Page 23 of Dropping the Ball

Alden felt trapped. Lady Gladys would twist whatever he said into a means of flirting with him blatantly in front of Bernadette, and potentially using that flirtation to convince Bernadette she had no hope.

But why would Bernadette believe there was any hope of something more than a business bargain forming between the two of them? He had brought her to Lyndhurst Grove to find him a bride, not to court her, as much as he would have liked to do precisely that. To see things from Bernadette’s view, Lady Gladys had every right to attempt to snag him before Bernadette brought in competition for his hand.

“Shall we retire to the garden?” he asked to defuse the situation, standing.

“Whatever you wish, my lord,” Lady Gladys answered, rising slowly and with a sultry glance.

“Lady Bernadette?” Alden asked, glancing hopefully to Bernadette.

Bernadette remained seated, her hands resting on the table, a thoughtful frown creasing her brow. Alden spotted a flickerof movement under the thin fabric of her fichu and realized Egbert had been perched on her shoulder through the entire conversation. Lady Gladys evidently hadn’t noticed yet.

“I think perhaps I should remain here so that I might complete the invitations,” she said, staring at those invitations instead of him.

“There you have it,” Lady Gladys said, stepping around the table as if she would take Alden’s arm for him to escort her out to the garden. “I suppose it will just be you and me enjoying luncheon amongst the flowers and sunlight.”

That was the very last thing Alden wanted. “You must eat, Lady Bernadette,” he said.

Bernadette did not reply immediately, but she did raise her eyes to him.

Alden could not read the emotion in those large blue eyes, but he said, “Please.”

The troubled look in Bernadette’s eyes softened, and she pushed her chair back to stand. “You are correct, my lord. I do need to eat.”

Alden was relieved. He did not relish the idea of being alone with Lady Gladys when she obviously intended to bully him into marriage.

On the other hand, he wished he could spare Bernadette the trial that lunch with Lady Gladys was sure to become.

Unfortunately, he was right in his assumption that the whole thing would be painful.

“What is thisthemeyou have settled on?” Lady Gladys asked, a condescending twist to her tone, as the three of them took seats around the small table Smythe and one of the footmen had set up for them in the shade of a grove of oak trees that had given Lyndhurst its name.

“It will be an exotic theme,” Bernadette said, sitting straight and addressing Lady Gladys directly, as if she had made up hermind during the walk from the terrarium out to the garden that she would not let Lady Gladys cow her in any way. “All of which is inspired by Lord Alden’s expeditions in South America.”

“How droll,” Lady Gladys said, as if it were anything but.

Alden exchanged a look with Bernadette, as if to tell her she was right to stand her ground against Lady Gladys and that he would support her in every way.

“The dancing will be held here in the garden,” Bernadette went on. “Other activities will be planned for the entire weekend that will both educate and entertain Lord Alden’s guests on all matters pertaining to the flora and fauna of South America and the Caribbean.”

“Why would anyone care to be educated when they have come to enjoy themselves?” Lady Gladys asked, curling her lip in distaste as the footman served their food.

“I think quite a few people will be interested in learning about South America,” Alden defended Bernadette’s ideas. “And since the entire purpose of the ball is so that I might find a bride who will share my future life with me in happiness and harmony–”

“She had better learn what she is in for from the start,” Lady Gladys finished his statement, unable to hide her sly grin.

Once again, Alden felt backed into a corner. “Yes, that is it precisely.”

Lady Gladys shook her head as she reached for her cutlery. “If it is a wife you seek, you should find one in a more traditional manner. All of this unnecessary complication will merely chase away those who would otherwise see a fine gentleman from a prominent family with a lovely estate and a fortune. You will find yourself out a great deal of expense without anyone wishing to marry you when all is said and done.”

“I disagree,” Bernadette said, poking at her food as if she had lost her appetite. “I have organized dozens of balls intended tomake matches, and not once have those who hired me been disappointed.”

“Everything must happen for a first time,” Lady Gladys said with a falsely amiable smile.

“I am certain I will be engaged by autumn and married by Christmas,” Alden said, though he wasn’t certain it was a helpful comment, as Bernadette set down her cutlery without taking a bite.

“I am certain you will be as well, Lord Alden,” Lady Gladys said, eating a fork full of roasted chicken, then moving the fork through her lips in a manner that was almost obscene.

“If you will excuse me,” Bernadette said, rising agitatedly. “I have just remembered that I wished to speak to Mr. Brown, the workman overseeing the painting of the bedchambers, about a few things.”

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