glanced back at him. “Thank you, my lord.” She spoke stiffly, as if good manners were an innate part of her, but her eyes shimmered with tears.
He spoke quickly, so that he would be talking to her face and not the back of her head, though even that managed to be as beautiful as the rest of her.
“The fact is that you have complete control of this gathering.”
When she gave him that not-quite-convinced half nod she had used before, he went on. “Yes, even though you are the least experienced in the ways of the ton.”
He read skepticism mixed with a good bit of hurt still lingering in her eyes. He hurried on.
“Observe, if you please. When you turn from me, Lord Crenshaw must perforce abandon Miss Wilson to speak with you. Belmont will turn from whatever puzzle your sister has presented him with to speak with the much more ingenuous Miss Wilson, so she is not left alone with her soup.
“Of course, Lord Jess will have to entertain your sister with the more genteel of his gaming tales, and Mrs. Kendrick, who has been laughing at the more risqué of them, will don her lady’s airs and talk to your father. The countess will sigh in disappointment at the interruption and speak with me. There, you see? It is all in your control. Shall we test it?”
With a slight, cold smile of agreement, she turned from him. He was worse than an idiot. His title was the only thing that kept him in such good company. William pushed aside all hope of something as ludicrous as a shared love with Miss Brent. What a fantasy, you undersized moron.
William turned to the countess, who patted Mr. Brent’s hand as she turned away. Destry noted the personal touch and wondered, but kept his polite gaze focused on the countess as he asked, “Who will be arriving later in the week, my lady?”
“IT WAS EXACTLY as he said, Bitsy. When I turned away from him, Lord Crenshaw turned to me and the entire party changed partners as if it were a dance and I had called a new step.”
The two sisters stood a little apart from the other ladies as they waited for the gentlemen to join them. Miss Wilson played the pianoforte with quiet precision while the countess and Mrs. Kendrick fussed over Mrs. Kendrick’s dog.
“I assume that’s the way all dinner parties are, Ceci. Tell me, why were you so offended by his behavior?”
“He uses his understanding of people to amuse himself. No one is ever pretty enough or charming enough to be spared his snubs. I am not the slightest bit interested in knowing him better.”
Beatrice wondered what the gentlemen were discussing over their port. For the love of God, if Cecilia was right they would both be the prefect targets for his insults. But the marquis did not seem that sort of person at all. She wanted to find a quiet corner and think this through.
“Why can’t he be more like Lord Crenshaw? He does his best to make us feel as though we are as welcome as anyone with a title.”
Beatrice shrugged, afraid that any answer would only upset her overwrought sister more. This was why she liked studying paintings so much. They could not talk back or insist on their own interpretation. She was relieved when the door opened and the gentlemen joined them.
Soon after, the tea arrived and the countess asked Mrs. Kendrick to pour while she invited everyone to take a cup and listen to her ideas for entertainment.
“I have an activity planned and I invite all of you to participate as you wish.” The countess waited a beat.
Her guests nodded.
“I would like each one of you to tell us about what you enjoy most. You may demonstrate a talent, give us a lecture, or teach us a skill.”
Beatrice leaned closer to Cecilia and whispered, “Aren’t we lucky that the countess warned us of this in advance?”
Cecilia nodded with some force. “Yes. Look at Miss Wilson, she is as terrified as I was at first. Even the Earl of Belmont looks uncertain.”
“Your idea is perfect, Ceci, asking each guest to bring you a plant to identify.”
“Now I only have to decide what the prize will be if I am bested.”
“You won’t be.” Beatrice’s confidence was sincere. “No lady knows plants half as well as you do.”
“Ah,” said the countess. “I see a mix of enthusiasm and dismay.”