Beatrice saw all eyes drifting toward Van Doren. This was just the sort of moment when he would say Juliet was being ridiculous.
For some reason, he said nothing at all and was wholly concentrated on his beef.
“What say you, Van Doren?” the earl said jovially.
Van Doren looked up and shrugged. “I dare say Juliet knows her own mind.”
What did he mean by it? He was meant to be explaining to Juliet that she was completely wrongheaded.
“Sisters,” Juliet said, “did I not say Van Doren has gone mad?”
“I think you may be right,” Viola said, nodding. “He is not at all what he was.”
“To think,” Rosalind said, “he is to allow Juliet to live in a garret.”
“He would have been so against the idea a month ago,” Cordelia said nodding.
“I am here. And can hear you,” Van Doren said. “I am not in the least mad.”
Perhaps he was not mad, Beatrice thought. But Viola was right, Van Doren was not at all who he had been. He had become rather mysterious.
In the end, it had beenhethat was her mysterious gentleman. It was only a shame he was not tortured over her and never would be.
“Enough talk of garrets, I think,” the earl said. “I cannot wait longer, I must know what will transpire in Montclair Castle with that rascally duke and his gentle governess. The terrible goings-on have been riveting so far.”
*
Matthew stared atthe roses propped on every available surface in the drawing room. They’d all pretended they did not know who sent them.
He knew well enough. It was Conbatten. Who else had such means? Who else would dare it?
Then, that fellow would turn up tomorrow night and collect the credit for his gesture and he would ask Beatrice the momentous question.
The only thing that gave Matthew pause about his assumptions was that Beatrice did not seem particularly bowled over by the gesture. He would have thought she would be. It was just the sort of grand posing and posturing she’d been looking for.
“Now, as we know,” Miss Mayton said, book in hand, “the duke has realized he killed three innocent villagers by mistake, he is not missing an eye after all, and is only suffering from madness. Now our governess must discover if she can live with a madman.”
Matthew suppressed a sigh. He was feeling like a bit of a madman himself these days.
The duke collapsed into a chair. “My sweet governess, can you love a madman who has only one leg?”
“One leg?” the governess said, staring at both of his legs.
“I cannot recall exactly how I lost it, was I in a war, do you suppose?” the duke said, staring at the same two legs the governess was looking at.
“My dear duke, you are not missing a leg, it is only your mind playing tricks!”
“No, it cannot be! I can see with my own two eyes, one of those eyes I just found out I still have!”
The governess raced over to his chair and grabbed at both his legs. “Can you feel my touch on both your legs?” she asked.
“I can! I have two legs! Now, sweet governess, will you kiss me, assuming I have two lips?”
The governess leaned forward and kissed the duke. It was a magical kiss sending shooting stars throughout the heavens and the angels sang through their tears of joy.
For all the angels singing, though, the governess was determined to confirm a particular matter. She said, “I will only kiss you again if we are to marry. I will not become a mistress.”
“My mistress! You adorable little fool! No bald man can attract a mistress!”
