Page 11 of Too Wylde To Tame
“Why does any man ask a woman for her hand?” Jameson’s leering expression was beyond insulting. “You saw her at the ball, didn’t you? You even danced with her, I think.”
“I did,” Frederick admitted, unwilling to say more. He didn’t trust is brother at all. Time and again, he’d been proven right in not doing so.
Jameson continued, musing to himself almost as if Frerick weren’t even part of the conversation. “She’s a real beauty. A bit plumper than I normally like them. Then again, none of that matters in the dark, does it?”
“Do not speak of a lady in such a manner,” Frederick snapped. “Even the worst sort of rakehell still has manners, Jameson.”
Jameson laughed then, throwing his head back and all but cackling with glee. Then he demanded, “Manners? Like when you vanished to the countryside, abandoning the poor girl without even a word?”
Frederick felt the blood drain from his face. “What are you talking about?”
His brother shrugged. “If you want to give a flowers, brother, you really ought to deliver them in person. Who knows when such a delivery might be intercepted?”
The fury that washed through him at Jameson’s taunting admission was unprecedented. He’d never so intensely wanted to strike another person in all of his life. But they were not in a place where he could retaliate in such a way. Not if he meant to prove himself a more worthy match for Charity Wylde than his younger brother was. His temper would have to wait while he figured out a way to repair the damage Jameson had done.
SIX
Their arrival at Randford Hall was met warmly. Felicity greeted them, running outside to embrace them both. It was a whirlwind of activity as bags were unloaded and they were ushered inside.
“I’m so happy you’re here. Oh! Where is Aunt Marguerite?”
“Coming in another carriage. One moving far more slowly than ours. She insisted she is much too old to hurry anywhere,” Delia answered.
“Which we all know is nonsense. She just wanted to sleep and knew Delia would never hush,” Charity teased.
Linking arms with both of them, Felicity led them to the widely opened double doors. “Well, it doesn’t matter. I’m just happy you are here. And I know someone else who will be very happy you are here… Lord Jameson Dartwell.”
Charity stopped so suddenly that all three of them stumbled. “He’s here?”
“Yes. He arrived with Lord Beechum… Are you not happy he is here?” Felicity asked in a horrified tone.
“His perseverance in courting me, despite a decided lack of interest on my part is a bit… well, off putting. I can’t help but think there is some insincerity in his actions that puzzles me greatly,” Charity admitted. “But Aunt Marguerite has insisted that his courtship will be beneficial, even if I have no real interest.”
Felicity nodded, “Of course. It’s an attempt to exploit the overly competitive nature of men. She believes his interest in you could prompt other gentlemen to see you in a different light.”
“Or just see me, at all,” Charity said. “I was so relieved to come here for the week because I thought that I would at least be free of his constant attentions!”
Felicity’s face fell. “Oh, Charity. I’m so sorry. Had I known you didn’t welcome his attentions I would never have permitted him to stay. Regardless of what Aunt Marguerite says, you should not have to endure the attentions of a man you have no interest in. Please forgive me?”
“There’s naught to forgive. Unless you seat me beside him at dinner. Then I’ll never speak to you again.”
Felicity’s sheepish smile was telling enough.
“You didn’t!” Charity exclaimed.
“It isn’t too late to change it,” Felicity replied. “I will make certain that you have a suitable dinner companion. Now, let me show you to your room. You can refresh yourselves and then join us on the lawn for an outdoor tea. I think some of gentlemen mean to put on a game of croquet.”
Charity didn’t wince, but it was a near thing. It all sounded dreadful. It was terribly hot outside, croquet was always dull and boring, mostly because she was terrible at it, and she had no wish to strain the swarm of summer insects out of her tea before every drink. But, because she knew how hard her sister had worked and how nervous she had been to host her first event, Charity only smiled warmly. “That sounds lovely.” Beside her, Cordelia coughed.
“It must be all the traveling,” Delia lied.
Together, they followed Felicity up the stairs. While they were still sharing a room, the connecting chamber had been readied for Marguerite upon her arrival. It was a lovely room. Two fairly large beds, both draped in identical crimson silk took prominent place. Beneath them was a rich carpet of golds and reds. And gold damask covered the walls.
“This is positively palatial!” Delia exclaimed.
Charity eyed her sister speculatively. “I knew that you had married well. I did not know you had married this well. How many estates does Phinneas have?”
Felicity blushed. “I honestly don’t know all of them. Four that I can think of, and the house in town. Is it terrible?”
