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“And why is that?” he asked.
“If you leave now, Charlotte will continue to be thought of as the lady overly affected by Sir Mulgrave. Society, and especially the committee members, will probably fool themselves into thinking she’s pining for you andthat’swhy they ought to ignore her.”
Was it wrong that the image of Charlotte pining for him after he left made him the smallest bit happy?
Yes. It most certainly was.
Wrong and ridiculous. They were both far too old for either of them topineaway, regardless the circumstance.
Seth shook the errant thoughts away. “Then what do you propose?” Dinah had always understood society better than he. She was a natural, truth be told.
“First, you stay. That is most important. And second, you use the time here to prove them wrong.”
It wasn’t exactly a helpful plan, seeing as it was completely devoid of any useful details. And yet...
It caught hold in his mind.
He’d spent so much energy and effort over the past many months trying to fit in. Trying to put his best foot forward. Trying to blend into the background.
What if he stopped all that? What if he simply focused on proving to society that Charlotte was far too bright to be tainted by association with him? The idea had merit.
“Perhaps I shall,” he said slowly. He still had no idea exactlyhowhe would do that. But it deserved careful consideration, that much was certain.
“Besides,” Dinah said, her smile returning. Though, it looked a little less carefree and a bit more conniving. “If you stay, you can keep an eye on Charlotte’sold friend.”
She had a point, but he didn’t like the way she made it. “What exactly do you mean by that, pray tell?”
“Only that I’ve never known you to run from a challenge before.”
Seth nearly laughed. “What challenge is that?”
“For Lady Blackmore’s affections, of course.”
And blast it all if Seth didn’t nearly drop his plate for a second time. “Forwhat?”
Dinah giggled. “We’ve all seen you two together. There’s no use denying it.”
If she was saying what hethoughtshe was saying, then yes, he would deny it until his dying breath. “Lady Blackmore may be an astounding lady—”
“Astounding, is she?”
“—but she is a marchioness, and I’m barely a knight.”
“No one cares about that sort of thing anymore. She’s a widow, besides; that gives her far more latitude in the eyes of society.”
His father voice returned. “That’s enough, Dinah.” And he meant it. “I’ll stay for a time, as you’ve made an excellent point regarding me leaving now. But I’m only staying tohelpLady Blackmore.” Certainly not to pursue her.
Their worlds were too different. Their lives up until now had been unalike in more ways than he could count. A woman used to wealth and the best of everything would not be happy with a man who wanted only the necessities in life. She was picnics and rides through Hyde Park. He was budget sheets and a small bit of mutton for supper. She was elegant dresses and laughter at balls. He was jackets bought ten years ago and short, blunt conversations.
He would only decrease her respectability in the eyes of society. He would forever be coming up short in the opinions of those around them, and Charlotte would pay the price.
Marchionesses and knighted merchants did not make a match of it.
Especially not in perfect, poised, and polished London.
