Page 51 of War of the Wedding Wagers
“Indeed, they do. But did you not think she is much too young for him?”
“Oh, one says things one does not mean. Why, if I were young again, the things I would do differently.” She tapped Amelia on the forearm with her fan. “There are some young ladies like Miss Caroline and her friends who can, perhaps, be upbraided for being just a little lively; and then there are the young ladies who take life terribly seriously. I, for one, did not leap at the opportunities presented to me.” She looked suddenly sad.
“You regret a missed opportunity?” Amelia asked.
“I do. Life is short and by the time one reaches my age, I regret far more what I didn’t do than what I did,” she said, almost under her breath.
“And that is why I have no wish to marry,” Amelia said, her previous wavering at Lady Townsend’s words giving way to renewed resolve. “I cannot trust a man with my happiness for that is what I’d be doing. For the rest of my life.”
“You were once prepared to do such a thing,” Lady Townsend said softly.
Amelia drew in a breath. “But I knew Thomas; and his character was such that I could be in no doubt that he was not toying with my affections. He was ever such a serious, stable young man.”
“A serious young man could equally be a curmudgeon,” Lady Townsend said. “While a lively young man could simply be exhibiting an unfettered joy in life that might just communicate itself to his partner in life in a most happy way.” She shrugged. “All the more reason to explore the nature of a gentleman in any way possible. A house party like this is the perfect opportunity. Instead of the requisite series of London balls during which each party is on their best behavior, a house party is an extended period of time during which one is more likely to see the other party under a range of circumstances.” She steered Amelia around the rose bushes and together they watched the phaeton disappear down the driveway.
“I wonder how Sir Frederick will react to seeing his little sister disregard his cautions,” Amelia murmured.
“Won’t that be informative, then?” Lady Townsend said. “Is he cold in anger? Does he have the latitude to be forgiving? He is a most interesting gentleman.”
Their path took them past an elegant circular building with Grecian columns. “Ah, the rotunda,” Lady Townsend remarked, her fan fluttering. “Every great house has its romantic hideaways, but this one has quite a history. When I was a girl, no properly brought up young lady would dream of being caught here unchaperoned.” A meaningful smile played about her lips.“Though I dare say more than one match was sealed within those walls. The inner room is particularly… conducive to private conversations.”
“Lady Townsend!” Amelia couldn’t help but laugh at the older woman’s suggestive tone.
“Oh, don’t look so shocked, my dear. Romance needs its secret spaces—though these days Lady Pendleton keeps it locked after an unfortunate incident involving Lord Pendleton’s nephew and a particularly forward young lady.” She patted Amelia’s arm. “But I’m sure she’d make an exception for the right couple.”
Amelia blinked as she struggled for a response. Clearly Lady Townsend had taken up Sir Frederick’s cause, if she were to phrase it like that.
“You think Sir Frederick an interesting gentleman?” Amelia asked, conflicted as to whether to reprise the subject of the gentleman who was causing her such disquiet.
“But of course. The Sir Frederick we see in public is very different from his private persona. Why, the world thinks him a man of easy charm. But that is a gift, is it not, if there are hidden depths? What do you think, Amelia? Are there hidden depths?”
Amelia blinked. “I… I do not know him well enough to say.” What was Lady Townsend suggesting? Had she witnessed Amelia and Sir Frederick kissing? Was her question a sly one? Did anyone else at the house party know the extent of Amelia’s connection with Sir Frederick?
She felt sick. If word got out, it would reduce Sir Frederick’s chances with the likely candidates that could secure Amelia the future she so desired. She’d been a fool to be so loose with him when giving him up to someone else was her ticket to freedom.
“Well, then, time will tell,” Lady Townsend said comfortably. “There are still another three days under Lady Pendleton’s roof.I’m sure we’ll see the way Sir Frederick reacts to this and a great many other things.”
*
A little laterthat afternoon, as Eugenia sat with her elderly friends in the summerhouse, she recounted the conversation.
“Lady Amelia is in love with Sir Frederick but she is not comfortable with her feelings,” she said, smoothing her skirts with fingers that trembled slightly at Thornton’s sudden interested look. “As for Sir Frederick, he is certainly more interested in the young lady than any of the other young ladies here.”
Lady Pendleton raised her eyebrows. “My dear Eugenia, you are not very cunning to be revealing the state of the opposition in front of Thornton if you wish to win this wager. But then, you never could play poker.”
“Speaking of which,” Thornton interjected, his voice carrying a warmth that made Eugenia’s heart flutter, “I seem to recall a certain evening at Almack’s where your inability to bluff cost you a dance with Lord Rutherford.”
“You remember that?” Eugenia met his eyes before quickly looking away. “It was so long ago.”
“I remember everything about those days,” he said softly.
Eugenia gave a light shrug of her shoulders, trying to hide how his words affected her. “I was not clever at poker, no. Not like my papa was. He knew how to keep his cards close to his chest. That didn’t make him happy, though. He was forever cautioning me to be on my guard for fortune-hunters. As a result, I saw danger in every smile.” She glanced at Thornton. “But now that I’m older, I think that satisfaction and happiness are not bound up in money, as my papa believed—”
“You think that Miss Fairchild believes happiness is bound up in money? I don’t think so, Eugenia.” Lady Pendleton’s sharp voice cut through the moment. “Miss Fairchild isn’t interested in anything other than retiring quietly to the country. Why, look at her outmoded costumes. And Sir Frederick? Why, he’s much too the ladies’ man for the likes of her. Really, I don’t know what argument you are trying to convince us of.”
“Merely that I do wish to win my wager, but not by being secretive and hoping to score by being anything other than completely honest.” Eugenia lifted her chin, meeting Thornton’s intense gaze.
“Such refreshing candor,” he murmured. “Though it makes me wonder what other secrets that honest heart of yours might hold.”
