“I hardly think my brother intended to send such a message,” Beatrice said. “Lord Darden chose the costume for our neighbor.”
Lady Mary’s eyes narrowed just a little bit. “I see,” she said. “Well, in any case…”
Now Lady Mary was fairly dangling her card in front of him. He really had no choice. “May I?” he asked, reaching for it.
Lady Mary smiled graciously. “Of course, Lord Van Doren.”
As Matthew filled his name in, he was consumed by a desire to be back in his own house. He would not mind Oyster barking his head off or Shrimps weeping in despair or Marcus huffily complaining. At this point, he would delight in it.
Over Beatrice’s shoulder, he spotted Lady Clara coming through the door. He bowed to Lady Mary and quickly took himself off in the other direction.
*
Beatrice had foundherself initially amused and then a little nonplussed by Van Doren. That he came as a pigeon, well, she would have never imagined Darden could get him into such a costume. Though, she could very well see how he might have felt pressed if he believed her father was to come as a squid. He was very loyal to the earl.
But then, he had inquired why she had not saved a spot on her card for Conbatten. ThegreatConbatten, he’d said. He’d practically spit the words out. He’d seemed to be in no better of a temper when he asked who had put their names down on her card.
The entire exchange had given Beatrice a giddy feeling. He seemed to have gone to the new Van Doren this evening. The one with feelings about things.
Beatrice watched Van Doren cross the room with Lady Clara in pursuit. Lady Mary, who Beatrice had been hardly cognizant was still standing next to her, said, “It must be gratifying to you, Lady Beatrice, that your neighbor is so admired everywhere he goes.”
“Van Doren?” she asked absentmindedly. Lady Clara had caught up to him on the far side of the room.
“Naturally, Lord Van Doren,” Lady Mary said. “Of course, there has been speculation that perhaps there is to be a match between you, but I have had the pleasure of dancing with the lord several times and so, rest assured, I know the truth of it.”
“The truth of it?” Beatrice asked, turning away from Lady Clara and Van Doren to attend Lady Mary.
“Lord Van Doren has gone out of his way to hint to me that there is nothing but neighborly friendliness between you. He was very keen that I understand that point.Verykeen, if you understand me.”
“I am afraid I do not, Lady Mary,” Beatrice said warily.
Lady Mary laughed behind her fan. Then in a low voice, she said, “He wished me to understand that his interest lay in another direction entirely.” She glanced at Lady Clara and whispered, “And it is not inthatdirection.”
“Indeed,” Beatrice said, her mind racing to parse what the lady was telling her.
“Well,” Lady Mary said, “it will all be spoken of in good time, I expect.”
She smiled and moved away.
What would be spoken of? Did she mean to say that Van Doren had hinted at an engagement? To Lady Mary? It was impossible! No, not to Lady Mary.
Beatrice paused. Was it impossible, though? Van Doren would need a wife, he was practical, she was suitable. She was also determined.
And then, why had he made such an effort to explain hisneighborlyfeelings?
Miss Mayton glided up beside her. “My dear,” she said, “I have just been to the refreshments room and you must see it. Each thing put out is ridiculous in its own way. I just ate a strawberry dipped in gravy. It was melted chocolate, of course, but it is in a gravy boat. Too amusing.”
“Aunt,” Beatrice said, “do you think it is at all possible that Van Doren might propose to Lady Mary?”
Miss Mayton turned, and Beatrice presumed she was looking at Van Doren across the room, though she could not be certain what happened under that veil. How her aunt had got a strawberry under there, she really did not know.
“It is possible,” her aunt said. “She seems to come with the right attributes—family, money, and such. He is such a no-nonsense sort of person, he might not factor affection into it. Who knows where the pigeon will land to roost in the end.”
Beatrice felt her insides go cold and she shivered. It could not be. He could not wed Lady Mary. He must not marry anybody; she had always thought so.
As skilled as she was at ignoring any thoughts that were inconvenient, there were occasions when her mind would not be denied. Her mind would be so determined to catch her attention that it would not give up until she listened to some unpleasant idea.
It did so now, and what it wanted to say was very terrible. He should not marry anybody because…well, because he was Van Doren! He was meant to stay just as he was, following her round wherever she went.
