Fairest of Them All (Marriage by Fairytale Book 4)
Page 17
Tabitha’s eyes lit up. “Yes, I would.”
“Sit back down, and I’ll get the fans.”
Excited, Tabitha hurried to sit on the settee. With a chuckle, Viola went to get the fans. Once Tabitha decided to open up to someone, she was a very likable young lady. And she had no doubt a gentleman would soon come along who could appreciate her.
Chapter Sixteen
Three weeks later, Viola sat in a chair on the outskirts of the ballroom while Tabitha danced. So far, Tabitha had acquired two suitors, and while the afternoon visits she’d had with them had gone much better than the one with the Duke of Edmondstone, Viola had the sinking sensation neither one would end up marrying Tabitha because Tabitha seemed to be bored with both of them.
Fortunately, both suitors were here this evening, and they had asked to have two dances with her. Viola had made sure to mark them down on the dance card. Perhaps it might be this evening that one of the suitors might say something that amused Tabitha.
Viola had to remind herself that Tabitha was only a few weeks into the Season. There was still plenty of time to find a suitable match. She didn’t need to panic. Most ladies enjoyed being pursued for a while before they finally said yes to a proposal. It was something to anticipate. Even Viola had hoped to engage in that game when she started her first Season.
But it didn’t seem that Tabitha was even playing hard to get. She just wasn’t interested.
And that could be a problem. Was it possible that her lack of interest in the Season could lead her to spinsterhood? Viola didn’t think Evander would be happy with that. But he wanted Tabitha to find someone she could fall in love with. What happened if she didn’t fall in love with anyone? Would it be better to marry a good gentleman for convenience than to be a spinster? Viola knew the Ton would say yes, but what would Evander say?
Viola shook the thoughts from her mind. No. She must not go through all of this. There was still time. Tabitha had plenty of time to choose someone. Viola must not get impatient. She must not give up hope.
The music came to a stop, so she directed her attention back to Tabitha. Tabitha was heading over to the table to get something to drink when a gentleman approached her. Viola’s eyebrows rose in interest. This was a new one. Tabitha hadn’t met him yet. He was with an older lady, whom Viola guessed to be his mother or aunt. He was probably a couple of years older than Tabitha, and he had a certain boyish charm about him. Perhaps this might be the one who’d obtain Tabitha’s interest.
Unfortunately, after speaking with him for only a minute, Tabitha glanced her way and put her fan up to her left cheek. Viola sighed. That signal meant that she wanted Viola to intervene so that she could get away from him. So, this particular gentleman didn’t have a chance with her, either.
Viola didn’t know whether to envy Tabitha or scream. It must be nice to have gentlemen coming over to get a moment of one’s time. Tabitha, however, wasn’t even going to let the conversation go on in order to give him a fair chance. There was nothing she could have learned about him in a minute that made sense for her to reject him.
However, Viola had promised she’d help her, so she got up and walked over to them.
“Lord Edon always has the best music at his balls,” the lady standing next to the gentleman was saying.
“Yes,” the gentleman agreed. “I just returned from Italy, and even with the symphonies there, it’s hard to match the sophistication of the talent in this room.”
Impressed, Viola’s eyes grew wide. This was a gentleman who had been to another country? Imagine the delightful stories he could tell Tabitha about it! Since neither the gentleman nor the lady had seen her yet, Viola shot Tabitha a look that implored her to give the gentleman more time.
Tabitha just tapped her cheek with the fan to emphasize that she didn’t want to continue talking to him.
Resigned to what she must do, Viola stepped in front of them. “I hope I’m not intruding. I’m the Duchess of Sutherton, and I’m Lady Tabitha’s chaperone.”
“It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Your Grace,” the lady said. “I’m Lady Randalson, and this is my son. We were just commenting on Lord Edon’s fine taste in music.”
“I don’t suppose Lady Tabitha has any openings in her dance card, does she?” the lady’s son asked with undeniable hope in his voice.
