“Well, I don’t but I do have my question.” Camille’s gaze met her sister’s. “Are you in love with him?”
“Oh, no.” Delilah shook her head. “You had your question a moment ago.”
“That wasn’t my question! I didn’t—”
“Never mind, I still have my question.” Teddy’s gaze bored into hers. “Are you in love with him?”
“Does it matter?”
“I think so, yes,” Camille said.
The door to the parlor flew open.
“What kind of family meeting could you possibly have without me?�� Beryl stood in the doorway resplendent in an aubergine-colored traveling dress. A fashionable feathered hat perched on her head. As always her posture was perfect, her presence commanding, and there was a slightly wicked gleam in her eye.
“We didn’t know when you were coming.” A dry note sounded in Camille’s voice. “If you would be so good as to give us some notice or indicate in a manner that wasn’t as vague—”
“I said I’d be here before the wedding.” Beryl pulled off her gloves. “And, unless I’m mistaken, it’s still over a week away.” She nodded at Teddy. “Lovely to see you again, Teddy.”
Teddy smiled. “I’m delighted to see you as well.”
“Delilah.” Beryl’s gaze met hers. “You look tired. How are you getting on?”
“Better than one might expect.” Delilah cast her a grateful smile. “I’m glad to see you.”
“I knew you would be.” Beryl smiled in a satisfied manner and studied the other women. “You two look rather pale.”
“It was something we ate,” Teddy said.
“But we’re fine now,” Camille added.
“Good. Now that the pleasantries are out of the way . . .” Beryl took off her hat, tossed it onto a table, and seated herself in the chair beside Delilah’s. “What is going on here? When Clement told me you were all in Mother’s parlor I knew there was something afoot and I came directly upstairs.” Her gaze skimmed the gathering. “Well?”
“Delilah needs our help,” Camille began. “With Mr. Russell.”
“Oh, does she?” Beryl’s gaze shifted to Delilah. “Have you told them everything?”
Delilah nodded. “More or less.”
“Very well then.” Beryl considered her younger sister. “Are you keeping him or are you getting rid of him?”
“I’m not keeping him,” Delilah said firmly.
Camille shook her head. “I still don’t understand why not. Certainly, he’s not what she had planned but he is something of a catch.”
“Nonsense, Camille.” Beryl sniffed. “He’s not at all what she wants. He might well be handsome and obscenely wealthy—”
“And a good man,” Delilah murmured in spite of herself.
“But the fact remains that he is all wrong for her.”
“I don’t see why.” Camille huffed. “Yes, he’s American and they don’t see eye to eye on any number of—” Her eyes narrowed. “How do you know any of this?”
“I know everything,” Beryl said smugly.
“I saw Beryl when I was in London,” Delilah said quickly.
“And I was a great deal of help.” Beryl cast her younger sister what appeared suspiciously like a look of affection.
“Were you?” Camille looked from one sister to the other. “Imagine that.”
Beryl smirked.
Camille frowned and continued. “As I was saying, even though Delilah claims they have nothing in common, I’m fairly certain she’s in love with the man. Are you going to deny it?”
“Yes,” Delilah snapped.
“None of us believes you.” Camille shrugged and turned her attention back to her twin. “So her desire to get rid of him makes no sense—”
“Come now, Camille.” Beryl reached over and patted her younger sister’s hand. “Delilah is simply protecting herself. It’s entirely logical that she would wish to avoid love with a man who is all wrong. After all, she fell in love with Phillip who was an utterly perfect match and he broke her heart. One can’t blame her for wanting to avoid heartbreak again.”
Teddy grimaced.
Camille stared at her younger sister. “Is that true?”
“Which part?” Delilah asked weakly.
“Apparently, this is one detail she failed to mention, an oversight on her part, I might add, as this particular detail explains all the rest of it.” Beryl shook her head. “She loved Phillip and he couldn’t love her back.”
“I never told you that.” Delilah stared at her older sister. “I said he didn’t share my feelings, not that he couldn’t.”
