Page 38 of Defying the Earl
“I think he was preoccupied with something.”
“Such as?”
Beatrice didn’t have an answer for that question. She would have liked to know herself. Their last encounter had included a kiss. In what polite world did that result in no further interaction save one measly country dance in which they exchanged no words? But they had all been well aware from the beginning that the relationship was not real. He had not been truly courting her despite whatever his actions might have indicated. She had no reason to be disappointed. In fact, she ought to be delighted. She had never wanted to be courted by the Earl of Braxton anyway. She certainly didn’t need such an untrustworthy gentleman in her life.
But he had seemed anxious or stressed or concerned over something during their brief encounter at the ball. Beatrice was certain there was more to his preoccupation than that he had lost interest in her or was protecting her from his wager. She didn’t want to be concerned for him but she couldn’t help it.
She was actually tempted to call on him. That would create a far greater scandal than the one he had courted for her with his silly wager. Obviously she couldn’t do that. Not that Nathan would welcome such a scandalous turn, anyway. Despite the growing friendship she thought had been developing between them, it didn’t seem to Bea that he was looking to confide in her.
She tried really hard not to sigh. Lady Frampton would certainly need to know why she had done so if she did. Butinternally she was full of exasperation. She had told herself repeatedly not to allow her heart to become involved with the Earl of Braxton and yet here she was mooning over him like a silly widgeon fresh out of the schoolroom. She ought to have known better. She really ought to have known he would break her heart.
It wouldn’t do to refine upon the matter overly. He had been clear from the outset. This was not a true courtship. She had even insisted upon it. How could she have lost her mind in the matter of days? Bea pinned as comfortable a smile as she could manage onto her face and turned her attention back to her duties. She could wait until she reached her legal age. She would certainly not pine for the handsome earl.
“How was your evening, my ladies? Were you able to manage without me? I do regret that this silly situation has led me to neglect you dreadfully.”
“Don’t be silly, Beatrice, of course we managed just fine. We never should have made such an arrangement with you. It was always our intention to ensure you made your debut. We’d make sure you made your curtsy to the dear queen if she were still receiving, but she is too preoccupied right now with her own concerns. You ought to have been doing this all along, child.” Lady Frampton sounded kinder than Bea had ever heard from her. It touched something in her heart and she almost burst into tears.
“Are you looking to replace me, then?”
“Oh, no, Bea, of course not. Don’t you know you’re irreplaceable?” Lady Charlotte was horrified by the thought, bringing a slightly watery chuckle from Beatrice.
“Don’t get all mawkish on us now, Beatrice,” Lady Frampton said bracingly. “It certainly isn’t a wish to be rid of you. Ifwe had our first desire, it would be to hold onto you forever. But we really owe it to our old friend, your dearly departed grandmother, to ensure you are taken care of. She would have expected us to see to your match long ago, but we were enjoying you so much we’ve put it off. Braxton’s silly ways have forced our hand, but that is really for the best.”
Another long speech from the usually spare and terse woman nearly set Beatrice off to weeping once more but she managed to hold herself together. She had never been a watering pot, she had no desire to turn into one now.
“Well, I for one am ready for my bed,” she declared bracingly just as they pulled up in front of Lady Frampton’s townhouse. “I will bid you a good night and wish you sweet dreams.”
“Oh, Bea, darling, you as well. You will surely have sufficient fodder for pleasant dreams after such a lovely evening, won’t you?”
Bea had no desire to contradict the dear sweet Lottie, but she was rather afraid that she was more likely to be troubled by nightmares that night.
To her shock, though, she awoke feeling much restored with her usual equilibrium in place. She had survived much worse in life. No one had died. Certainly her heart was not broken. It would be much better for her to not be Countess Braxton. She had no such aspirations, she was sure. Braxton would tire of her sooner or later and run off for some fresh new adventure. It was good that she hadn’t allowed herself to hope.
Well, of course, she had allowed herself to hope, she corrected herself as she examined her appearance in the mirror with a critical eye, noting the weariness that persisted beneath the surface despite her uninterrupted night. It would seem to be aweariness of the soul. She would have to hide it with wider than usual smiles when Lord Henley came to escort her to the Park.
His lordship was the perfect gentleman, Bea reminded herself. He listened to her when she spoke without interrupting. If he did so with a rather avuncular air of condescension, surely that would pass when he got to know her better. She was determined to learn more about him. Their planned excursion would be the perfect time.
It wasn’t difficult to find things to occupy her time for the rest of the day, it was her mind that kept wanting to wander. Beatrice couldn’t help but worry over the events of the past week, even the past five years, really, ever since Grandfather’s death. There were so many troubling events to ponder. She kept pushing the thoughts from her mind but they persisted in returning. Despite her trepidation, it was a relief when Lord Henley finally arrived.
“You are looking as lovely as ever,” he complimented as he bowed over her hand when he was shown into the front receiving room. Beatrice dipped into a curtsy. She wasn’t experienced in receiving compliments and wasn’t sure how to respond. She was too old to turn into a simpering miss, she admonished herself despite the sudden urge to giggle.
“Would you like to partake of refreshments before we go out?” Bea asked. “I could ring for tea.”
“If you wouldn’t mind, we could head out now,” Lord Henley answered. “I didn’t set the groom to walking my horses.”
Bea blinked in surprise. She hadn’t thought of the importance of exercising the animals. But what did she know on such matters? And it wasn’t as though she had a burning desire for another cup of tea.
“I will just run upstairs for my spencer and I will meet you in just a moment, in that case,” she finally said with anothercurtsy as Lady Frampton entered the room with Lady Charlotte right behind her. Beatrice realized then that she needn’t hurry as she was sure the Ladies would keep the viscount occupied for a while.
Before long, though, she was being handed up into the gentleman’s barouche.
“I’m sorry that it isn’t terribly fashionable. But at least it’s not a gig,” Lord Henley excused, leading Beatrice to laugh lightly.
“I beg of you not to apologize that you’ve brought a carriage instead of a curricle or a phaeton. I can assure you, this is refreshing and relaxing, and much more conducive to a conversation where I don’t have to fear for my life at the slightest bump or turn.”
Lord Henley chuckled. “Have you had some harried experiences, then?”
“I might exaggerate slightly, but I cannot say that I enjoyed overmuch my experience of the taller or faster vehicles. I do apologize if you prefer the sporting type of carriage, but they are not my favourite, to say the least.”