“I’m afraid her dance card is filled up,” Viola said.
At least that was the truth. The next thing they asked, however, required her to lie.
“Perhaps I might be able to stop by for a visit in the next couple of days then?” the gentleman asked.
Viola glanced once more at Tabitha and saw Tabitha tap her cheek with the fan. “I wish I could say yes, but we’re so busy right now with the many activities going on that we barely have time to have a meal at home.”
Doing her best to hide her wince, Viola offered them an apologetic smile. She hated lying. Really, she did. And it was even worse when this gentleman was both attractive and polite. Also, she could see how well he and his mother got along. It was nice when a mother wanted her son to marry a respectable young lady. Tabitha was wasting a marvelous opportunity, and there wasn’t anything she could do about it.
“That’s a shame,” the gentleman said. “Perhaps we’ll cross paths again when you’re not so busy.”
Viola managed to give a polite response.
When the mother and son left to seek out another lady to talk to, Tabitha breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you for saving me from them.”
Turning her attention to Tabitha, she asked, “Why didn’t you want to give him a chance? He seemed like a nice gentleman.”
“It wasn’t him I worried about. It was her.”
“Her? The mother?”
Tabitha nodded. “She was holding onto him as if she owned him.”
“She was only holding his arm. It’s not uncommon for that to happen.”
“It was the way she was holding his arm. She’s too protective of him. She’ll never let him have a normal marriage.”
Viola glanced back at Lady Randalson. From where she was standing, the lady seemed fine. She turned back to Tabitha. “How can you tell all of that simply by looking at her?”
“I remember when my mother married my step-father,” Tabitha said. “His mother was holding him by the arm the exact same way when he married my mother. My mother commented on how strange it was that she couldn’t seem to let go of her son even though he was a grown gentleman. There were a couple of times when I overheard my step-father arguing with his mother. His mother didn’t like all the attention he gave my mother. It caused problems between him and my mother, too. I’m not going to have the same kind of marriage they did.”
Well, when Tabitha put it like that, Viola supposed it was best if Tabitha didn’t have to worry about a mother-in-law who couldn’t let her son be independent of her. Every wife should have first place in her husband’s life.
“All right,” Viola relented. “I can see why you didn’t want to entertain a courtship with Lady Randalson’s son. But you will give other gentlemen a fair chance, won’t you? Not all mothers are domineering. Some just want their sons to be happily married. Because of that, they might seem a little eager.”
“I can tell the difference between a gentleman who is free to make his own decisions and one whose mother makes those decisions for him. I’m not a dunce.”
“I didn’t mean to imply you were a dunce. You’re an intelligent young lady. I just worry you’ll be so picky that you’ll end up like I did.”
“Was it really so terrible for you as a spinster?”
“It was lonely. I know I had my aunt, brother, and sisters, but there are some things only a husband and children can give you. You should make sure not having a husband is something you really want before you turn down all of your suitors. You only get one life to pursue the things that will fulfill you. I’m much happier now than I’ve ever been. Even as strange as things are with this curse everyo
ne believes in, I’m grateful to have you and your step-father in my life.”
After a moment, Tabitha said, “I’ll make sure I really don’t want to be with a gentleman before I reject him.”
Viola didn’t like the exact way she’d worded that. It was almost as if she was looking for reasons to reject her suitors. “I would rather have you think of this as an opportunity to give your suitors a chance.”
“I’m dancing with all of the gentlemen you’ve written down on my dance card. I am giving all of them a chance.”
Yes, Viola supposed when Tabitha looked at it like that, she was.
“I believe my next dance is coming up,” Tabitha said.
Viola pulled the card from her pocket and then took her to the next gentleman she was to dance with.
***
The next morning, Viola decided to go to the kitchen so she could speak with the cook. Up to now, she hadn’t had a conversation with anyone but the maids, the butler, and the footman. The maids and footman kept everything they said to very short sentences. But she wanted to bring her aunt and sisters over to meet Tabitha, and because of that, she needed to speak with the cook.
