“I don’t think so,” Hugh said. “It seemed to me as if they wanted to come over so they could get a look at the place. It felt as if they were trying to evaluate my wealth for their daughter’s sake.”
“They probably were,” Charles said, sipping his beer thoughtfully. “That’s not such an uncommon thing for parents to do, after all.”
“No, it isn’t,” Hugh agreed. “But because Lady Esther isn’t like that…I don’t know. I guess it startled me to find that her parentsarelike that. I had imagined that I might be able to get through this courtship without having to put up with any of that nonsense. But now it’s beginning to seem as though that won’t be possible.”
“Of course it won’t,” Charles said, laughing. “Oh, Hugh. You were lucky enough to find a lady who shares your unusual values, who cares more for the heart of a person than for what he has to offer on the outside. You certainly shouldn’t have expected to find a whole family like that.”
“Perhaps you’re right,” Hugh agreed. “And at least Lady Esther seems not to appreciate her parents’ tactics. She seemed deeply humiliated by them, in fact.” He frowned. “Not that I take any pleasure in seeing her humiliated, you understand.”
“Of course you don’t,” Charles said. “I wouldn’t have thought so. But I’m sure it’s good to know that she’s on your side.”
“Oh, and her parents aren’t even the worst of it,” Hugh went on. “She has an aunt who’s absolutely a nightmare. When I went to ask her father’s permission to court her, her aunt insisted upon being in the room with us, even though she had nothing to do with anything!”
“Would that be the Dowager Countess, Lady Harcourt?” Charles asked. “Mother of the Lady Eugenia?”
“Yes, the same,” Hugh said. “Lady Eugenia was there as well, actually.”
“She was a sweet one,” Charles said fondly. “I danced with her at the Bolton Ball, you know.”
“Yes, you mentioned that,” Hugh said. “I think her mother was hoping I would forget Lady Esther and turn my attention to Lady Eugenia instead.”
Charles laughed. “You’re kidding! She thought you would simply change your mind about which lady you wanted to court right then and there?”
“It seemed that way,” Hugh said. “I know—it’s so strange. But I can’t think why else she would have insisted that she and Lady Eugenia needed to be in the room with us, if not to get my attention.”
Charles shook his head. “I’ve always heard that Lady Harcourt has high social aspirations,” he said. “It does fit in with what I know of her. And Lady Eugenia? Did she try to capture your interest?”
“No,” Hugh said. “In truth, she seemed quite embarrassed by the whole affair. I had the sense that she wished she could be somewhere else. She and her mother were not present when I returned for tea—I’m sure that fact was a source of strife between some members of the family.”
“It all sounds fascinating,” Charles said. “I rather wish I could have been there to witness it.”
“I wish you could, too,” Hugh admitted. “I know I need to have a chaperone when I spend time with Lady Esther, of course, and I would expect no less. But having both of her parents around is a bit exhausting. The whole time I was there, I couldn’t help wishing that you could have been my chaperone instead.”
“Perhaps I can,” Charles said thoughtfully. “I assume you’ll be wanting to see her again soon.”
“Naturally,” Hugh said.
“Well, why don’t you ask her to accompany you for a walk in the park?” Charles said. “I’ll come along as a chaperone. Doesn’t that solve your problem?”
“I always meant to get her out of Harcourt Manor for a real outing,” Hugh said. “And a walk in the park does sound lovely. But I’m not sure it would actually solve anything. I fear her mother or her father—or both of them—would insist on coming along. After all, why should they feel comfortable sending her off on her own with a pair of gentlemen they hardly know?”
“Ah, but I’ve thought of that, too!” Charles said, grinning from ear to ear. “Her cousin, Lady Eugenia. She’s the final piece to the puzzle. Her parents have already shown that they have no hesitation about sending her somewhere in the company of Lady Eugenia.”
“That’s true,” Hugh said, remembering the fact that the two ladies had attended the Bolton Ball together. “I suppose If we asked Lady Eugenia to join us, Lady Esther’s parents might be happy to remain behind.”
“Exactly,” Charles said.
“I’m sure Lady Harcourt will be happy to have her daughter join us for the day,” Hugh said, warming to the subject now. “She seems to go out of her way to put the poor young lady in my presence whenever possible.”
Charles nodded. “And if Lady Esther’s parents have any reservations about Lady Eugenia being allowed to attend, they will be allayed by my presence,” he said. “It won’t look as if she’s an extra person getting in Lady Esther’s way with me there.”
“This is a perfect idea,” Hugh said. “I can’t believe I didn’t think of it myself.”
“Well, my cleverness is why you keep me as a friend, is it not?” Charles asked.
“Certainly it isn’t your humility,” Hugh said wryly. “But I do owe you a debt of gratitude, Charles, for coming up with such a wonderful idea, and for being willing to help me carry it out as well. I know you’ll be doing me an enormous favor by spending the day in the park with me and the two ladies.”
“It’s not such a favor as you might think,” Charles said. “I’m always happy to do something for you, of course, as your friend. But a walk in the park sounds lovely, and you know I always enjoy good company. Lady Esther sounds like a pleasure. And when I met Lady Eugenia, I had a good time talking to her. I’ll be happy to see her again.”
