Page 22 of Earl for the Summer
“Oh, Daphne. I hope the rumor is true. It would be the end of all the false compliments, the fawning, and the fear that I might fail my parents.”
“Who told you he plans to propose?”
“Lady Beatrice Beckham, and she would know, wouldn’t she?”
“I would think so.” Daphne had met Lady Beatrice a few times and knew she was the cousin of Lord Strathmere. “When is it to happen?”
Selina drew in a deep breath. “I think, if Lady Beatrice is correct, it will happen today. At Kew Gardens.”
“Did Lord Knowles invite him too?”
“I don’t know. Perhaps Matthew plans to be there since I told Lady Beatrice that’s where I would be.”
The way she’d said his name, all breathy and reverent, told Daphne all she needed to know about Selina’s feelings. Though her friend was a bit shy, she possessed a warm, expressive nature, yet she’d never called any gentleman she’d met during the Season by their given name.
Daphne hadn’t heard even a whisper of scandal or gossip about Strathmere. Indeed, he was known for his charitable endeavors and championing progressive legislation in the House of Lords.
“Oh heavens, I can’t believe it’s going to happen.” Selina fiddled with the lace at the edge of her sleeve. “What if Lady Beatrice was wrong?”
“Just wait and see what unfolds. She doesn’t at all seem the sort to make such a thing up out of whole cloth. There must be truth in it.”
Selina’s eyes widened. “Wouldn’t Mama or Papa have said something if Lord Strathmere had approached them to ask for my hand?”
Daphne nibbled her lower lip. “I don’t know. I think some gentlemen prefer to gauge a lady’s interest before speaking to her parents.”
Her brother-in-law, the Duke of Edgerton, had sought no one’s permission prior to offering for her sister.
“I wish this would happen for you too,” Selina said softly.
Daphne scoffed. “I have no interest in a proposal from any man.”
Selina reached over and laid her hand on Daphne’s arm. “Perhaps in time, you will.”
Daphne smiled. “It will be a very long time. And by then, I’ll be a spinster, fully set in my ways.” Over the last few weeks, she’d imagined such a future, telling herself that it would at least save her from ever being heartbroken again.
“Well,” Selina said as she settled back against the squabs, “I shall continue hoping some ideal gentleman will come along and surprise you.”
Maybe there would be some honorable, trustworthy gentleman who came along and slipped past her defenses, but Daphne wouldn’t count on it. That blithely hopeful part of herself was too bruised.
“Goodness, is that our party?” Selina had pulled back the curtain over the carriage window and stared out at a gathering of a dozen well-dressed gentleman and fashionable ladies. “I had no idea Lord Knowles had invited so many.”
Daphne bent to survey the group too and spotted a tall, broad-shouldered figure with tousled dark hair.
Her stomach plummeted to her kid boots.Shehad caused the large group to increase by one man last evening. After leaving Lord Windham in the library, she’d spoken to Lord Knowles, who promised he’d invite Windham.
Now his presence would be for naught, except to allow him a firsthand view of disappointment, especially if Strathmere intended some grand, romantic proposal.
Perhaps she should warn him.
“Goodness, is that Windham?” Selina leaned a bit farther toward the window. “Perhaps he does intend to pursue me in earnest?”
“Would that persuade you to decline Strathmere’s offer?”
Selina pressed her gloved hands to her elegant silk skirt and nibbled her lower lip. “I don’t think so.” She lifted her gaze to Daphne. “The thought of never kissing Matthew again…” She lowered her lashes at that admission. “I can’t bear to think of never spending time with him again, whereas Windham disappeared for two weeks and I hardly missed him.”
“Yet now he’s back.” Daphne looked out at him again, then she surveyed the group as their carriage finally moved up among the queuing vehicles. “I don’t see Strathmere.”
“Not yet, but I have a feeling Lady Beatrice was right.” Suddenly, Selina didn’t sound worried. She sounded hopeful.
