Matchmaking the Marquess (The League of Eligible Bachelors #3)

Chapter 26

Chapter Twenty-Six

Mia sat at the one end of the table, with Ben on her left side and Lady Grenville on the right. After suspending the formal seating for the evening, she was interested to see that Franny sat next to Mr. Lamb.

It also surprised her that Lady Grenville rather than Lord Montcort had claimed the seat opposite Ben. Although, it remained to be seen if that was for the better or worse. But as the lady hardly said a word, Mia believed it would turn out favorably.

She lifted her spoon to her lips, the onion soup warming her insides. She glanced at Ben and he gave a small nod in Lady Grenville’s direction.

Mia frowned. He wanted her to make conversation with the lady? What was the benefit of sitting next to her if Mia still had to talk to her? They had little to discuss, aside from the lecherous behavior of Lord Grenville—and Mia felt certain such a topic would earn her a kick in the leg from under the table.

She gave him a bland look before turning toward the older lady. “You are from Yorkshire, are you not?”

Lady Grenville looked up from her soup bowl and nodded.

Mia licked her lips. Not only must she talk to the lady, but she was to carry the whole of the conversation? Ben would owe her a tart at the very least for this.

He grinned, letting Mia know he knew exactly how this conversation would go. “Where in Yorkshire is your estate?” Mia tried again.

“West Riding, near Kingsdale Head.”

Mia waited for the lady to expound further, but when nothing came, she pushed on. “I have spent little time in West Riding. Although, several years ago I visited Skipton Castle. Have you been there, my lady?”

Lady Grenville nodded. “Yes, of course. The house is lovely, but I far prefer the grounds.”

Mia smiled. She had never considered the medieval castle lovely. Interesting and diverting indeed, but not lovely. However, the woman was finally going to talk, so Mia would not quibble about the definition of lovely. She leaned closer and waited. But Lady Grenville said nothing more.

Mia sighed and shot Ben an accusatory look. Perhaps he was the one who’d earned a kick under the table. “What makes the grounds so appealing to you?” She turned back to the lady.

“The wooded area behind the castle is quiet and peaceful. And they have some lovely birds living within.”

There was that word again. Although Mia found it hard to argue with her over the loveliness of birds. Indeed, she found them wholly agreeable.

“Oh?” she questioned. “And which is your favorite?”

Lady Grenville looked up and held Mia’s gaze for the first time. “Do you enjoy birds, my lady?”

Mia nodded. “Very much. Only last year, I convinced Papa to convert a little-used folly into an aviary.”

“You have an aviary?” An excitement Mia didn’t know the woman had in her lit the countess’s face. “I should enjoy seeing it before I leave.”

Mia smiled genuinely. “I’m certain we could find time in the morning. If that is amiable to you.”

Lady Grenville nodded. “I shall look forward to it.”

A cough sounded down the table, and Mia jerked her gaze from Lady Grenville. Her father had his napkin over his mouth, his body heaving with the cough. She turned worried eyes on Ben and bent closer to him, whispering, “Is this the first you have heard him cough like that?”

Ben shrugged. “I have not been with him much today. He skipped the shooting activity and was in the lead on our afternoon ride.” He studied her father a moment longer. “But I am sure it is nothing, Mia. Perhaps he just choked on his food. Certainly it’s nothing to worry about.”

Mia nodded slowly but kept her gaze on him as a knot formed in her stomach. He was ill, no doubt from participating in all the outdoor activities. She’d worried this would happen and now it had.

How was she to entertain everyone and take care of her father? If not for this dratted house party, her father would be well, and they could enjoy their autumn in peace and quiet.

Warmth spread across her hand, and she looked down to see Ben’s hand covering hers. “Mia, do not concern yourself. I’m certain he will be fine,” Ben whispered.

“You are not a doctor, Ben,” she shot back at him, her voice tight and terse. “You do not know that for certain. Perhaps if he were younger…”

“He’s in good health,” he protested. He sounded too much like her father, with his protestations. “But I will watch out for him, stay with him as much as possible until we know he is well.”

She looked at Ben, her vision slightly blurry. “Thank you, Ben.” She twisted the napkin in her lap under the table one last time before releasing it and smoothing it out over her lap.

Just as he promised, Ben stayed close to her father when the ladies retired to the drawing room, but it did not keep Mia from watching the door and waiting for the men to join them.

Meaningless chatter about London and the upcoming Season swirled around her. She paid little heed and only contributed with a false smile or nod.

What if her father was truly sick? Would her brother return home? But what if he could not be located or he refused to come home? Could Mia manage the whole of the estate on her own? Her thoughts chased round and round in her mind, the knot in her stomach tightening.

The door from the corridor finally opened, and Mia shot to her feet.

Ben and her father walked in together, as if nothing were amiss.

Mia sat back on the cushion and sagged. She had nearly convinced herself that Ben would need to assist or even carry her father through the door. That he walked in on his own two legs nearly undid her.

They found seats in a cluster on the other side of the room. Mia stood and moved over to sit with them, wanting to hear her father breathe with her own ears.

She sat in the chair opposite him. “Papa, may I fetch you something to drink?” His breathing was not overly labored, but one could not be too careful.

He eyed her closely. “I do not need a drink, dearest.”

“Are you certain? I heard you cough at dinner, and I do not want it to worsen.”

His eyes narrowed. “It was nothing more than a tickle. Do not think to hover about me like a nursemaid. I am well,” he grumbled.

