To Have and to Hoax(72)
And with that, he and Violet made their retreat.
“I’m very tempted to turn around to see what the look on her face is like, but I don’t think I quite dare,” Violet said, a note of distinct satisfaction in her voice.
“Probably best not to tempt fate,” James agreed.
“Thank you,” Violet said, so softly that he nearly missed it, a gentle squeeze of his arm accompanying her words. He placed his free hand over hers and squeezed it in return.
“You don’t have to go to tea with her tomorrow, you know.”
Violet sighed. “It’s best just to go and let her say her bit.”
James frowned, but further conversation was forestalled by the fact that they had rejoined their party, though it had been reduced in number. Jeremy, Penvale, and Lady Fitzwilliam stood in a loose circle, making idle conversation; just as Violet and James approached, a gentleman—the younger brother of the Earl of Dunreedie, if James wasn’t mistaken—bowed to Diana and departed as she rejoined her friends. With a quick glance at her wrist, he could see that Diana’s dance card was already nearly entirely full.
“Where is Emily?” Violet asked, draining the rest of her glass of lemonade. Without thinking, James reached out and took the empty glass from her, handing it to a passing footman before turning to Lady Fitzwilliam and offering her the full glass in his hand with what he hoped was a not-at-all-flirtatious bow.
“Dancing with Belfry,” Diana said, in a tone of voice that James thought might be her attempt to sound casual. It was spoiled by the eager expression on her face.
“Is Mr. Cartham attending this evening?” Violet asked, craning her neck around to get a better look at the room. Even if Cartham were here, James thought, Violet would be lucky to spot him—it was quite a crush.
“I believe so, but I’ve yet to see him. I’ve instructed Penvale”—here Diana jerked her head at her brother, who was sipping a glass of champagne and looking bored—“to keep a sharp eye out for him, so that we might keep him away from Emily.”
“Playing matchmaker, are we?” James asked.
Diana sniffed. “I don’t think it’s unreasonable of me to want to see Emily married to someone other than that vulgar boor.”
“You sound frightfully snobbish, Diana,” Penvale said, sounding amused. “Not such a rebel after all, are we?”
“You’re making a mistake if you think to match Belfry with Lady Emily,” Jeremy added. “A less likely man to marry I’ve never seen. Haven’t you heard anything of his reputation?”
“Mmm, yes,” Diana said sweetly, giving Jeremy a saccharine smile. “But I didn’t think it was any worse than yours, my lord.”
Rather than look offended, Jeremy appeared amused. “Touché. And yet I’ve no intention of marrying, either, so my point remains.”
“So you say,” Diana said, sounding skeptical. “But need I remind you that you are a marquess? At some point, you’ll have to produce an heir.”
Jeremy shrugged. “I’ve a cousin who I’ve no doubt would be quite pleased to inherit. He has a very fertile wife, if I recall.”
Diana tossed her head impatiently. “Don’t be absurd. Of course you’ll marry.”
Jeremy shrugged again, and James was fairly certain he was doing so merely to irritate Diana. “If you say so. I’ve yet to meet a debutante I didn’t find insufferable, so you’ll forgive me for remaining unconvinced.”
“You knew me when I was a debutante,” Diana said through gritted teeth.
“Did I?” Jeremy asked in mock surprise. “Oh, I do believe you’re right.” He pointedly did not apologize, nor did he amend his previous statement.
Diana took a deep breath, in the manner of a parent dealing with a particularly stubborn toddler. “I’ll wager you’ll be married within the year. I could find you a bride in three snaps.”
Jeremy laughed out loud, and James suspected that Jeremy and Diana had entirely forgotten the presence of the rest of the group, who were observing this interaction with some interest. “That would be money in my pocket, Lady Templeton.”
“Then you’ll take the wager?” Diana asked, a steely glint in her eye, and, seeing the alarmed look on Penvale’s face at this, it suddenly struck James that Jeremy might be in over his head for once. It was rather enjoyable to witness. “And you’ll allow me to send a parade of marriageable misses in your direction?”
“Why not?” Jeremy asked blithely. “I somehow think I’ll be able to resist the temptation. What shall we make the bet?”
Diana paused, and James wondered for a brief moment if she was going to affect ladylike hesitation to deal with something so sordid as money.
“One hundred pounds.” James blinked; that sum would pay the annual salaries of half of his household staff, for Christ’s sake. He was beginning to wonder if Diana and Jeremy weren’t taking this a bit far.
“Done,” Jeremy said briskly, then extended his hand. “Shall we shake on it?”
Diana appeared momentarily startled—James was quite certain that no one had ever attempted to shake her hand before—but she took Jeremy’s proffered hand.
“I shall spend my winnings on a glorious wedding gift for you,” she said.