Page 33 of Lady Beast's Bridegroom
Snowden went white about the mouth and his nostrils flared, but his voice was perfectly even, if cold, when he said, “Then I will bid you good day, and do myself the honor of calling on you again.” His bow was nearly shallow enough to be an insult. Peter’s instinctive dislike for the man deepened.
After that, they had a delightful call. Apparently, Arial had told Miss Denning she and Peter had been friends as children, and she was convinced they had been childhood sweethearts. Peter had no objection to that story spreading around town. Both Miss Denning and Lady Charmain—or Margaret, as she insisted he call her—praised Arial’s mask.
“So much more appealing than the plain white ones,” Margaret commented with the bluntness that appeared to characterize both women.
Arial gave the credit to Vivienne and Rosalind, and Margaret told Miss Denning how pretty the girls were, and how well-mannered. Indeed, when they left after half an hour, the polite time for an afternoon call, they were buoyed by the success of what must be regarded as their very first social engagement.
“We must remember though, Peter,” Arial warned, “Margaret was already my friend.”
“We will make more friends,” Peter promised, hoping it was a promise he could redeem.
*
Arial was delightedwhen Peter agreed the girls could have at least one meal a day with them—downstairs with the adults rather than in the nursery.
“My mother always used to say,” Arial said to Miss Pettigrew, “that the best way to learn good social manners is to observe them in adults.”
“That’s right!” Peter recalled. “She said you and I were old enough to join the adults! I remember that.”
The following morning was the first breakfast under the new regime, and the girls were on their best behavior, determined not to lose the privilege. They even refrained from complaining when Peter’s answer to their questions about their ponies was that they must be patient.
It was fun. Nice, too, to see them return upstairs to begin lessons, and to be left alone with Peter, who had a stack of mail to go through. He passed Arial some that proved to be invitations.
Arial leafed through them, torn between delight and trepidation. “Some of these are from people we have not even visited,” she exclaimed. “Who is the Marchioness of Deerhaven? She says she has only just learned that we are in Town and newly wed.”
“John must have mentioned it to her,” Peter said. “She is married to his brother.”
Arial raised both brows. She had known Forsythe was the Deerhaven family name, but had assumed John was, if a relation at all, one from a remote branch of the family tree.
“It is for tea tonight,” Arial said. “I suppose we could go.”
“I imagine people are curious,” Peter said. “Newlyweds,” he added.
Arial very much doubted that was the reason. “Kind of you, Peter. In truth, they want to see the gargoyle with the mask and the man who looks like a fairy prince.”
Peter looked horrified. “Please do not describe yourself that way, Arial. If anyone else called you a gargoyle, I would call them out. And as for calling me a fairy prince! It makes me sound like fop and a bounder.” His voice vibrated with exasperation.
She had put her cup down and was staring at him in surprise. “But Peter, I am horribly scarred. And you are one of the most beautiful men—no,themost beautiful man I have ever met.” She hoped her sincerity was obvious to him. This was what she really thought.
He blinked a couple of times, and the anger in his eyes faded. He put his hand on hers and his voice was gentle as he said, “People judge us both by our looks. I don’t like it, Arial. The way we look is not the sum of us. I don’t see ugliness when I look at you. I see kindness and intelligence. I see the lips that kiss me so sweetly. I see the body that was made to respond to mine.” He leaned across the corner of the table to place a kiss on the corner of her mouth.
“And if all you see of me is an outer shell I did nothing to deserve… I would be very disappointed, lady wife.”
She turned her hand over to grasp his. “I see courage and honor and the capacity for great love. Your point is valid, husband of mine. Between us, the way we look is not important. However, we have agreed to go out in Society, and they judge by outward appearance. Please, Peter, don’t go to war on those who comment on my looks. We must be prepared to meet many fools who see the glitter and the gloss and think it is the only thing of importance. Please, let us just ignore them.”
Peter considered her plea, thin-lipped and stern. “I understand the point you are making, Arial. But I do not know if I can remain silent if anybody insults my wife.”
“I am not asking you to ignore them, though I intend to do precisely that. Just refrain from calling them out. Please? For my sake and that of your sisters?”
A quick quirk of his lips assured her that his good sense had conquered his ire. “I can do that. I will keep in mind that I am not of high enough rank to get away with killing someone without having to flee overseas. Though if it came to that, you and my sisters could come with me.” He grinned to show he was joking and changed the subject.
Chapter Thirteen
Peter’s resolution wasput to the test sooner than Arial expected. They were going through the invitations and discussing each one when someone set up a banging on the front door.
Arial’s first thought was that Peter’s stepmother was back with another litany of complaints. Then Barlowe opened the door, and the visitor began shouting before he was across the threshold. Arial flinched. She could feel herself shrinking in her chair.Don’t be ridiculous. You are married now. Josiah has no power over you.
“What has your master done with my unfortunate cousin,” Josiah shouted at poor Barlowe. “There are laws in this country against fortune hunters who inveigle wealthy halfwits into marriage. I warn you, the only way to save yourself is to abandon your master and turn witness for me.”
