a foot wrong and very happily being the scolder. Now, you are in a pique because you have put yourself in a position to be scolded. You do not like being in the wrong and take it very badly.”
“Perhaps I am not convinced Iwaswrong,” Van Doren said.
“And now you know how it is to be on the other end of the stick. When you have time to consider it, you will certainly conclude that you were wrong.” She paused, and then said, “I only give you that hint.”
Beatrice did not have the first idea of why she was carrying on such an argument. She had not planned to.
He did not answer but looked a little red in the face to hear his own words come back to haunt him. They were silent as he led her through the changes, but he looked at her with an intensity she had never seen before.
It was really very discomposing.
They went on in that manner until the dance came to an end. He silently escorted her to a table in the dining room. They were served even more champagne, though Beatrice was convinced that was the last thing Van Doren needed. She did not know what else could account for his strange behavior this night.
He said, “I find myself in the uncomfortable position of having to inform you of something that I know will displease you and I fear may injure you.”
Beatrice looked at him uncomprehendingly. Certainly, he was not going to attempt to scold her on some matter whenhehad so recently acted outrageous?
“These YBC fellows, Darden’s friends, this circling round you they do, I pray none of them have been able to touch your feelings because it is all an act. Disreputable and ungentlemanly, but a farce.”
Beatrice took in a breath. He had discovered Darden’s ruse to draw out the tortured gentleman. How had he discovered it? Darden would not have said anything and she could always count on her sisters and her aunt to keep a thing quiet. Had he just concluded it on his own?
“So,” she said slowly, “you have figured it out, or were told.”
“You knew of it?” Van Doren asked, evidently in some surprise. “Why would you allow it to go on? Why would Darden allow it?”
Ah, so he had deduced it somehow, but he did not know the why of it. She must tell him something, though perhaps as little as possible.
“It is only a little game, meant to draw a certain gentleman out,” she said.
“A game!”