As soon as she entered the kitchen, the maid gasped and dropped the head of lettuce she’d been cutting. The only other person in the room was the cook, and he stared at Viola as if he was looking at a ghost. The maid quickly turned her gaze from Viola and did the sign of the cross.
Viola should have expected this kind of reaction. Choosing to ignore it, she said, “I wish to have three guests over for a dinner party, and I’d like to discuss the menu.”
The cook swallowed then cleared his throat. “I’ll make anything you wish, Your Grace.”
Pretending she didn’t notice the way the maid was scooting toward the door, Viola said, “My family loves brown onion soup, goose with apples and prunes, and apricot ice cream. Can you make those?”
He nodded. “Yes, I can.” He straightened the apron he was wearing. “I will.”
“I’ll leave the other items on the menu up to you unless you know Lady Tabitha would like something.”
He nodded again, and it was then she realized his hands were shaking. Oh for goodness’ sake! She didn’t think it was possible that she could frighten anyone more than the maids, but apparently, she could.
Hiding her dismay, she thanked him and left the kitchen to relieve him of his distress. The maid was nowhere in sight. In fact, none of the servants were in sight. They must have all run to hide in their quarters.
This was absurd. Wasn’t it about time they overcame their fear of her? Was it really going to take an entire year before they realized there was no curse that was going to kill her?
She passed by the den and heard a chuckle. Surprised, she stopped and turned back to the room. Tabitha was hunched over a book in a chair by the window. She put her hand over her mouth and chuckled again.
Glad to see Tabitha enjoying herself, Viola entered the room. “What are you reading?”
Tabitha jerked up and slipped the book behind her back. “I didn’t hear you come in.”
Viola’s eyebrows rose in concern. “I suppose not since you would have hidden that book from me much sooner if you had.”
Tabitha’s face turned a bright shade of red. “It’s nothing.”
No, it wasn’t nothing. If it was nothing, Tabitha wouldn’t be so alarmed right now. Viola walked up to her and held her hand out. “I want to see it.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to know what inappropriate book you’re wasting your time on.”
“It’s not inappropriate. It’s just not something you’d like.”
“The reason I wouldn’t like it is because it is inappropriate.”
“I’m old enough to marry,” Tabitha argued. “I can make my own decisions on what I can and can’t read, and I don’t need to answer to you for it.”
“I’m your chaperone. That gives me every right to know what you’re reading. This could end up hindering you from finding a good husband.”
Tabitha shook her head in disbelief. “What I read has nothing to do with the kind of husband I’ll get.”
“It can. Just look at how the joke you told the Duke of Edmondstone worked out.”
“That joke was from a cartoon. This is a book.”
Viola let out an exasperated sigh and gestured for her to show her the book.
After a long moment, Tabitha finally sighed and handed it to her.
Viola saw it was the Complete Collection of Genteel and Ingenious Conversation. She recalled the day the butler had mentioned this book when they were practicing for Viola’s visit with the Duke of Edmondstone. Her jaw dropped. “This is the book that makes fun of noblemen.”
“It doesn’t make fun of them. It only points out the idiotic things they do.”
Viola shot her a pointed look. “Which is making fun of them.”
“If those noblemen wouldn’t do idiotic things, the author wouldn’t point it out.”
Viola didn’t know what to say to that. As much as she hated to admit it, there were some people, even those highly respected in the Ton, who did silly things from time to time. But still, she couldn’t stand by and encourage Tabitha to read about it.
Finally, she settled for saying, “While you have a decent argument, I can’t allow this. Titled gentlemen can be sensitive when it comes to things of this nature. Your goal is to marry one of them. That goal is more important than reading books like this.”
Tabitha groaned. “I knew you’d say that. Why do you think I didn’t want to show it to you?”
