Page 77 of The Undaunted
They stopped at Caroline’s door. Richard leaned over her, his hand on the doorframe. “My valet does not yet know we are engaged and likely thinks he never knew me at all and that I am secretly a seducer to be taking you above stairs without escort.”
“Well, he ought to know that the good Lord Bertridge would never be a seducer until after he is married. Then, one hopes, he may seduce all he likes.”
“And so he will,” Richard said. He kissed her forehead and said, “For now though, go to bed. Even upright Bertridge has an end to self-control.”
Caroline thought that idea rather marvelous, though she did not dare test his limits. She slipped in her door and closed it behind her.
Bemmy sat by her bedside next to a lone candle. “I told ya, didn’t I? He was in your pocket all along.” She stretched her legs and let out a satisfied yawn. “Fancy types, they do take the roundabout way to the races.”
Caroline bit her lip. Bemmy could not be more right aboutthat.
*
The ladies ofthe society had gathered before noon in Lady Easton’s drawing room. If they had not witnessed what had occurred at the Regent’s ball, they had heard of it. Nobody in Brighton talked of anything else.
If Lady Easton must come to terms with this disturbing development, at least she was surrounded by friends to bolster her up.
When she’d woken, Lady Easton almost thought it could not have happened, it must have been a dream. Her nephew, who was meant to marry a duke’s daughter, could not be engaged to Caroline.
But then she’d been informed by her lady’s maid that Bramley had fled the breakfast room because Richard and Caroline had been caught kissing there. The couple had since gone out to nobody knew where.
Kissing. In her breakfast room. It was as if Richard was under some kind of spell.
“What I fail to understand,” Lady Heathway said, “is how we never see these things coming. I cannot imagine any couple less suited.”
“That’s what I said,” Lady Easton murmured, “and yet they say theyaresuited.”
“I do not think it is a case of they are suited, but a case of they will be suited through their own determination,” the duchess said. “They outright said that Bertridge intends to button down and Miss Upton intends to button up. Frankly, it won’t do your nephew any harm to loosen the stays a bit.”
“Loosen the stays?” Lady Easton asked, the incredulity of her tone apparent to all.
“I think what the duchess means,” Lady Redfield said, “is that he is very…what shall we call it? Exacting, perhaps? A wonderful quality of course, but I suppose one can have too much of anything.”
Lady Redfield looked at her friend hopefully, no doubt wondering if the notion had cheered her. Which it had not.
“I’m sure it’s all for the best,” Lady Mendleton said. “Remember, Clara, I was entirely set on Lady Annabelle for Jasper, we all were set on it. And then he married Georgianna. I was shocked at first, but I do so like having a daughter. We are exceedingly close, you see. Now Caroline will be likeyourdaughter.”
“Yes, I suppose,” Lady Easton said grudgingly. “I am fond of her, do not mistake me on that.”
“And she plays beautifully,” Lady Heathway said. “Just as my Grace plays. Of course, we never did have the chance to hear Miss Wilcox at the instrument, but one hopes that day will soon come.”
Lady Mendleton glared at Lady Heathway. Lady Easton ignored them both—it was well settled that Miss Wilcox, now Lady Langley, likely could not play a note. Penelope was only determined that Louisa admit to it, which she never would.
Bramley came in with the tea and looked decidedly under the weather. Lady Easton was certain he must still have his headache.
“Bramley,” she said, “do have some of my laudanum for your headache. It always does me a world of good. Now, did Richard and Caroline say where they went? Or when they would be back?”
Bramley sniffed and said, “They’ve taken horses, they go to post a letter to Miss Upton’s father, and then…”
“Yes?”
“Then,” Bramley said, as if he were reporting to a court, “Lord Bertridge said they were goingwherever the wind takes them. They packed a lunch. As you might surmise, I am at a loss to understand precisely when the wind intends on bringing them back.”
Bramley marched out of the room and closed the door with a decided thump.
“It’s happening already,” Lady Easton said quietly. “This is Caroline’s influence. Richard has never in his life allowed the wind to set his course. I only wish Bemmy would consent to stay on as Caroline’s maid. She is such a rational influence.”
“Bemmy was a lucky find,” the duchess said.
