It was foolish of him to balk, he told himself. It was scarcely as if he lived the life of an honorable man. He lived, as his father had pointed out many times, among the dregs of polite society, consorting with cardsharps, drunkards and bawdy women. It seemed absurd to hesitate about taking a wife because of his mistressor because he would undoubtedly make this rustic heiress miserable.
Youre right, no doubt, he told Stuart, taking a sip of the liberally laced coffee. His stomach shuddered a little when the strong mixture hit it, but then it calmed, and the rest went down smoothly.
Course I am. You going to offer for her?
Im not sure. I told Mother I would meet her. Dinner at Lady Ravenscars tonight.
Grim. Stuart made a face at the thought. Much better go with us. Boly and I are visiting Madame Valencias.
I am sure a brothel would be more entertaining, Devin agreed. But I ought to meet this chit, I suppose.
Well, if you dont offer for her, give me her name, Stuart told him, grinning. Ill take hersquint, bow legs, spotty skin and all. Im always short of the ready.
I shall keep you in mind, Devin told him gravely, and they settled down to the far more enjoyable business of drinking and discussing a curricle race they had attended the week before.
Miranda leaned closer to her father and whispered in his ear, I believe this little dinner to meet Lord Ravenscar might have been more of a success if Lord Ravenscar had actually attended it.
Now, Miranda, my love, Joseph said ingratiatingly, he might still come. Its only he sneaked a glance at his pocket watch ten-thirty.
The invitation was for nine, Miranda reminded him. The party had waited for Lord Ravenscar for almost thirty minutes before they went in to eat. But the elaborate, multicourse dinner had now drawn to a close, and the company had retired to the music room, where one of the guests, a blond, rather toothy woman, was butchering Mozart.
Unless the man was run over by a wagon or something of equal severity, Miranda went on in a whisper, he is at the very least excessively rude. Personally, I am putting my money on his not showing at all.
The female pianist stopped, and everyone applauded graciously. Fortunately, she did not offer to play another piece. Lady Westhampton turned in her seat so that she was facing Miranda and smiled. Miss Upshaw, I am so sorry, she said sweetly. I must apologize for my brother. I cannot imagine what has detained him.
From what I have heard about him, I imagine it was a game of cards, Miranda replied crisply.
Miranda! Joseph turned to Rachel. I beg your pardon, Lady Westhampton. My daughter is not usually soso
Truthful? Miranda put in helpfully. No, Im afraid that I am, Papa. But I am sorry, Lady Westhampton, if I offended you. I like you a great deal. You are by far the nicest member of the Ton that I have met.
Rachel smiled. Thank you, Miss Upshaw. And I have to admit that I understand perfectly your feelings at the moment toward my brother. It is terribly impolite of Devin to be this late. She looked pained. You are probably thinking that he will not make an appearance at all, and you may be right. You can see that he needs someone to take him in hand.
No doubt he does. However, I am not looking for a husband, let alone one who must be schooled like a child. I came here only because my father was eager for me to meet Lord Ravenscar, and I feel that I have done enough to satisfy my obligation to him. Papa? She turned to Joseph. I am ready to take our leave now.
Oh, surely, not, Joseph protested immediately. Why, theres, uh
Cards, later, in the drawing room, Rachel supplied. I believe Lady Ravenscar promised your father a game of whist.
Yes, thats it. Whist. Quite looking forward to it.
Very well, then, Miranda said reasonably. I shall take the carriage home and send it back for you later.
Please. Rachel reached out impulsively and took Mirandas hand. Can I not persuade you to remain a few minutes longer? My brother is rude, I agree, but he is a good man at heart, I promise you. He is, as you doubtless are, reluctant to enter into this sort of relationship.
I must think the more highly of him for that, Miranda agreed. However, if he is reluctant and I am reluctant, there seems little purpose in our meeting. No doubt he realized it, and that is why he did not come tonight. But it would be foolish of me indeed to linger here in that case.
Rachel sighed. Miranda squeezed her hand and smiled. She had liked Lord Ravenscars sister from the moment she met her. The young woman had a pensive, lovely face, her big green eyes touched by a hint of sadness, and there was a quiet warmth in her manner that made her seem approachable despite her beauty, and her fashionable hair and attire.
Lady Westhampton, I truly do like you, Miranda went on. And I think more of your brother that he is reluctant to attach himself to any rich woman who comes along. However, like him, I have no desire for this marriage, and it seems quite useless for me to remain.
I would so like for him to meet you. Now that I have met you myself, II am even more in favor of his marrying you. He is a very charming man, really. You would be bound to like him. And he would be so surwell, pleased to meet you.
Surprised, you started to say? Miranda asked, a smile curving her mouth. Why? Did he think I was an untutored rustic?
Color rose in the other womans cheeks. Itswellpossible. You see, we didnt know. She sighed and raised her hands in a gesture of surrender. I am sorry. I am making even more of a hash of it. But I admit, I had not expected you to beso fashionably dressed or to speak so, well, almost like an Englishwoman.
My stepmother is English, Miranda replied. She always made certain we spoke correctly and behaved politely.
Oh, I see. Rachel colored even more. Now I feel even more the fool. Iis your stepmother here? I dont remember meeting her. Rachel glanced around the room.
No. She wasnt feeling quite the thing this evening. She is often a trifle ill, Im afraid.
Im sorry. Rachel looked at her for a moment, then said, Miss Upshaw, may I be quite frank with you, as you were with me a while ago?
I prefer it.
I am afraid that we seem very different to you, this way we marry for alliances rather than for love. It is somewhat cold, I admit. But that is the way it has long been among usthe aristocracy, I mean. We have a duty to our family, our name, the very house where we were born and all the people who work there, who live there. We are not always able to do as we choose. I, too, married as my parents wished.
Miranda wondered curiously how that marriage had worked out. She had not met a Lord Westhampton here tonight.
As if seeing Mirandas thoughts on her face, Rachel added, You have not met my husband. Lord Westhampton resides at our country estate most of the year. She hesitated, then went on, Surely you can see that sometimes it is a necessity to marry well, not to marry as one desires. It seems that you would encounter the same sort of thing in the United States. Your fathers business will need someone to take his place when he dies, will it not? If you did not have a brother or uncle or whoever to run the business, then wouldnt you feel the obligation to marry someone who could take it over?