Page 53 of A Spring Dance

“Sir Daniel,” Will murmured politely, as the two men exchanged bows. He had heard of Merton, for the Marfords and all concerning them were much spoken of in Yorkshire. Merton wrote Lord Carrbridge’s speeches for the House of Lords and even told him what they should contain, or so it was said. A clever man, with the marquess very much in his pocket.

“You should enquire as to whether Mr Fletcher has the income to keep Miss Whittleton in a suitable manner,” Sir Daniel said, “but I believe the answer to be very much in the affirmative. He is heir to his father, Mr Harold Fletcher of Chadwell Park in Hertfordshire, presently residing in Grosvenor Square, and reputed to be worth four hundred thousand pounds.”

Will’s eyebrows rose a little at this very accurate summation.

“Four hundred thousand, eh,” the marquess said. “That is… a very great deal of money… is it not, Merton?”

“It is, my lord. I think we may safely say that Mr Fletcher’s income is not a great deal less than your own.”

“Indeed! Then you are a very wealthy man, Fletcher, and I congratulate you. A drink?”

“I should perhaps add that there are no connections of note in my family,” Will said. “My father was formerly a mercer in Yorkshire, in Sagborough, to be precise, and we are but lately arrived in society.”

“There is nothing wrong with humble beginnings,” Sir Daniel said gravely, with the slightest hint of a smile.

“No, indeed,” Lord Carrbridge said. “Sagborough, eh? I know the place well. I wonder we never met. Wait… is that not the place from where Lady Carrbridge’s latest protégée hails? Shy little thing, dark hair, as pretty a girl as ever I saw.”

“That would be my sister, Rosie,” Will said with a smile.

“Ah! Splendid!” the marquess said. “Let us have that drink now, shall we? Merton? Do the honours, will you?”

~~~~~

Connie was lurking, awaiting the outcome. “Well?” she said, her eyes gleaming with excitement. “What did he say?”

“He offered and I have accepted him,” Eloise said flatly.

Connie clapped her hands with glee. “Wonderful! Such a fine young man, so handsome… andrich, dear! How well you have done. Come, let us tell the others your happy news. Your wedding clothes! We must have a shopping expedition very soon. Oh, how exciting it all is!”

Eloise was swept away to be congratulated by Connie’s multitude of sisters and cousins and aunts, and to listen to their voluble pronouncements on happiness she would enjoy as a married woman, and the delights of children. Several men, alerted by the marquess, also came in to add their congratulations, and then there was the usual round of morning calls to be endured, everyone they encountered to be informed of the happy news. Eloise was quite worn down by it.

Still, it was surprising how many of the matrons knew of the Fletchers and nodded approvingly. “A good match,” they said. “A fine young man and a respectable family, by all accounts.” And the young women leaned towards her and whispered, “You lucky creature! So handsome… I should have had him in a minute if he had ever looked my way.”

“He danced with me once,” one of them said, with a forlorn sigh. “Only once. Such a splendid man!”

“I saw him dance the minuet,” another said. “I believe I was half in love with him, for that reason alone.”

“He drives to an inch, too,” a third said. “Lord Humphrey said so, and he is an excellent judge.”

Eloise smiled and said nothing, for what was there to say? Will Fletcher was all of that and more. He was everything that was desirable in a man, and shediddesire him, if she were honest with herself. Even though she knew him for a rake and a rogue and an incorrigible flirt, without a sincere thought in his head, she could not help being drawn in.

But they had danced around each other long enough. He wanted to prove himself to her, did he? Then here was the ultimate test of his gentlemanly behaviour. The conversation had turned in a certain way and allowed her to set her trap, and he had walked into it. Nor had he backed away when he realized what she had done.

Not yet, but it was only a matter of time.

19: A Family Dinner

Eloise was nervous as she awaited Will Fletcher’s arrival that evening. She had not planned this, but the door had opened, she had pushed on it and… astonishingly, he had walked through it. Even this morning, when she had expected him to back away — a misunderstanding, he would say. She had mistaken his meaning, he was sure she would understand. But no, he had offered for her in form, and displayed not an ounce of unwillingness.

That hewasunwilling she doubted not in the slightest. He had thrown himself in her way all this time to prove a point, that he was a true gentleman, and she could only triumph in his success. She had pushed him into an offer, and he had done it without complaint, and demonstrated that he was indeed a gentleman. For now, at least. But he did not want to marry her, not in the least, so he would find some way to wriggle out of it.

But tonight, she would have to meet his family and surely they would resent what she had done? She could foresee no pleasure in the evening.

He was perfectly to time, his carriage arriving outside the door as the clock struck six. He bounded into the entrance hall, with that disarming smile of his, that made her insides melt. Oh, if only he were less attractive!

Sweeping her hand to his lips as he bowed over it, he rose and said, “How delightful you look this evening, Miss Whittleton, and ready and waiting for me, just as you said. Shall we go?”

His voice was as warm and sweet as honey. Such a tempting man, in every way.

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