Chapter Thirty-Four
Before the third set, Gilbert arrived to claim his dance just as Diana was returning to her aunt’s side after enjoying the second with her new fiancé. Kirkpatrick handed Diana off, with a smug smile.
“Enjoy yourself, Kendall, with this final dance. I do not think I could bear to see her in another man’s arms from henceforth.” With a kiss to Diana’s cheek, he bowed and stood aside for Gilbert, who offered his arm and escorted his lost love to the floor.
Gilbert, who had been drinking steadily since learning of the engagement, spoke not a word to his partner as they stood across from each other, waiting for the music.
Again, he noted her expression, but still could not decipher it—was she amused by his pain?
Or was she completely unaware of the impact her announcement had upon him?
He had no idea. The music began and Gilbert moved through the steps without even being aware of his own body.
For a time, he remained silent, his lips pressed firmly together in a face that held a decided scowl. Then, he could refrain no longer, and as the couple came together, he spoke.
“Miss Wells—I confess I find myself astonished by your announcement. Was it not just a few days ago you and your aunt consented to let me court you, and we spent such happy times together? Why should she and you allow me to call if you were expecting an offer from… him. Pray, tell me how this engagement came to be and quite so suddenly.”
If he expected any hint of shame from the beautiful young lady, Gilbert was to be disappointed. She smiled coyly at him and replied, “It is true I permitted you to come calling, Mr. Kendall, even as my heart was hoping for an offer from Lord Kirkpatrick.”
Gilbert’s mouth fell open at her frank admission.
He swallowed hard and asked, “Then… what was your aim? Were you just waiting to see who proposed first? What precisely was I to you, Miss Wells? I had intended to ask you to marry me this very evening. Would you have accepted me if not for Kirkpatrick’s offer? Was I only your second choice?”
She laughed lightly. “Second choice? A second son with no fortune or prospects? My gracious, you do think highly of yourself. You were never truly under consideration as a future husband at all, Mr. Kendall, despite your flattering, charming ways.” The dance steps had her spin away and he considered her words until they reunited.
“There is something in your speech which my comprehension does not reach,” he choked out. “Pray explain yourself. You did not care for me at all?”
She laughed again. “Must I spell it out for you, sir? I thought you far more clever than this. I needed to make Mr. Kirkpatrick think I was in love with you in order to secure his affections. I am not certain how far I intended to go to try and make him choose me over that countess, but as it is, the countess refused him, which opened his eyes to making me his bride. After all, if I am to hand over my fifteen thousand to a gentleman, I should at least get a title out of it.” She gazed at him as if she completely expected him to agree.
As the realization of how she had used him sank in, Gilbert halted his dancing, staring with shock and growing anger at the devious, flirtatious girl. He grabbed her hand and pulled her close, causing her to give a small gasp of surprise.
“You have used me most ill, indeed,” he said in a voice far too loud, heedless of the other dancers trying to move around them.
“You have contrived to use your coquetry for your own purposes, with little regard to the effect upon me. My only consolation is knowing that you have now tied yourself to a man who is held in low esteem by all who truly know him, when you might have had the love of a kind man who adores you above all others. I would wish you well, but you deserve no such platitudes.”
With that, he pushed her away and stomped off the dance floor, leaving his partner standing by herself as the other shocked dancers moved around her.
“Gilbert—you left your partner alone on the floor. I realize you are upset over the news of her engagement, but that is a serious breach of etiquette, indeed,” Dorothea said when she caught up to her brother in a hallway after witnessing the argument between him and Miss Wells.
“Do you think at this moment I give a damn about manners?” he spat.
“Shall we leave? I can call for our carriage, and we can depart this unpleasant situation at once.”
“Will that not add even more gossip to my actions? No, I am not ready to depart, Dorothea. I only wish to be left to myself. Leave if you wish. I can find my own way home.” Without waiting for an answer, he left his sister and headed to the balcony overlooking a garden.
He leaned on the balustrade, putting his head in his hands.
How had this evening ended in such disaster?
He had anticipated celebrating the joy of Diana becoming his fiancée. Now, he felt like an utter fool.
“Gilbert.”
Recognizing the voice, Gilbert lifted his head and turned to his friend. “She used me, Carter. She used me most abominably ill. Did you know she only acted encouraging towards me in order to gain Kirkpatrick’s interest? Were you aware of her game?”
“I am as surprised as you by her actions. I thought her most inclined towards you. Tonight’s announcement of her and Kirkpatrick’s engagement came as a complete shock to me, I assure you. To think she used you in such a manner. It is utterly reprehensible.”
“I hate myself for believing her as much as I hate her artifices that led me to think she had a heart. I confess, Carter, I truly thought she cared for me. I had no idea of her being such a conniving—” He broke off and shook his head.
“Perhaps it is best that I go. Will you leave with me? I feel every eye is upon me, and I only wish to go somewhere and drink myself into oblivion.”