“My apologies, Delilah, if I extrapolated but that part was obvious. At least to me. I didn’t especially know Phillip but I knew of him. How to say this?” Beryl thought for a moment. “When a gentleman in our world manages to get through his life before marriage without so much as a whiff of gossip associated with him—no failed love affairs, no broken engagements, no scandals with actresses or other women of a questionable reputation, nothing of that sort—and then he finally marries a young, lovely, unsullied girl from a good family only to then lead somewhat separate lives, the conclusion is that he’s simply not especially interested in what else she has to offer.” Her gaze locked with her younger sister’s. “He wanted the perfect wife or at least a wife who would appear perfect to anyone who cared to look. He was not looking for love. And in any number of marriages, that’s acceptable to both sides.
“He never expected love from you. It was not what he bargained for.” Beryl’s gaze met Delilah’s. “I for one don’t blame you in the least for not being willing to risk your heart again. After all, the odds of you and Mr. Russell being able to overcome the differences between you are extremely slim.” She shook her head slowly. “It’s a wager I would never take.”
“I don’t blame you either,” Teddy said staunchly. Of course, until recently Teddy was the only one who knew that Delilah had fallen in love with her husband. “And I am willing to do whatever you need from me to get rid of Sam.”
“I think this is stupid.” Camille glared at the others. “Love is entirely too rare to throw away.” She pinned her younger sister with a hard look. “You said you and Sam had an adventure. It seems to me one of the necessary ingredients to any adventure is risk. Love, above all else, is worth the risk.”
“You’re looking at this through the starry eyes of someone who is finally about to marry her true love.” Beryl’s brow furrowed in annoyance. “You can’t possibly see it logically. Delilah and Mr. Russell are entirely wrong for each other. Hearts are bound to be broken. Hers or his or, more likely, both. The sensible course is to avoid this match altogether.”
“Sensible has nothing to do with love!” Camille glared at her twin.
Beryl glared back. “And therein lies the problem!”
“So what is your plan?” Teddy said in an obvious effort to stop the twins from coming to blows.
“Sam was engaged once, to a woman he was in love with. As it turned out, she was more interested in his position and his wealth than she was him. He has vowed to avoid fortune hunters.” Delilah drew a deep breath. “I intend to prove to him I am exactly what he doesn’t want.”
“How very clever of you.” Beryl favored her with an admiring smile.
“And how do you intend to do that?” Camille snapped.
“I don’t know, which is precisely why I need your help.” Delilah thought for a moment. “I had thought that I might, well, throw myself at the first wealthy, titled gentleman I saw. But as tonight’s party has been cancelled, there is no one available to throw myself at. Although, there are any number of guests who will be staying at the manor and Mother made certain their number includes several eligible gentlemen.”
Teddy shook her head. “But most of those won’t be arriving until a few days before the wedding. I daresay you want to put your plan into effect as soon as possible.”
“Actually, she has a bit of a reprieve.” C
amille sighed in surrender. “Grayson says he and Sam will be spending all their time at the carriage house until the motorwagon is repaired. So Delilah should have no difficulties avoiding Sam.” She glanced at her younger sister. “Which I assume you prefer.”
Delilah nodded.
“What’s a motorwagon?” Beryl asked.
“A horseless carriage,” Teddy said.
“Really?” Beryl’s eyes widened. “How very interesting.”
“It’s not at all easy to find an eligible gentleman when you need one, you know,” Teddy pointed out. “Although, I suppose we could hire an actor.”
All three sisters stared at her.
“No! Absolutely not.” Horror shone in Camille’s eyes. “Actors will not do. Actors are not at all dependable. There will be no actors.”
“I don’t know,” Beryl said in an overly innocent manner. “That might be a possibility.”
Camille leveled a scathing look at her sister. Beryl bit back a laugh.
“An actor won’t do.” Delilah sighed. “And this is the only plan I can think of.”
“It shouldn’t be discarded simply because there is a tiny problem,” Beryl said. “It certainly isn’t insurmountable.”
