by Leenie Brown
To Victoria, it looked as if the young lady was quite interested in what happened in those dark garden corners.
“Proper young ladies do not find themselves alone in gardens with gentlemen.” Diana’s tone was firm but gentle.
“Oh, no, of course not.” A smile tipped the right side of Grace’s mouth. “Unless she wishes to marry the gentleman.”
Diana put down her pen. “Not even then,” she said sternly. “It is a dangerous game your sister plays. A gentleman who is trapped is not a gentleman with whom it will be easy to live after the vows have been said.”
“And then there are those gentlemen who will refuse to offer,” Victoria added.
Grace gasped. “Are there really such gentlemen?”
“Sadly, yes,” Diana said. “My brother would be one, I should think.”
“Your brother?”
“Mr. Shelton,” Victoria explained.
“Mr. Shelton is your brother?”
It was unlikely that the girl’s eyes could grow any rounder than they were.
“He is, indeed. And I know for a fact that he would not do what would be expected if he thought he had been trapped. He has a very peculiar notion of what is and is not honourable, and since a lady trapping a gentleman is not honourable, it justifies the gentleman in refusing to offer for her.”
“But she would be ruined!” Grace cried.
“Most certainly,” Diana agreed, “but such is the consequence for her duplicity. That is what he would say.”
“I can hear him saying it,” Victoria agreed.
Grace’s mouth hung open for a full half minute before she snapped it closed. “And he wishes for a wife to help educate his children?”
Victoria nodded.
As Grace shook her head, a look of utter aghast bewilderment suffused her features, and Victoria knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Roger was safe from the machinations of Miss Grace Love.
Chapter 5
“Good day, brother dear,” Diana said as Roger took the chair next to her in the Abernathy’s music room. “How have you been keeping yourself?” She lifted an eyebrow and gave him a teasing look.
He looked around the room before ducking his head closer to her ear and whispering, “I have been reading.”
“Indeed?” There was a hint of laughter in her tone. “Mother will not be best pleased to hear you are secreting yourself away with a book when you should be looking for the future mother of her grandchildren.”
“She has you for that,” Roger returned. “Would you be increasing again?” He darted his eyes around the room once again as he whispered the question. “It would be a wonderful thing if you were since Mother would be too distracted with your health and all things infant to pay much attention to my single state.”
“Really! Roger! You are going to have to come to the point someday, and you are not growing any younger, although the debutantes seem to be.”
Roger sighed. “You mean they are growing younger, sillier, and harder to abide.”
“That is precisely what I mean. I do not understand how some gentlemen can wait to marry until they are well into their thirties and seem content with a frivolous young thing.” Her eye narrowed when Roger smirked. “You are incorrigible! There is more to marriage than the marriage bed.”
“Why must you also assume I do not take the role of husband seriously?”
“Because you rarely appear serious about anything.”
That was true. He could not fault her logic. He did like to sport a devil-may-care attitude. It was so much more enjoyable than being dour and somber.
Her shoulder bumped his when she leaned closer to ask, “Who else besides me has accused you of not taking the role of husband seriously?”
Roger scowled as he watched Victoria speaking to Carlyle.
“Victoria,” he muttered.
How she could countenance a popinjay like Carlyle with such equanimity as to smile and look interested in whatever the man was saying was beyond him!
There were times to be polite and times to be disinterested. This was a time to affect an air of indifference. A lady did not present herself as attentive at a house party unless she wished to encourage the suit of a gentleman. There were far too many who were thinking very seriously about marrying at a gathering such as this for an appearance of attentiveness to any gentleman to be thought of as anything less than an incentive to pursue the obliging lady. Paying such marked attention, as Victoria seemed to be doing presently, was akin to drawing forth a ravenous lion by placing an injured and bleeding animal in front of it.
“I thought you enjoyed music,” Diana said.
“I do.”
“Then, you might wish to stop glaring as if you want to run through the next person to step up to the piano.”
Perhaps he did not wish to gravely injure the next person to perform, but there was Carlyle. Roger would not mind seeing that gentleman properly laid out on the lawn with some sort of wound.
“Mr. Carlyle has a lovely voice.” Diana had followed Roger’s glare and found the object of his discontent. “He is singing ‘The Ash Grove’ since Victoria is so familiar with that piece of music.”
Roger’s scowl deepened. That was the song he sang with Victoria.
“He was particularly interested to hear that the song is a favourite of Mr. Hamilton.”
Roger eyed his sister skeptically.
“I did not tell him that. Victoria did.” She sighed. “I think he is quite smitten with her, but then who could blame him. She is not flighty, she behaves just as a proper young lady should, and she is well-dowered. I know I am prejudiced, but Miss Hamilton is one of the best choices at this party.”
“I would not argue with you about that,” Roger muttered. “But he is not the best choice of gentleman.” He turned his full attention back to his sister. “She could do far better than him.”
Diana blinked. “How so?”
“He thinks far too well and too often of himself.”
“An air of arrogance is not always a bad thing,” Diana refuted. “He is confident. Confidence is a good quality to have in a husband.”
