Chapter Six #3
Irene hesitated. The idea appealed to her.
Perhaps it was the thought of getting to point out to the irritating earl his innumerable faults.
Or perhaps it was simply the idea of getting away from her sister-in-law—and all the baby plans—for two weeks.
Or of spending time with Francesca, whom she was unexpectedly growing to like.
Irene was not sure why, but she could feel her spirits rise at the prospect of going to Radbourne Park.
“I’m not sure,” she said slowly. “It sounds reasonable enough, but I am not certain that Lord Radbourne is the sort of man who would necessarily accept my refusal.”
Francesca shrugged. “Oh, he might hold to the idea that he could persuade you to change your mind, but I do not think that he would use any force. I do not think he is a bad sort of man, only…inelegant.”
“No! Oh, no,” Irene agreed quickly. “He is not wicked. Merely stubborn, I think. And confident in himself. Those are not bad qualities.”
“And you, I am sure, would be quite able to resist his attempts at persuasion,” Francesca went on.
“Of course.” Irene grinned again at the other woman. “I would venture to hold my stubbornness up against anyone’s.”
“I have no doubt of that,” Francesca replied. “And, you know, once the other young women are there, you would not have to be around him a great deal. He will doubtless spend most of his time talking to them, and they will all be eager to capture his interest.”
“I suppose.” Irene’s smile slipped a little.
“I do wish you would come as my assistant. You would get to be away from your sister-in-law, and if you would like, you could bring your mother with you, as well.”
“Mother would enjoy it, I am sure,” Irene said, looking thoughtful.
“Of course. Both Lady Pencully and Lady Radbourne will be there, and though they are older than she is, I think that she would enjoy their company. Lady Odelia can be quite entertaining. And it would be a great help to me.”
“Really?” Irene turned a penetrating look on Francesca.
“Oh, yes,” Francesca answered honestly. “I think that your presence would greatly enhance the possibility of Radbourne getting a wife. I have not dealt with him, really. Certainly not in the way he deals with prospective brides. You have. You know all the things he does that irritate and offend. You can direct us in exactly where he needs to improve. Moreover, your presence will take a great deal of the burden from me. You can introduce him to the other girls when they arrive, and assist me in setting up situations where he can talk to them. It is always much easier if one has more than one chaperone, after all.”
“Yes, of course it would be. Though I refuse to try to influence any young woman to accept his suit. I cannot in good conscience recommend him to anyone, particularly a young and vulnerable girl.”
“Oh, no, I would not suggest such a thing!” Francesca answered, looking horrified.
“The last thing that he needs for a wife is a weak girl. She must be strong, and well able to deal with him and his family. In any case, it would be quite wrong to try to persuade someone against her will. But allowing him the opportunity to endear himself to a woman is quite another thing.”
“I see little likelihood of that,” Irene said in a skeptical tone.
“Perhaps not. But I think it is worth a try. I cannot help but feel a trifle sorry for the man, given the horrible things that have happened to him over the years. Torn from his family, forced into a life of poverty and neglect. It is a wonder he even survived, much less that he was restored to his title and inheritance. And of course, that inheritance cannot make up for the fact that he grew up not knowing his mother and father. So much of his life has been stolen from him.”
Irene felt a tug of sympathy in her heart. “You are right. It must have been very hard. No doubt it is wrong of me to be so critical of his manners and address. I should look beyond them. They are, after all, the result of things beyond his control.” Her gaze turned thoughtfully inward.
“True.” Francesca looked over at her companion. “So tell me, will you come with me to Radbourne Park? It would be such a favor to me.”
Irene turned to her and smiled. “Yes. I think that I will. I should like to help you, as long as it is made clear to Lord Radbourne that I am not one of the girls competing for the honor of becoming his wife.”
“Of course,” Francesca agreed quickly. “I shall make it perfectly clear to him and to Lady Odelia.”
Irene’s smile widened. “Very well, then. It is settled.”
The carriage had reached Irene’s house and stopped.
Swiftly they agreed to meet again to make arrangements for the actual journey after Francesca had discussed the whole affair again with Lady Pencully.
Then Irene climbed lightly down from the carriage and, with a little wave of her hand to Francesca, went up the front steps of her house and in the door.
Francesca watched her as she walked away, her brain busy with plans. She had told Irene the truth: she would make it quite clear to those involved that Irene had no intention of agreeing to marry Lord Radbourne.
Of course, that would not be the end of the matter. His lordship was not one who readily accepted defeat. And given Irene’s detailed description of the man she professed to dislike, Francesca was inclined to think Irene was not really aware of the workings of her own heart.
Francesca did not mean to apply pressure to Irene to marry the man. But that did not mean she could not present the younger woman with ample opportunity to change her mind.
She gestured to her driver to take her home. It was time to get to work.