Page 6 of The Allure Of Lord Devlin
For the first time in her life, she envied Rosemary, the traitor’s daughter. Lord Hawthorne’s father, the Earl of Whetton, was one of Lord Devlin’s most vocal detractors, yet Hawthorne was dancing with Rosemary, ignoring the gossip being spoken behind twittering fans. And he’d denied his father by being attentive all evening. If that wasn’t proof that he had proper feelings for Rosemary, Dharma would eat her fan.
Instead, she caught Charlotte’s eye. Her stepmother excused herself from where she was talking with two of theton’sgrande dames and came to her rescue. “It’s hot in here, Dharma. Would you accompany me for a stroll on the terrace?”
“That would be very pleasant, thank you.” Dharma slipped her arm through Charlotte’s and without a backward glance at Devlin, she walked eagerly toward a place where she could finally breathe. Where no one would bother watching her, because Devlin wasn’t by her side.
“I gather theton’sstares are unsettling you. You could have asked Devlin to wait until later in the season to announce his intentions if you didn't want to be in the spotlight.”
“Devlin will do what Devlin wants.”
“But did you talk to him before the ball?”
She shook her head.
“I see,” and Charlotte’s mouth firmed as they strolled down the steps and into the oil-lamp lit garden. She shivered against the cold. Perhaps a stroll should be a short one. The scent of dahlias, mixed with jasmine, filled the frosty air in Lady Bradshaw’s beautiful garden.
“Yes, all right. I wanted to see how he would behave in front of society.”
Charlotte sighed. “More like you wished to see society’s reaction before making your decision. Devlin will always be an outcast because of his father. If you can’t live with that, then set the man free to pursue someone else.”
“I’m not encouraging him. He’s free to pursue whomever he wants.” Why did those words stab at her heart?
“The tin mining business turning a profit has eased his money worries. He's not rich yet, and he needs the mine income to restore his estate. But he's not after your dowry. Can you say that about any other man here?”
Could she? How did you know what’s in a man’s heart? “No other man is pursuing me.”
“Fencourt has been eyeing you all evening.”
“He’s too young to think of marriage.” She ignored Charlotte’s humph and turned them around to return to the warmth of the ballroom. “How did you know Sin’s intentions were honorable?”
Charlotte laughed. “Oh, at the beginning, I knew his intentions were not. He thought I was barren. He wanted me, but not as his wife. However, you and I are in totally different situations. I was a wealthy widow, while you are a young debutante with a reputation to protect, and no money to your name except your dowry, which goes to the husband you select. You do not have the freedom and choices I had.”
More’s the pity. “At what point did you know he actually loved you?”
“He showed his love for me by being willing to sacrifice everything, including his life and the future of his family, to be with me. A man who will give up everything he believes in is a man in love.” Then she turned and took hold of Dharma’s hands. “But because I loved Sin right back, I would never have let him give up anything that was important to him. Love is never selfish. It’s always selfless.”
When Charlotte pulled her in for a hug, she whispered in Dharma’s ear, “You’ll know you’re in love with Devlin when you would do anything to make him happy. Anything to make his life wonderful. You’ll know when he’s fallen in love with you, when he does the same.”
“I have to love him, knowing how society feels about him and how that will change my life?”
“Yes.”
“But what if I fall in love and stand by his side and he doesn’t love me in return? He’s known me since I was a young girl and never looked at me as anything other than Rosemary’s best friend. Why would he choose me, except for my money?”
“At my house party, he finally saw that you have grown into a woman. He saw you as the wonderful young lady you have become. He saw that you’re beautiful and kind and have a generous nature. Look how you have doggedly stood by Rosemary’s side. Never once letting how society viewed Rosemary’s family make you turn your back on her. To Devlin, that is everything. He would do anything for his sister. For someone he loves.”
What would he do for her? What did she want him to do? How could she learn what was in his heart? Charlotte organized a series of amusements at her house party to discover a man’s character. Could she set Devlin some tasks that would reveal his feelings?
“I’ll share one more piece of advice, then I shall leave you to your own counsel,” her stepmother added. “Men guard their feelings tighter than a starving man holds onto his last piece of bread. Be patient. Don’t force him before he’s ready.”
“That’s the problem. I’ll be expected to marry by the end of the season, and if I wait to learn what’s in Devlin’s heart I might miss out?—”
“Would you ever want to take second best? Why commit yourself to Devlin if there may be a man you haven’t even considered? Take your time. Does it matter if you take one more season to find your heart’s desire? It’s better to be slow than make a hasty mistake. I know.”
“What if my best prospects find someone else?”
Charlotte scolded. “Then they were not for you if they don’t set their cap at you and fight for your hand. A man who marries the first debutante he meets is most likely wanting a marriage of convenience.”
“I don’t want a marriage of convenience.” She sighed into the chilly night and shivered. “I regret going to your house party because I never saw Devlin as a potential husband before that week.”