Carter shook his head. “I have three dances yet, Gilbert. I must not disappoint any young lady.”
Gilbert gave a small laugh. “Or leave her on the floor as I did. My poor sister may never recover from the humiliating spectacle I just served up to our family name. Very well, go on and enjoy yourself. I am not fit company for anyone just now at any rate.” He patted his friend on the shoulder. “Thank you for caring, Carter.”
“What will you do now, Gilbert? Is there another young lady you might wish to court? The Season has nearly two more weeks left.”
“Another lady? One with money enough to secure my plan to avoid the church, you mean? Not hardly. And I have been most pointed in my pursuit of Miss Wells, any attempt at suddenly wooing another might be thought quite suspicious. It would have all the hallmarks of a true fortune hunter.”
“I suppose. However, you never know. Affections can alter quite rapidly during the Season. It might still be possible for you to find another.”
“It would be as foolish an endeavor as my pursuit of Miss Wells appears to have been.” Gilbert shook his head. “Go and enjoy your dances, Carter. Do not worry about me.”
Carter nodded and returned inside. Gilbert remained on the balcony for a time, listening to the music drifting towards him from the ballroom.
He walked to the open doors and stood a time, watching the couples on the floor.
His stomach turned at the sight of Diana and Kirkpatrick.
He did his best to avoid staring at them, trying to concentrate on others.
There was Carter, dancing with some young lady whose name he could not recall at present.
Carter appeared so happy. Gilbert envied him.
Carter had said he had no intention of wooing any young lady in particular.
He had declared he would only enjoy the Season for the dancing and pleasures it might bring him, with no particular expectations.
There would be no heartache for his friend, Gilbert thought.
He glanced around the room, noting some other acquaintances.
His eye fell upon Miss Mary Landry, conversing with her mother.
Gilbert studied her. He had little doubt that she would end the Season without an offer.
She was the least handsome woman in the room, by far.
She was intelligent, however, and had a good wit. In addition, her family was wealthy.
And has a fine estate, now, too.
Perhaps Carter was correct. Perhaps it was not too late. Should he give more consideration to the homely Miss Landry? Gilbert took a deep breath and entered the room, crossing over to her.
“Good evening, Mrs. Landry, Miss Landry. How are you both this evening?” Gilbert’s words slurred slightly after all his drinking. He did not notice the somewhat uncomfortable looks on the faces of the two.
“Good evening, Mr. Kendall,” Mrs. Landry said in an overly hearty tone. “We thought you had departed—that is, we saw the difficulty on the floor with Miss Wells, and assumed…” her voice fell into a little embarrassed titter as she waved her hands in a helpless gesture.
“Oh, no, I did not comport myself very well, it is true, but if your daughter has the next dance open, I should be happy to escort her. That is, if Miss Landry has no objection.”
Mary smiled politely and said, “I do have that set open, Mr. Kendall, and I shall be happy to give it to you, provided you promise not to abandon ship, so to speak, part way through the dance.”
“Mary!” Mrs. Landry exclaimed. Her face flushed, and she glanced around to see if anyone had overheard. But the music had just ended and chatting couples were coming off the floor to find their next partners.
“I am only teasing, Mama. Mr. Kendall cannot take offense as he has a most excellent sense of humor. Am I correct, sir?” she said, her eyes dancing in amusement.
“Indeed. While you, Miss Landry, have a wit that requires me to make full use of it.” He held out his arm. “Shall we?”
As they danced, the conversation was polite and inconsequential for the most part.
Gilbert was grateful to be at the far end of the line and nowhere near Diana and Kirkpatrick.
Catching a glimpse of them, it seems Diana was fairly glowing with happiness.
Halfway through the set, Mary gave him a kind smile and said, “Mr. Kendall, I am so very sorry for the deceitful manner in which my friend, Miss Wells, behaved towards you. It was not kind of her, and you did nothing to deserve it.”
Gilbert felt a pang in his chest to hear her sympathy. He nodded and replied, “I was foolish, I suppose, to think she might truly care for me, despite her flirtatious ways that led me to have hopes.”
“Her method in using you to secure a future duke has made me rethink my own friendship with her, I confess. For how could I ever trust someone who would so ill-use a person simply for her own gain? It makes me wonder if the amiable trust she and I share is at all to be relied upon. You showed yourself to be a sincere young man with caring kindness in his heart. For her to wound you in such a way was bad form, indeed.”
“You are very kind to say so, Miss Landry. I shall recover from this slight, I assure you. It has not affected me as much as one might think.” Gilbert smiled with genuine warmth at his partner.
She truly was a thoughtful and kind person.
Was she really so ill-favored, after all?
She did have pretty enough eyes. Indeed, the more he knew of her, the more attractive she became.
Perhaps I should set my mind on Miss Landry. No one else is likely to make her an offer and she does have a lively wit. Her words of sympathy count in her favor, as well. She clearly is showing me that her heart is warm when it comes to me. Yes, Miss Landry might yet be my salvation.