Lord Bramwell nodded and there was a small smile on his face which Felix could not understand. How could his friend appear so contented with the idea?
“Indeed. If I find a suitable young lady then I might indeed find myself drawing near the altar – but now, let us consider you again.” His friend smiled quietly, no longer grinning. “Yes, I am aware that you sought to speak of my situation so that we did not need to discuss yours, but I am not as willing to forget about what you have said as you might desire.”
Grimacing, Felix shrugged.
“There is very little point in discussing it.”
“Come now,” his friend retorted. “There must be something which can be done, something which will lift your spirits. Have you thought of nothing which might chase away this melancholy?”
Felix managed a small smile, although he did not look in Lord Bramwell’s direction, curiously perturbed by his friend’s remark as regarded matrimony.
“You need not concern yourself. Yes, I have considered, and I have some plans afoot for what I shall do to enliven things.”
There came a short silence. Felix caught the lift of his friend’s eyebrow but chose to say nothing more. With a frustrated breath, Lord Bramwell threw up his hands.
“And you will not tell me what these plans are? You are determined to keep them hidden?”
Tilting his head, Felix hesitated.
“I think it only wise to keep such things from you, my friend. You have shown an inclination to a loose tongue on occasion.”
Lord Bramwell laughed.
“Alas, you have injured me!” His eyes twinkled. “Well, whatever endeavors it is you pursue, I hope you find them to be a good deal more intriguing than your life here in society.”
Felix nodded, speaking both to himself and his friend.
“I have every hope that it will be.”
Chapter One
“And are you looking forward to the Season, my dear? It is certain to be an excellent one, I am sure.”
Lady Elizabeth gave her mother a small smile as the carriage made its way to London.
“Yes, Mama.”
It was the required response, and Elizabeth knew precisely what her mother was hoping for this coming Season. Thus far, in her previous two Seasons, she had danced and conversed and walked with various gentlemen but, as yet, had not found a suitable gentleman who wished to court her. One or two gentlemen had asked to court her, but she had refused them, simply because she had found the gentlemen who had asked such things of her to be entirely disagreeable. She and her friends had, together, sworn that they should only marry for love, and that they would support each other in their endeavors. Therefore, with their pact remaining strong, Elizabeth had every confidence that she would find a suitable gentleman, regardless of how long it took her.
“Mayhap you need to give up this idea.” As though she had known what Elizabeth was thinking, her mother chimed into Elizabeth’s thoughts. “You made it quite clear from the very beginning that only a particular circumstance would please you. However, I am not certain that such a thing is wise.”
“I see.”
This was accepted with nothing more than a brief murmur. It would be best, Elizabeth considered, to allow her mother to continue on in such a vein if she wished. She was all too aware that her mother desired her to wed, and to wed very soon if she could. Indeed, to be on one’s third Season without even a courtship was a little embarrassing in some regards, but Elizabeth did not allow it to concern her. Her resolve was steady. She had a somewhat quiet nature, but her determination was strong – much to the chagrin of her mother!
“Perhaps you might consider a kind gentleman only,” Lady Longford continued quickly. “Akindgentleman will soon fall in love with you. Although he may not do it initially, it would come after your wedding day. That would be suitable, would it not?”
Elizabeth arched a gentle eyebrow in her mother’s direction.
“Mama, I am well aware that my determination in this matter is not something you are used to. I know that both of my elder sisters married gentlemen that you and father proposed for them - gentlemen who are kind and generous, as you have suggested for me. They are also wealthy and well-titled which, again, must please you and father very much.” Her resolve to remain silent faded quickly, she threw up her hands. “I, however, willnotbe the same. I understand your concern for me, but if I am to do without love, then I would rather become a spinster and care for my sisters’ children. I would rather that life than find myself married to a gentleman who did not love me. Besides which, Mama, kindness does not mean that a gentleman has any real capacity for love. It would not be guaranteed, and I would not take the risk.”
Warmth grew in her cheeks as she realized that she had spoken very openly indeed, instead of remaining silent, as she had first resolved to do. Her mother frowned, her sharp eyes searching Elizabeth’s face as if she were displeased with her, perhaps frustrated that Elizabeth was being so stubborn. Again, however, Elizabeth did not find her mother’s consideration of her to be particularly burdensome. Her mother was always going to be this way, encouraging her to do the opposite of what Elizabeth had determined to do because she wished to see her daughter wed. It was a somewhat difficult conundrum. How could a mother love her children but, at the same time, have her only desire be for them to marry, regardless of their own considerations? At times, particularly as she had watched the situation with her older sisters, it seemed as though a mother’s only interest was to make certain that her daughters were wed toanysuitable gentlemen. It was as if the state of marriage was more important than her daughter’s happiness.
But I shall not allow that to be so for me.
“There is Lord Newport, I suppose.” Elizabeth closed her eyes. “He is handsome,verycharming, has a great deal of wealth, and owns a large estate up in Scotland, from what I understand.” Biting her lip, Elizabeth forced her response back, swallowing her words. “He was interested in you last Season, although you did not seem to return his interest.”
“That is because I had no interest in him.” Speaking rather swiftly, Elizabeth tried to retain some composure. “Mama, Lord Newport is an older gentleman, closer in age to you and Papa than to me.”
