Page 16 of A Single Obsession

Beau wriggled uncomfortably under the piercing look that accompanied his mother’s words—words that did nothing to hide her disappointment that he had not married Georgiana himself.

“No, madam. I have not had the chance. When I arrived, I came straight to your side, and have only just now returned Miss Whitlow to her mother.”

“Then pray do so, Beaumont. It is the height of bad manners not to wait on your hostess. She may not even know you are here, as I doubt very much whether you deigned to send a reply to her invitation.”

Beau could feel the heat creeping up his neck. Embarrassment and what? A kind of resignation to his own uselessness. He had replied—but only because his valet had reminded him. How was it his mother could crush him with just a few well-chosen words?

“I will remedy my negligence at once.” With a quick bow of his head, he escaped.

He spied Georgiana across the room and made his way to her side.

“Lord Beaumont,” she said with a mischievous smile.

“Lady Castleford,” he said, returning her grin as they exchanged bows. “You’re looking very beautiful this evening. Marriage evidently suits you.”

“Indeed, it does. Perhaps you should try it one day.”

Beau pulled a face. “Maybe I will—one day.”

“So kind of you to grace us with your presence. I supposed I had misread your reply…”

“You thought nothing of the sort. I forgot. And I was late. But if you’re going to make me feel bad about it, you needn’t bother. My mother has already scolded me. Please accept my apologies for my disgraceful behaviour.”

“Very well. Seeing as you asked me so nicely.”

Just then, Anthony joined them with Eliza on his arm.

Beau nodded carelessly to Ant, but his eyes lingered rather longer on his companion. When had Georgie’s little sister turned into such a beauty?

She was several inches taller than her sister, her figure slender. Whereas Georgie’s eyes were a deep blue, Eliza’s were like pale sapphires, and a few tresses of her blond hair framed her elfin face, which was almost devoid of colour. With the white of her dress, she looked like an ice maiden—the only contrast being the red of her generous mouth.

“Miss Merry, how delightful to see you again,” he said with a dignified bow.

Eliza acknowledged his greeting with the slightest upturn of her lips, her eyes glowing with something he could not quite put his finger on.

Was she pleased to see him? He wasn’t sure. It niggled Beau that her reception of him was so reserved. She’d been laughing with Anthony, but he had barely warranted a smile.

He decided to see if he could provoke a more enthusiastic response.

“Would you dance the next with me?” he asked with the most dazzling smile he could muster.

The reaction to his words was not what he expected. Eliza pursed her lips together as if she were dealing with something unpleasant. Was dancing with him so distasteful that it provoked such a negative effect?

“I can’t,” she said. “It’s promised to Mr Templecombe.”

Anthony clapped him on the back. “Should have turned up earlier if you wanted to dance with the most beautiful woman in the room.”

Beau tamped down his annoyance. How had Templecombe secured a set when he could not? And what was Georgie doing, letting her sister partner him? Didn’t she know his impoverished relative was on the lookout for a rich wife?

Somewhat deflated, Beau scowled at his cousin as he claimed his partner and then stood, leaning against a pillar, feeling unreasonably irritated. He knew he should ask someone else to dance, but perhaps they, too, would find a reason for refusing him.

Georgiana did not let him linger there. She was taking her role as hostess seriously and hastened to introduce him to a rather plain-looking girl who looked so pleased to be asked to stand up with him it soothed his ruffled feathers.

It was just as well. If he made a spectacle of himself, his mother would have shown her displeasure. Or worse. She might have insisted he dance a second time with Miss Whitlow.

In his efforts to stay well away from his mother, Beau gravitated back to Georgiana’s side after returning the wallflower to her chaperon. Charlotte was deep in conversation with Anthony. He overheard enough to deduce that she was ranting about her last partner’s lack of musical knowledge. Certain he would be chastised in a similar manner, Beau made a mental note never to ask Charlotte to stand up with him.

He kept an eye open for Eliza, who had not yet returned. No doubt Templecombe was making the most of having stolen her from under his nose, and would gloat, if Beau gave him half a chance. He was still annoyed his cousin had secured a dance with Eliza, whereas he had failed, and he was of a mind to try again.