Page 8 of War of the Wedding Wagers
“Next thing is introductions,” Amelia went on, ignoring their mother. “Discounting Miss Mannerly, please tick three to begin with. Your top three picks, if you please. Naturally, that’s barringany whose acquaintance you wish to further. Remember, the object of this exercise is to find Sir Frederick’s perfect match.”
Mrs. Townsend gave a loud exclamation of wonder before letting out a beatific sigh. “Didn’t I give birth to such a thoughtful pair? You have your own futures to worry about and yet, out of the goodness of your hearts, you are trying to match make for Sir Frederick. Where did you get such an idea? Has his sister petitioned you? Perhaps she knows you are not a participant in the marriage mart, though I do wish you’d reconsider, Amelia. Are you really so set on this idea of quiet independence and living alone in some cottage by the sea? What people will think, I don’t know, though you have finally made me understand there can never be another contender for your heart now that poor Thomas is gone, God rest his soul. Yet, you’d do this for Sir Frederick or rather for his sister? Ah dear, but it is not a secret that his poor ailing mama despairs of him ever finding a young lady who will keep his interest. As for her fears regarding Miss Caroline, well! That tearaway miss is destined for trouble, just mark my words. She must be kept right off that list and away from my Edward.”
“I doubt if we can find a young lady to keep Sir Frederick’s interest, mama,” Amelia said snidely. “I should think that almost impossible. But if we can ensure he’s not distracted by the next shiny new thing long enough to walk one of these young ladies down the aisle, then I can happily say our work is done.”
“Miss Pickford, Miss Penny, and Miss Playford.” Edward, who’d been leaning over the occasional table by the window, put down his pencil loudly.
“Ah, the three Ps,” said Amelia. “Who do you suppose is the most winning out of the Miss P trio?”
“Well, Miss Penny has a pug she never stops gushing over. And Sir Frederick is sure to like animals. What say we start here?”
Amelia sent him a dubious look. “I’m not sure we can assume Sir Frederick likes animals when he is primarily interested in himself. But perhaps he’d find common ground as long as Miss Penny is comely, blonde, and eligible. We have to start somewhere.”
“And how do you propose to get them introduced, much less interested in one another?” asked Edward. “Oh, I know! Miss Penny is a friend of Sir Frederick’s sister. He may know her already yet not realize the diamond dangled in front of his nose. That’ll be our job.”
Mrs. Fairchild gave another sigh. “Ah, Edward, you are so good to those around you and to your sister. What would Amelia do without you?”
Amelia raised her head to spear her brother with a look. “I wouldn’t know where to begin, Mama,” she said in a tone that had the desired effect for Edward forbore to reply and simply reddened at the not-so veiled rebuke.
Chapter Five
Another ballroom butthe same crop of debutantes—more or less, plus a sprinkling of flirtatious widows.
Sir Frederick deplored these events, but with a flighty younger sister who needed an especially keen eye kept upon her at all times, it seemed, he had little choice but to throw himself into the social mill.
With their mama so ill, their father gone these past few years, and their older sister married and established in the north, Caroline had no one else to ensure she survived to adulthood without making a disastrous match. And despite his earlier success at nipping in the bud her efforts at inveigling herself into the company of that inappropriate cad, the monstrously wealthy upstart, Mr. Algernon Greene, she seemed determined to thwart her brother at every turn.
In fact, Frederick had his eye on Caroline and Mr. Greene right now and was just considering moving across the ballroom to draw Caroline away, when Lady Townsend appeared at his elbow, saying, as she followed his gaze, “What a delightfully charming sister you have. I have no doubt her season is destined to be a successful one. What a handsome young man beside her, though a little old for her, perhaps. Is that Mr. Greene?” A concerned frown creased her forehead for Caroline was not with her chaperone, Mrs. Robins, whom Frederick could see laughing with another gentleman a little distance away.
“It is indeed,” he said grimly, “and I was just about to intervene—”
“As is only right. Oh, but here is Miss Fairchild. Perhaps she can offer chaperonage if that is what you are concerned about. Miss Fairchild!”
Before Frederick could stop her, Lady Townsend had hailed the dark-haired beauty over to her side. She really was a beauty, thought Frederick. Her self-composed serenity had quite forcibly struck him during her first season out when she was so different from giggling chits like Miss Penny, who was Caroline’s bosom friend.
Caroline might be of a lively disposition, but at least she wasn’t so cheerfully… vocal… as Miss Penny. Or as vocal as the frightful little pug the young lady carried around whenever she was visiting Caroline, and which had taken a decided disliking to Frederick. Indeed, the feeling was mutual. Frederick liked large, self-confident dogs. Not yappy lap dogs.
“Good evening, Lady Townsend.” Miss Fairchild bobbed a curtsy and inclined her head, smiling a little at Frederick before turning in the direction of Lady Townsend’s meaningful look.
“Your sister appears to be enjoying a lively conversation with Mr. Greene,” she said, stating the obvious but obviously not understanding the gravity. Well, in Frederick’s eyes.
“Mr. Greene is ten years too old for her and has not of the kind of temperament I would wish for my sister.”
“He is also enormously wealthy. However, do you wish me to join them and perhaps draw her away?” Miss Fairchild suggested with beautiful acuity.
“I would like that very much,” said Sir Frederick, watching her graceful form part the throng while Lady Townsend said, “Such a charming and accomplished young lady. She is as beautiful on the outside as she is on the inside. And that’s from someone who has known her since she was a child.No surprising temper tantrums with that one. And so very knowledgeable.”
Her admiration was cut short by the return of Miss Fairchild and a glowering Caroline who nevertheless appeared to be trying to rein in her temper as she greeted the pair of them, adding in a whisper while the other ladies exchanged several words, “It does seem a coincidence that my innocent conversations with Mr. Greene are forever being interrupted, brother. I would just like to understand your objection. Not only is Mr. Greene vastly wealthy and most charming, he is in line for a viscountcy. There! Does that change your mind, brother dear?” Angling herself a little away from Miss Fairchild as if she understood that she was being childish, she put her nose in the air.
“I know all about Mr. Greene’s claims to a bogus title, and I’m surprised you’ve fallen for it, Caroline.” Frederick tried not to let her words irritate him, but she was so young. She’d learn. He just needed to make sure she had time to grow up a little before she fell victim to someone as smooth and charming as Greene.
“Last time you sent Henry to drag me away, as I recall.”
“And I’d have done the same again except Miss Fairchild was on hand. Ah, Henry, did you in fact hear us speak your name? Caroline is looking for a partner for the next dance. Perhaps you’d oblige. But first, I must introduce to you these distinguished ladies.”
The tousle-haired youth, with a dusting of freckles and a cheerful expression who’d just arrived in their midst, bowed to the ladies before giving Caroline a grin. “Causing your big brother palpitations again, are you? It’s that Greene fellow, isn’t it? Mighty dashing, and I do admire his adorable brown curls and handsome side whiskers. Just like that Sir Walter Scott hero you were telling me about. But Caro, let me fetch you some lemonade. In fact, why don’t you come with me because I’ve just seen…” He lowered his voice but Frederick heard very clearlythat he was inviting her to covertly inspect some poor woman in a purple toque whom he’d spied and clearly wished to parody. It was ever thus with the pair of them, he thought, with something between fondness and exasperation.
With Caro giggling like a schoolgirl, Frederick could see that Lady Townsend and Miss Fairchild had also overheard so, shaking his head, Frederick explained. “The pair of them are like school children when they are together. Henry lives on the neighboring estate and they grew up together. At least I can count on Henry to some extent to keep Caro out of trouble, if only by enticing her away from fortune hunters like Greene.”