“As much as I don’t agree with what you’re doing—I do like Sam after all—it is a clever idea,” Camille said in a grudging manner.
“Then you will help me?” Delilah said to Camille.
“Of course I will,” Camille said with a sigh. “You’re my sister and my first loyalty is to you.”
“I knew you would come around.” Beryl nodded smugly. “And aside from this one difficulty, I think it’s a brilliant plan.”
“How delightful.” A familiar voice rang from the doorway. “I do so love it when one of you has come up with a brilliant plan.”
Chapter Nineteen
“Mother!” Delilah jumped to her feet and greeted her mother.
The small parlor could barely contain the flurry of embraces and choruses of greetings.
“Travel must agree with you. You look wonderful!”
“Is Father with you? You haven’t misplaced him again, have you?”
“What did you like best?”
“We have missed you!”
Lord and Lady Briston had been traveling since early spring and aside from an occasional letter—Mother had always been dreadful at keeping up with correspondence—Delilah wasn’t certain at any given moment exactly where her wandering parents were on the map. Still, they were wandering together and there was much to be said for that.
“I can’t tell you how good it is to be home.” Mother settled in the chair Beryl had vacated for her. “Although I do find travel most stimulating. And let me say, there is nothing to bring a couple closer together than having to negotiate the deserts of Egypt sharing a camel or being forced to huddle together for warmth awaiting repairs on a sled somewhere in the Swiss Alps.” She nodded at the cups on the table and Delilah obediently filled one for her.
Somewhere in the midst of greeting their returning parent, a nearly unnoticed footman had slipped in and added cups and another plate of sandwiches to the tray. It was good to have the servants back. Delilah vowed when she could rehire her staff, it would be at higher wages. There was nothing like being without servants to make one appreciate their worth.
“I had no idea extensive travel could be so enlightening,” Mother continued. “Why, I feel much more intelligent now than when I left. But I must admit, there were times when I did long to understand what people were trying to say to me.” She sighed. “It does seem rather odd that not everyone in the world speaks English. You would think, given the vast expanse of the empire, everyone would have mastered English by now. Still . . .” She beamed at the younger women. “All part and parcel of the adventure I would say.”
Delilah smiled weakly.
“Oh, Camille dear.” Mother turned to Camille. “We ran into Victor in London yesterday and it was quite awkward when the subject of your wedding came up. I gather you did not invite him?”
Camille’s brows drew together in confusion. “Victor who?”
“Surely you don’t mean Cousin Victor?” Beryl stared.
“Cousin Victor?” Teddy said in an aside to Delilah.
“Lord Charborough,” Delilah said quietly. “He’s a relation on my mother’s side but so distant no one has any idea how we’re related.”
Camille frowned. “I can’t even recall the last time I saw him.”
“Neither could I. I feel quite badly about that.” Mother shook her head. “I assured him his invitation must have gone astray. So . . .” She paused. “We brought him with us.”
“You didn’t.” Camille stared although she shouldn’t have been surprised. Mother had long had a tendency to collect strays, usually minor European royalty who had lost home or country. That she had now brought home a distant relative was veering perilously close to something a normal person might do.
“I most certainly did,” Mother said in a no-nonsense tone. “It is my house, after all.”
“Yes, of course.” Camille heaved a resigned sigh. “Very well.”
“The poor dear no longer has two shillings to rub together, thanks to his wastrel of a father and the fact that he pours whatever funds he manages to acquire into that estate of his. It’s not easy supporting a crumbling castle, you know. Although I don’t believe his financial difficulty is common knowledge.”
“It’s not a well-kept secret,” Beryl said wryly.
“The best thing for the poor boy would be to find a wife with excellent connections and a sizable dowry. I thought, as there will be any number of suitable matches here for the wedding, this might be a good opportunity for him,” Mother said. “Besides, one can always use another unattached gentleman about. Especially one as dashing as Victor. My goodness, he did turn out to be a handsome devil.”
