Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
The next evening, Marie tried not to doze off as the Duke of Lundt and his son, Cary, told her and the Duke of Carlisle about Cary’s recent fox hunting trip.
She couldn’t tell if the Duke of Carlisle was sincerely interested or if he was only pretending.
She noted that His Grace had a tendency to put on a pretense.
Her real father had always been pleasant, but he didn’t go to great lengths to compliment others to the point of embarrassment.
The Duke of Lundt and his son, however, didn’t seem the least bit embarrassed by being showered in praise.
Instead, they seemed to bask in it like a flower that couldn’t get enough sunlight.
“What a marvelous strategy you and your friends employed,” the Duke of Carlisle told Cary. “A fox can’t get away if you come at it from different angles.”
Cary’s smile widened. “Don’t give a fox a way to escape. That’s the secret. I have over twenty pelts.”
“He does,” his father inserted. “And he isn’t sure what to do with them all.”
Cary rubbed his chin. “I might have them made into a coat.”
“Oh, but that’s not very fashionable.”
“That’s the only thing stopping me from doing it. I suppose I could have a rug made for the bedside.”
“That would come in handy on those chilly mornings,” the Duke of Carlisle said, throwing in his opinion as if they had asked for it. “The rug I currently have isn’t as thick as it should be.”
Marie’s mind wandered as they continued to talk.
When would she have an opportunity to see Edward again?
Ever since that evening at Richard’s dinner party, he had been in the back of her mind.
The more she thought about the story they took turns making up, the more she appreciated his creativity.
He had taken something Brooke brought up and had brought it to life.
She thought her real father would appreciate the clever route he took with the tale of Shifty Jack as much as she did.
And Edward seemed most pleasant. She had enjoyed the small exchanges they’d shared at the shop and at the park.
She needed to get to know him better. But when would she get the chance to do so?
Her social calendar was full until Sunday.
She was due to see Lord Noel on Thursday, the Duke of Hashboro on Friday, and Lords Tammeron and Efferson on Saturday.
That would leave her too busy for a walk at Hyde Park where she might—or might not—see Edward.
Would he be at the next ball she attended?
She hadn’t seen him at Mr. Robinson’s ball.
The only ball she’d seen him at had been the ball where she’d met him in her other life.
Did he make it a habit of going to balls, or had he only gone to that one in order to meet her?
In this life, it had been by chance that he’d been at Richard’s dinner party, and in that case, he had been paired up with Brooke.
He must not have taken an interest in Brooke if Miss Carter’s sister was playing matchmaker for Miss Carter.
She had gotten lucky in the fact that Miss Carter had no interest in him.
Who was to say she’d get that lucky with the other ladies in London?
“What I like most about getting those pelts is the sport in it.” Cary’s words broke through her thoughts. “It’s the hunt. There’s nothing better than knowing you claimed something other gentlemen are after.”
Marie didn’t fool herself into thinking she was wise beyond her years, but she picked up on his meaning as he directed his gaze to her.
He didn’t want her. He wanted the ability to say she picked him out of all the gentlemen who were courting her.
Well, she wasn’t going to pick him. She wasn’t going to throw this chance away.
She was going to make the most use of this experiment.
She was going to guarantee a love match. Anything short of that wouldn’t do.
Despite her busy schedule, Marie found some free time on Friday when the Duke of Hashboro was called to leave halfway into his visit with her.
That gave her an hour to spare before she had to get ready for dinner.
She managed to talk Miss Parson into joining her for a stroll through Hyde Park.
All during the walk, she scanned the place for Edward.
Unfortunately, she didn’t see him. With all the people in London, she shouldn’t be surprised.
What were the chances that they would happen to be here at the same time anyway?
Marie returned to her bedchamber and plopped down in front of her vanity. She tossed her gloves aside, her shoulders drooped.
“Is something troubling you, Lady Marie?” Miss Parson asked as she removed the pins from her hair.
Marie didn’t know what to say. Lord Monheim, Cary, Lord Noel, and even the Duke of Hashboro had expressed an interest in seeing her again.
Lord Monheim had even gone so far as to secure a dinner party with her as one of his guests on Wednesday.
She couldn’t help but feel guilty since Miss Carter had expressed an interest in him, even though she did not return his affections.
Miss Carter had mentioned nonromantic feelings for Edward, despite liking him.
Marie felt that way about Lord Monheim. She was going to have to tell him she didn’t return his feelings if he asked to see her again.
It wasn’t right to keep him as a suitor.
He was a kind and pleasant gentleman. He ought to have a lady who sincerely cared about him.