“No,” Roger grumbled. “He is not merely confident. He thinks of no one save himself. Would you have Victoria tied to a gentleman who does not consider her an equal or of enough importance to see to her needs ahead of his?”
Diana studied Mr. Carlyle for a moment before replying. “I suppose I would not, but if he is who makes Victoria happy, then who am I to stand in her way?”
“Her chaperone,” the words rumbled from him.
Could his sister seriously not see what was wrong with a match between Carlyle and Victoria? He would expect such a thing from his mother, but he had always thought Diana to be more sensible than their mother when it came to making matches.
“As her chaperone, your job is to ensure she makes a good connection – one which will bring her the most advantage. And you know I do not speak of money or position. This is Vic. There are a good many things more important than riches and titles when seeing her settled.”
His words had earned him the full attention of his sister.
“And what, pray tell,” Diana asked, “is more important than a secure financial future?”
His eyes narrowed. “Her heart – as if you do not know.” If he did not trust his sister as completely as he did, he would think she was leading him down a merry path.
“And Miss Grace? Do we wish to consider her heart as well when we are scheming?”
“As long as her heart is not set on me, you may do anything you wish with it.”
She was nowhere near Roger or even looking in his direction, yet he could feel the disapproval of Victoria at such a statement. He sighed.
“It would, I suppose, be best if we took care not to damage the young lady’s heart.”
There. Surely, that would satisfy both his sister and Victoria.
“Mr. Ainsley seems a good candidate. He was quite attentive to Miss Grace while the
y were practising, and he seems a respectable sort of fellow. I shall do my best to encourage them to spend some time together if I can,” his sister whispered.
That was good. He turned to say something of that nature to his sister.
“And then, I shall have to decide upon someone to recommend to Victoria since you do not think Mr. Carlyle will do.”
“Victoria is in no hurry to marry,” he protested.
His sister raised a skeptical brow.
“She said so.”
“What a lady says and what she truly thinks are not always the same.”
Roger crossed his arms. “Vic is not one of those ladies.”
“If you say so,” his sister whispered as the first young lady took her place at the piano.
He did say so. He knew so. Victoria always told him what she thought – often more directly than was entirely proper. Of course, that was typically because he had provoked her to it. He shook his head. No. If Victoria were intent upon finding a husband, she would have said something.
His eyes narrowed as Carlyle leaned toward Victoria and whispered something.
“If it must be done, then choose anyone but Carlyle,” he whispered to his sister.
“Will you help me?”
He shrugged. Could he help her? He had no desire to see Victoria marry just yet. He enjoyed her friendship too much to wish her taken from him. Oh, he would still be allowed to visit her, but it would not be the same as meeting on a nearly daily basis.
“I will consider it.” That was the best he could offer his sister at present. No, that was not the best he could do. “Present your ideas of who might be a good option to me before you say anything to Victoria. I will vet them. No fortune hunters. No gentlemen who care more about their horses or jacket than anything else. And no scoundrels.”
Victoria deserved only the best husband.
Roger joined in the polite applause around him and settled back to listen to the next selection while discounting each and every gentleman in attendance as not good enough for his darling friend.
~*~*~
“There are lemonade and sweets set up in the garden,” Mrs. Abernathy said when the last musician had risen from the piano.
“Oh, how fortuitous,” Diana exclaimed. “I had expected the gentlemen to scuttle off to some activity while we females would be left to stitch in the drawing room. And that is not conducive to making matches. I really do not know why more hostesses do not plan an abundance of activities to keep the ladies and gentlemen together at these things.” She rose and took her brother’s arm. “How are sparks to be ignited if the individuals whom we wish to have matched are kept apart? It seems very backward to the purpose of a house party. Would you not agree?”
“I would not dare to disagree,” Roger replied with a smile. “However, I must say I enjoy the times of separation, for often the chaperones are not as attentive in those moments, and… well… ladies can be persuaded to steal away for a few moments.”
She swatted his arm. “Really, Roger! You are a rogue.”
“Only because I am not yet ready to marry,” Roger refuted.
“Over there,” Diana pointed to the left with her fan. “Mr. Carlyle is absconding with my charge.” Her lips twitched.
Roger wished to argue with her that it was not truly absconding if they were all headed to the same place, but he did not because it was far more important to him that they reach Carlyle and Victoria quickly. The less time Victoria spent alone with that gentleman, the better.
“Mr. Shelton, Mrs. Berkeley,” Miss Grace called to them.
Roger groaned at the delay the young lady posed.
“Was it not the best afternoon of music ever?” she cried when they approached.
“Oh, it was amongst the best I have attended,” Diana agreed. “You sang beautifully, Mr. Ainsley.”
“Thank you.” He smiled at Grace. “My accompanist was quite good.”
“Delightfully so,” Diana said.
“To be sure,” Roger muttered as he attempted to see through the door to the garden and catch a glimpse of Victoria.
“Miss Hamilton played beautifully, as well,” Mr. Ainsley continued. “Simple songs are often the most enjoyable.”