“He is, isn’t he?” Beryl said thoughtfully and glanced at Delilah. “One might say he is very nearly perfect.”
“Perhaps,” Delilah said slowly. “But you just said everyone knows he has no money.”
Teddy shook her head. “Sam wouldn’t know that.” “Who is Sam?” Mother asked, eyes wide with confusion.
“An American friend of Grayson’s, Mother,” Camille said. “Grayson probably isn’t aware of Victor’s financial state either given that he’s been out of the country for so many years.”
“Still, it’s one thing to throw oneself at a man who has a fortune and quite another to overtly pursue one who needs money.” Teddy shook her head. “You wouldn’t want to lead the poor man on and disappoint him.”
“You’re right. I hadn’t considered that.” Delilah sighed. “That would be wrong.”
“You could certainly ask him to go along with you.” Camille shrugged. “As a favor, one distant cousin to another.”
“Or you could pay him,” Beryl said. “I daresay, given his financial straits he would be more than willing to play the role of perfect prospect.”
“He would never take money for doing a favor for a relative, no matter how distant. He still has pride, after all. And I’m confident he will help without any compensation at all.” Mother thought for a moment. “But you might offer him a loan, which would certainly encourage his cooperation. One never knows when it might come in handy to have a handsome gentleman indebted to you,” she said to Teddy.
Teddy nodded, her eyes wide. But then Teddy had always found Lady Briston’s views on life a little shocking and most amusing.
“That’s that then.” Delilah shook her head. “I have nothing to offer him at the moment. My funds are still unavailable and I doubt that problem will be completely resolved in the next few days.”
“I can and I will.” Beryl smiled at her younger sister. “And I’d be happy to do so.”
“As would I,” Camille added.
“Would you?” Beryl’s brow rose. “And how would you explain that to Sam’s dear friend, your future husband, should he find out?
”
“We shall simply have to make certain he doesn’t find out,” Camille said. “I know I can keep a secret.”
“As can I. But before I can keep a secret, someone is going to have to reveal said secret to me.” Mother’s gaze slid from one sister to the next. “I have absolutely no idea what we are talking about, although an educated guess would indicate this has to do with the previously mentioned plan.”
“Exactly.” Beryl beamed. “And a brilliant plan at that.”
“So you said. Very well then.” Mother took a sip of tea then looked at her daughters expectantly. “Explain it to me.”
“I will,” Delilah said quickly. Far better for her to provide a somewhat abbreviated version of events thus far than for one of her sisters to attempt it. God knows what they might say inadvertently. Besides, there was no need for her mother to know every detail. “It all has to do with Mr. Russell, Samuel. . . .”
Delilah briefly explained nearly everything. That she and Sam did not suit, how a match between them would be disastrous and really, it was best for all concerned if they showed Sam how very wrong Delilah was for him. She did not feel it necessary to mention their shared adventures but, as Beryl had pointed out earlier, since it did seem to be at the crux of everything, Delilah did confess her feelings for Phillip and what a dreadful mistake that had been.
“My, my, you have been busy.” Mother considered her youngest daughter for a long moment. “My poor dear girl. There is nothing worse in this world than loving someone who does not love you back.”
“Yes, well . . .” Delilah shrugged. “That’s in the past.”
“Oh, come now, dear,” Mother said. “It may be over but it certainly isn’t in the past. Why, the risk of having your heart broken again is precisely why you don’t want to entrust it to this American.”
“And because we are wrong for each other,” Delilah said. “It cannot end well.”
“It can but the chances are exceptionally slim. Oh certainly, on occasion, one hears of a successful match in which the parties involved are obviously wrong for one another—a duke marrying a parlor maid and that sort of thing.” Mother shrugged as if the very idea was too absurd to consider. “But usually such matches are doomed to failure. No.” She nodded. “I think you’re quite wise to put an end to this. Besides, making such an arrangement work would require a great deal of effort not to mention staggering compromise and that’s really not a concept you embrace.”
The Scandalous Adventures of the Sister of the Bride Page 28