Lord Noel and the Duke of Hashboro seemed like good, decent gentlemen as well.
She dreaded the thought that they might send her a calling card again or arrange something with the Duke of Carlisle.
The only person it wouldn’t upset her to say no to was Cary.
That look of hunting in his eyes still bothered her.
“Why must love be so difficult?” Marie asked as Miss Parson brushed her hair.
“I wasn’t aware it was difficult,” Miss Parson replied.
“Why? Was it easy for you?”
“I haven’t found a husband yet,” Miss Parson reminded her. “I am a Miss.”
Marie’s cheeks warmed. “Of course. I wasn’t thinking when I asked the question.”
“It’s all right. I do plan to marry someday. Now just isn’t a good time. I have much to do.”
What could a lady’s maid possibly have to do except the job she was given?
“You have many suitors,” Miss Parson continued. “Surely, there must be one who strikes your fancy.”
Marie bit her lower lip.
Miss Parson stopped brushing her hair and studied her. “You mean, not a single gentleman appeals to you?”
“To be fair, I haven’t visited with Lord Tammeron or Lord Efferson yet.”
“Your father did mention the possibility of adding another suitor to your list of current ones, but he won’t give me a calendar of next week’s social engagements until tomorrow.”
Another suitor? “Do you know who this suitor might be?”
“I can’t remember him off the top of my head. However, I am confident that I’d recognize him if I heard his name or title.”
Marie hesitated but decided she had to know if it was Edward. “Mr. Edward Glover?”
Miss Parson gave her an apologetic smile. “I’m afraid that’s not it.”
Marie forced aside her disappointment. It was foolish to imagine he would have gone to His Grace to arrange to pay her a visit.
“Isn’t Mr. Glover that gentleman we came across at Hyde Park the other day?” Miss Parson asked as she started to slide pins into Marie’s hair.
“Yes. The list you lost hold of blew over in his direction.”
“I remember that. Silly of me to not keep a firm grip on that thing. Sometimes I don’t realize how breezy it is when I’m outside.” She gave a shake of her head and laughed. “I had no idea you fancied him.”
“Well, it’s not like we know each other that well. I’ve only spoken with him a couple of times.”
“So, speak to him some more.”
“Unless I happen to come across him at a ball or at the park, I don’t know how that’s possible. I can’t just walk up to his townhouse and ask to see him. Nor would it be ladylike to send him a calling card.”
“Yes, I suppose there is that.” Done with the diamond pins, she retrieved the sapphire ones to add to Marie’s hair. “I am curious. Why are you interested in him? I don’t mean to speak out of turn, but the gentlemen who have been coming by have much to commend themselves.”
“Yes, I know. There are a couple who would probably make good husbands.”
“Then why not pick one of them?”
“Well, Ed-… That is, Mr. Glover can tell an entertaining story.”
Miss Parson’s eyebrows furrowed in a way that let Marie know she didn’t understand why that should commend him.
Marie shrugged. “I don’t know. I suppose I like his creativity.”
“Ah, so he’s fun.”
“I would say that the story we took turns coming up with at Mr. Anderson’s dinner party was fun because of him. There was this lady who started it, but he’s the one who made it come to life. That probably sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it?”
“There is something to be said for a gentleman who’s able to keep a lady awake while he talks.”
Marie chuckled at her joke. “He certainly can do that. I had a chance to speak with him briefly while at the market, and he was interesting then, too.”
Miss Parson paused and studied Marie’s reflection in the mirror. “Perhaps you should get to know him better. He might be an ideal suitor for you.”
Yes, Miss Parson was right. Marie needed to get to know him better because he might be her ideal suitor. But when was she going to get the opportunity to see him again? And if she did see him again, how could she bring up a conversation?
“I wish I were better at speaking to people,” Marie said before she thought better of it. The comment was ridiculous, wasn’t it? In this life, she seemed to get away with saying very little and still finding gentlemen who wished to court her.
“Part of speaking is listening.”
Miss Parson’s words surprised her. “Is it?”
The woman nodded. “You can’t have a conversation if all you do is talk, and you can’t talk unless you have something to respond to.”
“Is it really that simple?”
“It is. But you have to be comfortable enough with yourself in order to do it.”
“It’s hard to be comfortable when you worry that you’ll say something foolish.”
“If the person thinks you’re foolish, then that’s a person you don’t need to spend time with. You don’t need to be friends with everyone. And you certainly don’t need to appeal to every gentleman you come across.”
Marie’s eyes grew wide. She’d never thought of it that way before.
Miss Parson placed a hand on her shoulder. “Just be yourself. The rest will work itself out.”