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“I was rather the man about town in my years after university. Nothing can take away that sense of guilt for not spending more time with him.”

He literally and figuratively shook his head, shaking off his maudlin thoughts.

“I am sorry, I did not mean to reminisce about such weighty and sad subjects.”

“Do not apologise. It is natural to think that nothing will change, that there is more time. Where is the family estate?”

“Dorset. We have a reasonable acreage of good arable land as well as an excessive acreage of scrubland good only for sheep.”

Elizabeth translated that as an income roughly comparable to her own, or at least the known amount. Ramsden had £2,000 a year or thereabouts. While they were talking she was running through all the calculations in her head. No title, nothing but a middling estate, he was being nothing more than polite. He knew he had no chance with a Baroness of equal wealth.

But that did not mean he was not a gentleman with elegant conversation. Perhaps it was because he recognised that he had no chance, but there were no crass comments or enquiries. They parted after a few minutes of pleasant conversation.

“I think that you surprised Mr. Ramsden by initiating conversation. If he had seen you first he would have bowed but not presumed to intrude.”

“I understood that, mainly after I had started talking to him. He was polite at the Illingworths and he was in Hatchard’s. It does not take much to make an impression apparently.”

Harriet nodded in understanding.

“It does seem like most of the good men are crowded out by the impecunious. But Mr. Ramsden is not for you. He gave no details of his estate and I will inquire with Mr. Lawrence but it is not an equal match.”

“Who would be an equal match?”

“A member of the nobility. A significant land-owning gentleman with noble antecedents. Perhaps a lesser gentleman but with political office. Those are likely to be the three groups of gentlemen from which you should select.”

“What about these mythical millionaires with their roots in trade or these new manufactories?”

“What of them Lady Napier? I do not deny that they exist, but they are all first generation men, all likely to be married and so it would be their heirs that you would attract. You have made significant efforts to integrate yourself into society, why would you throw it all away? Leave Mr. Lawrence to deal with them, invest with them, but do not consider marrying them.”

She looked at Elizabeth carefully.

“Why did you raise that as a possibility?”

“Because the way you expressed the first two groups of gentlemen brought to mind the sons of Lady Matlock in the first category, and Mr. Darcy in the second. I am still uncomfortable with the whole idea and especially of that particular family.”

--

“I am hosting another dinner party Lady Napier, please say that you will attend. It is likely to be the last formal event I host before we retire to our country estate.”

She could not hide from Darcy forever. The odds were that he would not be present. And Lady Matlock had been nothing but kind to Elizabeth throughout the season. There could only be one answer.

“I would be delighted to attend.”

“Excellent. It will not be a large dinner, only 20 couples. If you will allow, one of my sons will balance the table.”

“Of course. I am looking forward to the opportunity to talk one of them. I danced with your younger son at.”

She stopped to think.

“I do not recall which event, there have been so many. But I thoroughly enjoyed the dance. I was also introduced to your older son and sat with them both for supper.”

It was interesting to compare the two women. Elizabeth was being discreet, not wanting to display too much interest in the Colonel, just letting the Countess know that she had spoken to them both. The Countess of the other hand, heard Elizabeth mention that she had met the Viscount and immediately thought he would be the better partner.

The exact opposite of Elizabeth’s own wishes.

Chapter 23

The start of the Matlock dinner was very enjoyable. Andrew, Viscount Stonehaven was charming and Elizabeth, Baroness Napier allowed herself, eventually, to be charmed. Her effort, it was more for the Countess than for the man beside her. She had been disappointed that it was not the Colonel who was to be her partner for the dinner. Why was the heir here? Her situation was better suited to the second son. Once again, she had to focus as she was thinking more on the man who was not there, than the man who was.