Page 41 of Bewitching Benedict (The Lovelorn Lads #1)
"Tomorrow?" she asked Uncle Charles in a conciliatory fashion, and as swiftly said, "No, of course not, tomorrow we are engaged to have supper with the Talbots.
The day after, then. Charles can invite the Lads and we shall struggle to balance the tables.
I suppose Miss Hurst must attend," Aunt Elizabeth said, giving Claire a gimlet eye, “if we believe all parties can behave themselves, and Miss Fairburn; that will be a start.
Who else would you have, Claire? Only your nearest and dearest now, for we won't want to spoil the announcement for Society at large. "
"I believe you've already hit upon my intimates, Aunt Elizabeth." Claire felt rather like Uncle Charles had looked a moment ago: as if Aunt Elizabeth had somehow played her, and she was certain neither how nor what, exactly, her aunt was accomplishing.
"Well then," Aunt Elizabeth said briskly. "Mrs Fairburn, perhaps, as she is a good friend of mine, and her older daughter, Mrs Durrell, as well. We shall simply have to arrange for Mr Durrell to have irresistible plans two nights hence so he isn't obliged to attend and skew our numbers further."
"I could join him," Uncle Charles offered in a voice intended, Claire thought, to sound noble, but succeeding mostly in sounding hopeful.
Aunt Elizabeth reached over to pat his knee. "That's very thoughtful of you, my dear, but I'm afraid as Claire's eldest male relative in London you'll be obliged to attend."
"Ah. Yes. Of course." Uncle Charles turned his face away from Aunt Elizabeth and dropped Claire a solemn wink that made her smile.
"Go on," he said to her. "You've said your piece tonight.
Surely a young woman has more to do than sit and make polite conversations with her elders during the height of the Season? "
"Oh. Yes. Or, rather, no, Uncle Charles. I thought I would have a light supper and go to bed early. I'm afraid I didn't sleep well last night." Or at all, but Claire could hardly say that aloud. It would lead to all kinds of suppositions.
"The excitement of becoming engaged," he said wisely. "I recall being in a stupor for days after your aunt agreed to become my wife."
"Really," Aunt Elizabeth said dryly. "Stunned with joy or the drink, my dear?"
Uncle Charles's ready smile lit up mischievously. "Joy that could only be expressed through the exuberance of drink, my dear. Go along, Claire. We'll see you in the morning."
"Thank you, Uncle Charles. Good night, Aunt Elizabeth." Claire escaped with the sensation that it had all gone far too easily, and yet was too relieved to care.
No sooner than the sitting room door closed behind Miss Dalton did Mrs Dalton say, "Worthington," in tones even dryer than the ones she had just applied to her husband.
Worthington stepped in from the hall, where he had lingered beside the open door despite the young Master Dalton's departure some time before.
Mrs Dalton took up a fan engraved with swans, tapping it against her lips as she regarded the valet.
"I should like to ask how you came by the intelligence that you shared with us, but I fear I would sleep less well from the knowing.
Still, I must thank you. I believe I could not have responded so evenly had I not been warned beforehand of Claire's intentions.
I only wish we had had more than a moment's notice. "
This last was said with a suspicious stare that Worthington met with perfect equanimity.
He could, of course, have warned Mr and Mrs Dalton several days ago that Claire seemed headed for an unwise engagement, but up until he had glimpsed her in the hall, whey-faced at the announcement that Mr Fairburn had left Town, he had been fairly certain the matter would sort itself out.
Previous to that, the Daltons had not needed to know; and upon that moment's arrival, he had taken it upon himself to steal a few seconds of their time and inform them of his suspicions.
He had left the sitting room only one step ahead of Claire's arrival.
"Not at all," Mr Dalton said as he took up his papers and a port with equal amounts of decisiveness.
"If you'd had time to plan your attack you'd have driven her back against a wall and she'd have held her ground against all objections.
Now she'll be squirming at your compliance, Lizzie, and start to wonder if she's making a terrible mistake. "
"And how do you know so much about how young women will react?" Mrs Dalton asked, though not in a particularly complaining tone.
Mr Dalton lowered his papers to smile at her. "I married one, didn't I? Some things you don't forget, my dear. Some things keep on working."
Mrs Dalton favored him with an arch look, then returned her attention to Worthington, whose own attention moved from the fire which he had, to all appearances, been studying with mild interest as the lady and gentleman of the house spoke to one another.
"Have you any further insights or warnings for us, Worthington?
Anything about Mr Graham's character we should know now?
Any way to dissuade her from the match?"
"I believe Mr Graham's character is not the problem, ma'am.
Indeed, if it isn't bold to say so, I quite approve of him.
He is, however, penniless, and I believe the marriage is entirely to his convenience and not at all to Miss Dalton's.
Not that he is pressuring her. I believe she feels this is the right thing to do.
However, I think I should also mention that Mr Fairburn has left Town, Mrs Dalton.
He will presumably be unavailable to attend the party two nights hence. "
Mrs Dalton's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "I see. Thank you, Worthington. I had not realized Mr Fairburn's relevance in this discussion. Is there anything else?"
Worthington considered what information he had overheard from Samuel Ackerman's discussion with Charles Edward, and replied, "Only that I should think Miss Hurst would want to know that Mr Fairburn will not be in attendance before she makes her own decision as to whether she herself will be."
The corner of Mrs Dalton's mouth lifted a scant amount. "I see. Worthington, you are a treasure and no doubt entirely wasted on my son. See to it that I add something to your wages."
"Ma'am." Worthington bowed and, regarding himself dismissed with the uncouth mention of money, departed.