“Finding a husband is more important. You’ll thank me when you’re married and have children.” She tucked the book under her arm to hide the title in case any of the servants happened to pass by. “I’m going to return it to the owner. I’m assuming the owner is the butler. Am I right?”
“His name is Allen.”
“I realize that, but you don’t need to think of him so informally. Does the book belong to him?”
With a heavy sigh, she nodded.
“Very well. I will return it to him at once,” Viola said. “Meanwhile, you would be better off reading any of the books in this room.”
Tabitha grimaced. “They’re all boring.”
“They’re educational. They tell you something about Parliament and important people from the past. They could provide you with ideas on what to discuss with your suitors.”
Though Tabitha didn’t seem excited, she went over to the books.
Relieved, Viola turned and headed out of the den. She found the butler coming down the hallway with a covered tray in his hands.
“Do you have a moment?” Viola asked him.
“I do if the matter won’t take long,” he replied. “I have to take lunch to His Grace.”
What a good idea. “Do you think he’ll mind if I do that instead? I’d like to talk to him.”
“I’m sure he’ll be more than happy to let you into the attic, but I should carry this. You are, after all, the mistress here.”
“I’m glad you mentioned that because I’m concerned about something.” She took the book from under her arm and showed it to him. “Lady Tabitha shouldn’t be reading things like this. It’ll only give her ideas on how to make fun of potential suitors.”
A blush crept up his face. “I meant no harm in letting her borrow that. She asked, and I thought it would be all right.”
“I know you didn’t mean any harm in letting her borrow it. If she was already married, I wouldn’t even take it from her. I just worry that this will hinder her from getting a suitable husband. She made a joke about a nobleman she saw in a comic when the Duke of Edmondstone was here, and we haven’t heard a thing from him since. I worry she’ll let something slip from what she’s read in this book the next time a titled gentleman comes to pay her a visit.”
“I understand, Your Grace, and I won’t let her borrow anything like that again. You have my sincerest apologies.”
“You aren’t going to be hard on Lady Tabitha, are you? It’s my fault she even found out about the book.”
“All I did was tell her to read books more appropriate for the conversations she’ll have with titled gentlemen. She’s a good lady. I know she only wants to laugh, but now isn’t the right time for humor like this.” She glanced at the book. “I’ll give this to you after we get to the attic.”
He nodded and followed her up to the stairs.
When they reached the attic door, she gave her series of knocks and added, “I’m with the butler. He’s brought you your lunch. I only wish to speak with you for a few minutes. I won’t get in the way of your meal.”
After a moment, the sliver of light under the door was extinguished. A series of footsteps came from the other side and then the door opened.
“Where’s the tray?” Evander asked.
“Behind me,” Viola said.
She entered the attic and waited until she heard the butler give him the tray. She heard Evander move across the room before she heard the sound of the tray settling onto a desk. It was amazing he knew exactly how to do that in the dark. But he was used to this room and the darkness that went with it.
Viola took the moment to turn toward the doorway. “I’m holding out the book. Can you find it?” she asked the butler.
His hand brushed against the book before he took it. “Again, I apologize. I meant no harm.”
“I know. I hold no ill will toward you,” she assured him.
It wasn’t until the butler shut the door of the attic and she could hear him descending the stairs that Evander asked, “Has he done something inappropriate?”
She turned toward his voice in the darkness. “No. Well, not really. I can’t blame him. Tabitha found out he has a book that paints nobility in an unflattering light, and she asked him to let her read it. He’s the butler, and she’s our step-daughter. He probably thought he had to say yes.” She let out a frustrated sigh. “I don’t know what to do. I’ve taken Tabitha to balls, I’ve arranged for her to meet the best available gentlemen I can find, and I’ve taught her what to say and do when they come by to visit. She has no trouble getting suitors. Gentlemen practically line up for a chance to come here. But she hasn’t expressed an interest in a single one. There’s something about each one she finds fault with. Sometimes I think she says something to upset them just so they won’t come back for a second visit.”