Mia clasped her hands in her lap and discreetly looked around to see if anyone besides Ben heard the exchange. Voices had lowered, but she could not be certain it had anything to do with her father’s sharp words.

Mia swallowed.

“Did you not have cards planned for this evening?” Ben asked. She could tell he was trying to ease the tension.

“Yes, we’ve set up chairs in the parlor,” her voice was low. She was afraid if she spoke any louder, her voice might betray how close she was to tears.

Ben smiled and leaned forward, patting her arm. “Not to worry. I’ll announce it and set people toward the room.”

Her skin warmed. “Thank you, Ben.”

Her father sighed. “Please, pardon me, Amelia. I did not mean to sound harsh. But I do not wish for you to dote over me in front of our guests. I serve with several of these men in Parliament, and I do not wish for them to think of me as weak.”

Mia nodded. “I understand, Papa. I’m sorry if I discredited you with your peers.” In theory, she understood what her father meant, but it did not mean that his tone had not hurt. He’d been sharp with her. And why? Because she’d shown she cared for him? She stood up. “Are you to join us for cards?”

She hoped he’d excuse himself and retire for the night.

He nodded. “Of course. I should not miss such an entertaining evening.”

She clamped her mouth shut. “Then I will see you in the parlor.” She moved away, trying to push her fears back. If he was not worrying about his health, why should she? She would enjoy the evening. Or at least as much as it was possible to enjoy cards.

Her lips tipped up slightly. Perhaps Ben would ask to be her partner. That would surely make the evening more enjoyable.

She stepped into the parlor, and Lord Montcort met her just inside the door. Gracious, the man was persistent. “Lady Amelia, I hoped we might partner together. We’ve not partnered for days now.”

Mia plastered a smile on her face. “Of course, my lord. I’d be honored to partner with you.” She knew her tone was dull and lifeless, and she did not care. She was beyond ready for everyone to quit the party and return to their homes.

“Mia,” Ben strode over.

“Ben, did you hear? Lord Montcort and I are partnering for cards this evening.”

Ben’s smile fell, and he glared at his friend.

Mia stifled a grin. She knew she shouldn’t feel happy about Ben’s irritation, but she couldn’t help it. There’d been times in the last eight days when she’d wondered if Ben might prefer some of the other ladies’ company to hers. Or that he was trying to pawn her off on another gentleman. Seeing him disgruntled over not partnering with her soothed her battered emotions—which was completely silly, she knew. But she could not help it.

“Perhaps I’ll seek Miss Cartwright or Miss Bancroft. They are tolerable enough.” Ben’s voice sounded anything but tolerable. He slinked off in the opposite direction.

Lord Montcort motioned to a nearby table. “Whist?”

Mia sighed. “I’m more partial to Vingt-et-Un or Quadrille.”

“I’m proficient in both, so I should not care if we forgo Whist.” He lifted his chin and grinned at her.

“Is there nothing with which you aren’t proficient?” She heard the bite in her voice, but she could not wish it back.

He frowned. “Nothing comes to mind.”

Mia’s nostrils flared slightly. What did Ben see in this man?

They picked a table for Quadrille and sat across from each other. Ben and Miss Cartwright slid into the other two chairs.

“You secured Miss Cartwright?” Mia looked at her friend and grinned. “I had thought perhaps Mr. Lamb might ask you first.”

Franny colored up, and Mia’s mouth dropped open slightly. If she did not know better, she might think that Mr. Lamb and her dear friend shared a tendré for each other.

“Have you forgotten the bulrush?” Mia asked quietly but with vehemence.

Franny shook her head. “Of course not. We have only partnered for the theatrical and we drew names for that. It was not as if I could have drawn his name on purpose.”

Mia’s face heated. Had Franny figured out what Mia had done? It seemed prudent to move off the subject of the hat drawing. “But what of dinner tonight?” She hissed through her teeth.

“He sat next to me. What was I to do? Move chairs? That would have been unpardonably rude.” Franny fidgeted.

Franny wasn’t wrong. Perhaps Mia was making too much of it. Could it be she was holding too much of a grudge?

“But if there was an interest, would it be wrong?” Franny grumbled under her breath. Mia sat back. Could Mr. Lamb have grown into a perfectly respectable gentleman? Someone that her friend could respect and possibly desire? Hmm. That was something to consider. Franny smiled at Lord Montcort. “We should separate those two,” she nodded to Ben and Mia. “When they are partners, they always win. It is as if they can communicate without speaking.”

Mia tipped her head to the side and grinned slyly. “I have no notion what you are speaking about. We are simply proficient. That is all.”

Ben looked appalled. “Come, Miss Cartwright. You make it sound as if we are cheats.”

Again, Mia’s face heated. Had she not done her fair share of cheating over the last week?

Franny laughed. “I meant no such thing, I assure you. I only meant that the two of you know each other so well, you need not even talk to communicate.”

Mia’s stomach lodged in her throat. What was Franny saying? Had she deduced Mia’s feelings for Ben? Even after Mia worked so hard to push them down for all these years? She chuckled, but it sounded feigned. “You’re being ridiculous, Franny.”

She glanced across the table at Lord Montcort. What did he think of the whole conversation? Surely he could not see Mia’s affections for Ben.

He said nothing at first, but a hint of a smile hovered on his lips. “Then it is fortuitous that I asked Lady Amelia and caused them to play apart.”

Mia willed her heartbeat to slow down. She must not appear to be affected by any of what Franny had said. It would not do for Ben to discover her feelings. Indeed, it could do nothing but ruin everything.