is a conundrum. Despite his age, I would normally say it would be a good match, but he made a cake of himself over a young lady last year. Still, when she married another gentleman, he didn’t indulge in a fit of dismals or engage in the forms of low entertainment as many of his peers would have done. Which means to me that his heart was not truly engaged. He has been set on making his mark in the Lords. One hears good reports of him there.”
Clara was not overly pleased with this report. “I wonder if he is too young to know what he wants in a wife.”
“Does any man—or woman for that matter—know what they really desire until they find the right lover?”
“He seems to be a good-tempered man.” Vivian would need someone like that if even half of the little Clara had been able to coax out of Silvia was accurate, which Clara had no doubt it was.
“He is that,” her friend agreed. “I’ve never seen him come close to losing his temper. Patient as well.”
“Both points in his favor, I should think.” She took a glass of champagne from a footman.
Almeria glanced around the crowded room. “I will say, that I can tell you where your cousin is by watching Stanstead.”
Raising her quizzing glass, Clara followed her friend’s gaze. The gentleman stood with a circle of other men; however, his attention was focused on the dance floor. “Indeed.”
Almeria’s lips tipped up slightly. “If he takes after the males in his mother’s family in temperament as well as appearance, when he falls, he’ll fall hard.”
“One can only hope.” And help ease the path of true love. She had purposely assigned Vivian a room in the other wing where she could come and go as she wished without anyone being the wiser. Perhaps, when they arrived home, Clara would have a small talk with Vivian in order to ascertain her interest in Stanstead. It might be a good match.
CHAPTER SIX
T aking Kit Featherton’s place as the gentleman hostesses most wanted was not at all bad. Rupert put down his wineglass and joined Serena Beaumont, who had beckoned him to dance with another lady. For years Featherton had avoided the popular young ladies by only standing up with those who found themselves without dance partners. No hostess worth her name would allow a young female to remain on the sides if a partner could be found.
A half hour later, he had just returned a young woman to her mother when Robert said, “Thank you for helping Serena.”
“Of course I’d be of service to her. She is my cousin. Although I find I like dancing with ladies who are not sought after.”
Robert grimaced. “If you say so.”
“No, truly.” Rupert grinned. Before falling for his wife, Robert had avoided ton events for years. “They are either extremely shy, in which case I can put them at ease, or so intelligent they overwhelm most men. In either case, it is much better than standing up with females who simper, bat their eyes at one, and have nothing of note to say.”
“Such as Miss Banks?”
Robert might be joking, but Rupert noticed the way her gaze had followed him and, with the exception of the one set he had danced with her, he would take care to steer clear of the lady. Not only was he not interested in her, he wanted her father’s support on a bill concerning former soldiers. “Precisely.”
“Watch yourself around her.” His cousin sipped his champagne. “I’ve seen her like before. One slip and you’ll have a quick trip to the altar.”
“Your warning is taken.” He searched the room until he saw Lady Beresford sitting with Phoebe and Lady Telford. Vivian was a puzzle he’d happily attempt to put together. Why, for example, did she dislike her husband’s cousin so much? That her marriage was not all it could have been, she’d said, but how had that affected her? “I am engaged for this dance. I’ll speak to you later.”
“One of the young ladies?” Robert asked.
“No, one of the older ladies.” Rupert didn’t
Clara was not overly pleased with this report. “I wonder if he is too young to know what he wants in a wife.”
“Does any man—or woman for that matter—know what they really desire until they find the right lover?”
“He seems to be a good-tempered man.” Vivian would need someone like that if even half of the little Clara had been able to coax out of Silvia was accurate, which Clara had no doubt it was.
“He is that,” her friend agreed. “I’ve never seen him come close to losing his temper. Patient as well.”
“Both points in his favor, I should think.” She took a glass of champagne from a footman.
Almeria glanced around the crowded room. “I will say, that I can tell you where your cousin is by watching Stanstead.”
Raising her quizzing glass, Clara followed her friend’s gaze. The gentleman stood with a circle of other men; however, his attention was focused on the dance floor. “Indeed.”
Almeria’s lips tipped up slightly. “If he takes after the males in his mother’s family in temperament as well as appearance, when he falls, he’ll fall hard.”
“One can only hope.” And help ease the path of true love. She had purposely assigned Vivian a room in the other wing where she could come and go as she wished without anyone being the wiser. Perhaps, when they arrived home, Clara would have a small talk with Vivian in order to ascertain her interest in Stanstead. It might be a good match.
CHAPTER SIX
T aking Kit Featherton’s place as the gentleman hostesses most wanted was not at all bad. Rupert put down his wineglass and joined Serena Beaumont, who had beckoned him to dance with another lady. For years Featherton had avoided the popular young ladies by only standing up with those who found themselves without dance partners. No hostess worth her name would allow a young female to remain on the sides if a partner could be found.
A half hour later, he had just returned a young woman to her mother when Robert said, “Thank you for helping Serena.”
“Of course I’d be of service to her. She is my cousin. Although I find I like dancing with ladies who are not sought after.”
Robert grimaced. “If you say so.”
“No, truly.” Rupert grinned. Before falling for his wife, Robert had avoided ton events for years. “They are either extremely shy, in which case I can put them at ease, or so intelligent they overwhelm most men. In either case, it is much better than standing up with females who simper, bat their eyes at one, and have nothing of note to say.”
“Such as Miss Banks?”
Robert might be joking, but Rupert noticed the way her gaze had followed him and, with the exception of the one set he had danced with her, he would take care to steer clear of the lady. Not only was he not interested in her, he wanted her father’s support on a bill concerning former soldiers. “Precisely.”
“Watch yourself around her.” His cousin sipped his champagne. “I’ve seen her like before. One slip and you’ll have a quick trip to the altar.”
“Your warning is taken.” He searched the room until he saw Lady Beresford sitting with Phoebe and Lady Telford. Vivian was a puzzle he’d happily attempt to put together. Why, for example, did she dislike her husband’s cousin so much? That her marriage was not all it could have been, she’d said, but how had that affected her? “I am engaged for this dance. I’ll speak to you later.”
“One of the young ladies?” Robert asked.
“No, one of the older ladies.” Rupert didn’t
Similar Books
