“I will do so, Mama,” he said. “I—”
“You will, of course, dance the opening set with Frances,” she said. “You will bring her into fashion by doing so.”
“I think that hardly necessary, Mama,” Prudence said. “Frances is like to take the ton by storm. She has a great deal of beauty and presence.”
“All the more reason for you to dance the first set with her, Miles,” Constance said with a smile. “Everyone will see that you have a prior claim to her affections.”
“But I do not,” the earl said. “Mama—”
“Pru and I think Lord Galloway’s ball should be a betrothal ball,” Constance said. “How splendid that would be, Miles, and you do intend to betroth yourself to her before the Season is out, do you not? But Mama thinks it would not be quite proper for Frances to make her come-out and be betrothed all in such a hurry.” She laughed. “Mama believes in doing things properly.”
“Besides,” Prudence said with a smile, “I would rather like to be at your betrothal ball, Miles. Will you have enough patience to wait for two months or so for this little monster to put in an appearance? Theo will be in town within the month. He would not wish to miss the birth—or your betrothal celebrations, for that matter.”
“There is no question of Lord Galloway’s ball being a betrothal ball,” the earl said firmly, “or—”
“Of course not,” his mother said soothingly. “Drink your tea, dear, before it gets cold.”
The earl sipped—and had that old familiar feeling of being a small boy again in a household of women, totally subject to their will. It was a feeling he had not had all day, even though Abigail had surprised him by talking almost nonstop during their outing.
“This is a very elegant house,” Prudence said. “What I have seen of it, anyway. I was in it only once when you were here for a few days after the funeral, Miles. Of course, one would not expect a house on Grosvenor Square to be anything less than splendid.”
“But it does need a woman’s touch,” Lady Ripley said.
“Frances will enjoy herself here,” Constance said, “as well as at Severn Park. I know you are always reluctant to talk of such matters, Miles, but do tell. When do you plan to marry? While the Season is still in progress? During the summer? The autumn? Not the winter, I hope. It is so difficult for guests to travel during the winter.”
“Lord Galloway will want St. George’s with all the ton present, you may be sure,” Lady Ripley said. “And so do I. I have only one son, after all, and his wedding must be celebrated with all due pomp and circumstance. But we are making you nervous, Miles. Men are so foolish about such things. I suppose you are getting cold feet. But you and Frances dealt so famously together in the country that I almost expected you to make your offer there. I am glad you did not, since she has not yet been presented at court. But I am sure she will be expecting a declaration daily now that she has arrived in town.”
“Then she will have to stop expecting,” the earl said, setting his cup and saucer down resolutely on a table. “Or at least change the identity of the suitor. He will not be me.”
There was a small silence.
“Oh, Miles,” Prudence said fondly. “You really do have cold feet, don’t you? Theo has told me since our marriage that he almost fled to France the day before the wedding, never to return. The prospect of being an exile for the rest of his life seemed infinitely more appealing than that of being a married man, he said.”The three ladies laughed heartily.
“But look at him now,” Prudence said. “A fonder husband or a more doting father one could not hope to find. Your feelings are quite natural, Miles. But you must not give in to them.”
“Besides, dear,” his mother added, “your declaration has all but been made. Everyone expects it. It would be too embarrassing for words if you were to renege now.”
“A declaration cannot be almost made, Mama,” he said. “It is either made or it is not. And I made no declaration to either Frances or her papa. And never will do, either.”#p#分页标题#e#
There was a chorus of protests from the ladies.
“If you will all just be quiet for a moment and remain quiet,” he said with such firmness that they all complied and looked at him in surprise, “I have something of some importance to say.”
Finally he had their attention. Finally, after more than thirty years. And it had been accomplished with some ease. One merely had to tell them to be quiet, using a suitably firm tone as one did so, and they were quiet.