“Indeed,” Viola said, “let us hope he is not ripping your card from a gentleman’s hand.”
Beatrice felt a flutter at the mention of that circumstance. It really had been so bold.
“Darden has finally resigned himself that Papa will not go. Our dear father said he would not be dressed as a squid for even the king,” Cordelia said.
“Father is rather well-pleased that he will go to Lord Camden’s house for cards instead,” Beatrice said. “We cannot fault him for it, he says that lord keeps excellent port.”
Miss Mayton drifted in; a haunting specter dressed in her widow’s weeds. She moved quickly across the floor, and it must be presumed her feet marched forward, but she was so completely covered from head to toe it did appear as if she glided rather than walked.
“Aunt, if I encountered you in a dark corridor late at night, I should be very frightened,” Juliet said.
“Miss Mayton bobbed her head under her black lace veil. “A widow must always be found haunting, having suffered a great loss. Naturally, as I have suffered so many different losses, it must be particularly striking.”
“Do you suppose Beatrice’s tortured gentleman will finally step forward this evening?” Rosalind asked.
“Hmm, I cannot be certain. Though, there is every chance of it. Perhaps when he sees Beatrice as a bold pirate, he may think to be bold too.”
Beatrice did not answer that idea. But really, she would prefer a gentleman who did not need to be coaxed into declaring his passion.
*
Darden looked abouthis club with a satisfied eye. He patted his well-padded stomach and shifted his crown. He was dressed as Henry the Eighth, with his intimates dressed as his six wives. Cahill and Jericho, Anne Boleyn and Katherine Howard respectively, had tall collars with just peepholes for eyes and carried platters with plaster heads on them. It was entirely absurd, and he had no idea what they would do when it came time to dance.
“Gentlemen,” Darden said to the members of the YBC who had gathered round him, “you will recall the scheme I designed to bring Lady Beatrice and Lord Van Doren together. Jericho, Dunston, Sir William, and Cahill have done a masterful job at assisting me. Now, I need you all. What I ask is that you put yourself onto my sister’s card as fast as possible. I wish for her card to be filled before Van Doren has a chance at it.”
“Ah, you mean to force him to recognize his own feelings at being left out of it,” Lord Dunston said.
“Indeed,” Darden said. “This may be the final push. At least, I hope it is. I am running out of ideas on what to do with that fellow and my sister.”
“Have you seen any promising signs?” Lord Harveston asked, his tall and lanky frame draped on a windowsill.
All the men involved in the scheme nodded vigorously. “Surely you heard about Van Doren tearing Lady Beatrice’s card from Conbatten’s hands?” Sir William asked.
“FromConbatten’shand, you understand,” Lord Jericho said.
“I had not heard the report; I just got back into Town,” the baron answered, examining his medieval plague mask.
“It is not only us that Van Doren takes for suitors, he also seems to believe Conbatten is a suitor too.”
“Conbatten,” some of the members murmured.
“Did we invite the duke to the ball?” Lord Harveston asked.
Darden shifted uncomfortably. “In the end, we did not.”
“We were afraid he would decline the invitation,” Lord Dunston said.
“Or that he would accept it,” Lord Jericho said, nodding.
“Aside from that always prickly question,” Darden said, “we are to have a smashing time and we are to continue our progress onCampaign Shenanigans. Beatrice and Van Doren must be made to see the truth of things.”
“He must be well on his way,” Lord Dunston said, “we have seen how he acts when we call on Lady Beatrice at the house. He practically flies across the road.”
“Surely, they must come to their senses,” Sir William said.
“I am hopeful of it,” Darden said. “As a final touch, I have arranged for bunches and bunches of red roses to be delivered to Beatrice two days from now, from a secret admirer. That will accomplish two things, I hope—Van Doren will go mad wondering who they are from, and they will serve as nice decoration at Beatrice’s ball. You see? My father had already given over a nice budget for flowers so why should they not serve a dual purpose?”
“Andthis, Darden,” Lord Jericho said, with a flourishing bow, “is why you lead us.”
