Interestingly, this news seemed to drain the color from her aunt’s cheeks. “The earl? What? Envy? What do you mean by that?”
“My God, woman,” the duke said, “can you not even understand simple sentences anymore? She said she’s to make Rustmont jealous. Simplest thing in the world to comprehend.”
“Felicity,” Lady Marchfield said sternly, “I do not know what has got into your head, but I strongly caution you to do nothing at all like… whatever it is you are thinking. If you have any inclination in the earl’s direction, I applaud it. But you mustrealize that Lord Rustmont is an exceedingly proper gentleman and will not tolerate any odd behavior or effrontery.”
“Then he’s come to the wrong family, hasn’t he?” the duke said, snorting at his own wit.
“The point is,” Lady Marchfield said, “he hasnotcome to the family. He has danced with Felicity one time, and a very strange dance it was. I do not imagine he will venture near her again if there is even a whiff of anything else strange.”
Felicity did feel the sting of that opinion. Certainly, the earl would not avoid her over a sneeze. Or series of sneezes. Of course he would not. He just needed to be propelled to her side.
“He has a weak spot though,” Felicity said. “You’ll see. He will be mad with envy and fly to my side because Mr. Stratton will pretend to be overcome by my charms.”
“Mr. Stratton?” Lady Marchfield sputtered.
Felicity waved her hands. “Do not fear, Aunt, I do not have the slightest interest in Mr. Stratton—he is smarmy and callow, though he may outgrow it with time.”
Lady Marchfield seemed silenced by this news. Though, Felicity did notice the lady gripped her reticule as if she wished to choke the life out of it.
The duke erupted in loud laughter that filled the small confines of the carriage. “Here I was, thinking it would be all drudgery to launch all these girls out of my house, and now I see I am to be vastly entertained!”
Before Lady Marchfield could respond to that comment, the carriage rolled to a stop. Whatever was to be this evening, it was set to begin.
*
Percy had wornhis best coat to Lady Jellerbey’s candlelight picnic, primarily in a bid to convince his father that he was set onLady Felicity and could not be moved by any recent complaints.
The old soldier had tracked down his viscountess and closeted himself with that lady for most of the morning. Under cover of the occasional shouts of “I warn you!” Percy had slipped out of the house and taken his horse on a long ride round the park.
He’d found his mother waiting for him when he tried to slip in again to change before heading off to his club.
“Do sit down, Stratton,” his mother said, waylaying him the hall and ushering him into the drawing room.
He did as he was bid, preparing to fight off whatever she was intent on hurling in his direction.
“Your father is in a state,” the viscountess said.
“Father is always in a state,” Percy pointed out.
“Yes, well, he has a rather volcanic temperament,” the viscountess admitted. “Inherited by his ancestors in trade, no doubt.”
His mother delighted in assigning blame to his tradesman ancestors for any and all difficulties.
“This time, though, he has reached a new pinnacle of hysteria,” the viscountess said. “I hardly knew what to do with him. Now really, my darling, why must you be set on this Lady Felicity?”
“Why did you become set on my father?” Percy asked by way of an answer.
The viscountess seemed pensive. “That is becoming more and more a mystery,” she said softly.
“And there you have it,” Percy said. “Love is mysterious.”
“Come now, I do not think you will find it at all comfortable to wed a lady with her… peculiarities. Those sorts of things lurk in the family blood, you see. Think of the children of such a union!”
“Nonsense,” Percy said. “The duke may be mad as a spring hare, but Lady Felicity is only a touch mad. Just think, mother, haveIinheritedmyfather’s temper?”
“Well, no. Goodness no, your cheerful temperament comes from my side.”
Percy had hopped up and kissed his mother’s cheek, as really there was no benefit to continuing the conversation. “I am certain that my children with Lady Felicity will all take after me and I know you are fond of me. You will like them exceedingly well and it will all work out splendidly.Ifthe lady can be wooed. That is what I do not yet know.”
