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“Because I know you’ve been raised better than to think you can dally with an earl’s daughter.”
“I could certainly do worse than to ally myself with the House of Sherton.”
“You could certainly do far better,” Lady Eastwood snapped. “There are any number of more suitable ladies to choose from. Even Wexford’s sister would be a better choice.”
Cam fought the repulsion that surged in him at the suggestion. “My cousin is almost like a sister to me, I’m sure you will recall.”
Lady Eastwood merely sniffed at his words, as though they were beneath her notice.
“Well, if you’re going to be so nice in your requirements, there are still some lovely princesses available, and they would be happy to have you.”
“I thought you just finished saying that I’m clearly not ready for marriage.”
A part of him was amused to see the struggle clearly written on his mother’s face, but mostly Cam was just disgusted and disappointed to know that he was right. His scheme had been brilliant. His mother was going to leave him alone about marrying.
“I don’t see how you could have possibly thought the Sherton chit was a good choice for you.”
Cam shrugged. “She’s lovely and quite good company. But I hadn’t seriously considered setting up house with anyone any time soon. I would far rather pursue other things.” He paused for a moment, allowing her to consider his words. “But I thought you were anxious to see me wed. I would have thought you would be delighted to hear talk that I was pursuing someone. Not to say that I have been. I think your friends are reading too much into our acquaintance.”
Lady Eastwood hummed in annoyance. “I do think you ought to consider your lineage. But only if you are going to be serious about it and truly think about how important lineage is. If you aren’t going to ensure you improve upon your bloodline, then there is really no need to hasten into marriage.”
“I am a viscount, Mother. I cannot pass on anything more than that.” He kept his tone even, ensuring that no pity entered into his voice.
“No, much to my eternal regret. But blood is important. And connections. You are still connected to Wexford. And you can provide even greater connections for your offspring. Be sure that you do better than I did.”
“Earls take precedence over viscounts,” he reminded her gently.
“But not over dukes and duchesses, nor princes,” she countered, her head held high, still proud of the family she had grown up in.
Cam’s stomach began to ache at the thought of what his father must have gone through. He wondered when the man had realized how beneath her his wife had considered him. What an ugly life they must have had together. No wonder his father had died so young. Camden was proud to be Viscount Eastwood and happily claimed to be his father’s son. While he loved his cousins, he had no covetousness toward Wexford or any of his holdings. Cam’s father had provided quite well enough for his son and taught him how to expand what he had. While he had no intention of wedding any time soon, he wouldn’t need a dynastic marriage whenever he did choose to take a wife.
The fact that his mother couldn’t accept that she had married “beneath” herself, angered Cam. He was certain Hilaria would be the same way. That was why she was so perfect for his scheme. And why he refused to feel guilty over including her in it. Already, he could see that his mother was ready to stop harassing him about marrying soon. That was certainly progress.
When he did finally decide to wed, he would do his best to keep it a secret from her until there was just time enough to invite her to the wedding. Then there would be nothing she could do about it. It would take a very special woman to accept the situation he found himself in, Cam was well aware. Finally, he realized his mother was staring at him as though awaiting his answer.
“I will keep the orders of precedence in mind when I finally decide to wed,” he assured his mother, trying not to allow her to see his amusement. She sniffed anyway, as though dismissing him. Cam supposed, given her views on things, she no doubt considered him to be beneath her notice even if he was her son. It was a disconcerting thought. And not one that could possibly lead to a cordial evening, so he pushed it away. He chose to change the subject.
“Where are you promised for the evening?”
“I am attending the musicale that my good friend, Lady Viola, is hosting.”
Cam’s heart sank.
“What a coincidence. I am promised there, too.”
Lady Eastwood’s eyebrows rose. “Really, I wouldn’t have thought it would be to your taste.”
Cam shrugged. “She is reputed to be a connoisseur of musical talent. It is bound to be an enjoyable evening.”
His mother regarded him shrewdly. “Is the Sherton chit likely to be there?”
Cam forced nonchalance he didn’t feel. “It is possible. A musical evening is usually quite popular with debutantes, I have noticed, so I wouldn’t be in the least surprised to see her there with her mother and sister.”
Lady Eastwood’s lip curled at the mention of Lady Sherton. “She was barely gentry before she married Sherton,” she began. “But you would never know it from the airs she puts on.”
Cam smiled. “She seems pleasant enough to me,” he said.
“You have no discernment,” his mother declared.