Roger eyed the gentleman. Was he complimenting Victoria while he had Grace on his arm for any particular reason? It would be a very shabby thing indeed if Ainsley were flattering another lady with hopes of securing some support from her chaperone while in the presence of a lady such as Grace who so obviously admired him.
Roger took a moment to imagine skewering the gentleman with a pointed question regarding his intentions. The thought of Ainsley squirming at such a question cause Roger’s lips to tip up with amusement even as he once again attempted to see Victoria through the open garden door while his sister went on and on about favouring simple musical selections over grand arias.
“I think there is a time and a place where each is best,” Miss Grace said. “Do you not agree, Mr. Shelton?”
Roger returned his attention to his group. “I could not say as I was considering the refreshment to be found in a glass of lemonade rather than attending to your conversation.”
“Oh!” Grace cried. “Do not let us detain you any longer.”
“Thank you.” He really could not get out to the garden quickly enough.
“Join us,” Diana invited. “I really should find my charge and congratulate her on a job well done.”
It took very little time to find Victoria when they finally reached the garden. Pleasantries – tiring pleasantries – were exchanged along with congratulations from one lady to another and back.
“Mr. Carlyle, your performance was divine,” Mrs. Abernathy cooed as she came to inspect the table upon which the refreshments were laid. “We really should have you sing with my Amelia when next there is an opportunity. Her abilities would highlight yours so well.”
“I am not certain I can give up Miss Hamilton. She was very accommodating, and I would not wish to snub her.”
A fine, gallant, yet not entirely so, response, Roger thought as he hid his scowl behind the rim of his glass.
“Do not let me hold you back,” Victoria said.
Roger’s scowl turned into a smile at her words.
“I am certain I have played the only song I would feel comfortable playing,” Victoria continued. “Therefore, if Miss Abernathy is willing and there is another time to display your musical talent, please do not let me stop you from doing so.”
The cad took her hand! Roger wished to yank it away from him!
“Are you certain? I should not wish you to think my admiration fleeting.”
Why would she smile so pleasantly at such a statement? Did she not know that doing so was far too encouraging to the likes of Carlyle? Unless… it was not possible. Victoria simply could not mean to encourage Carlyle.
“I am positive, Mr. Carlyle.”
Roger sighed softly in relief. At least she had not said something like I could never think your admiration fleeting. Her answer — a polite response without being indulgent — proved his point. She was not interested in snaring Carlyle.
Mrs. Abernathy clapped her hands. “Excellent. One evening after dinner we will have to have some music. It will be imperative.” She turned her eyes on Roger. “Perhaps you will favour us with a song, Mr. Shelton?”
“No,” Roger replied between sips of lemonade. “I have no intention of singing.”
“Oh, I am not easily dissuaded, Mr. Shelton. I shall work on you until you agree.”
“It will never happen,” Roger replied with a smile. “I am quite a stubborn old goat.”
Victoria’s lips pressed together, but her eyes were laughing.
Mrs. Abernathy shook her head. “That is what all gentlemen think at one point or another, but few truly are as stubborn as they declare. I shall not be discouraged, Mr. Shelton.”
Thankfully, she turned away from him to Mr. Carlyle.
“Now, Mr. Carlyle. If y
ou would be so good as to lend me your arm, we shall tell my Amelia the good news. She was quite taken with your singing; I assure you.”
Carlyle gave Victoria an apologetic look but extended his arm to Mrs. Abernathy and allowed her to lead him away.
Roger took another sip of his lemonade. Perhaps if Mrs. Abernathy could dispose of Mr. Carlyle and his admiration, then Roger might be persuaded by gratitude to favour her with a song.
Chapter 6
“Mr. Clayton!” Grace greeted the gentleman with great animation as she and Victoria approached him.
Mr. Ainsley had excused himself from Grace’s side some minutes ago, and Roger was being a dutiful brother and escorting his sister as she followed behind her charge and Miss Grace Love.
“Miss Grace,” Mr. Everett Clayton replied with a small bow.
“You must meet my friend, Miss Hamilton,” Grace said. “And her chaperone, Mrs. Berkeley. She is Mr. Shelton’s sister. And, of course, you know Mr. Shelton. Is it not exciting that we are able to be together here just as we were when I was at Heathcote?”
“Indeed, it is.” The gentleman’s reply was accompanied by a polite smile but not one which spoke to Victoria of him genuinely being delighted to be where he was at the moment.
Grace looked around as if something were missing. “Where is my sister?”
Mr. Clayton’s smile wavered. “With your mother and Mrs. Abernathy, I believe.”
“Well, then, you must join us,” Grace offered. “We are not a big party, but a stroll through the garden and the wilderness beyond is much more pleasant when accompanied by friends. Is it not, Mr. Shelton?”
“Not particularly,” Roger grumbled, earning a swat of his arm from his sister. He scowled at her. “Did you wish for me to lie?”
“Yes,” Diana replied. “There is a time and a place for abject honesty. This is not one of them.”
