“Please enjoy yourself. We have all night.”
When the earl kissed the back of her hand again, tingles traveled up her arm.
“Until then, Miss Gryphon.”
As Augustus hastened away to find Juliet, Stephanie took herself to task for momentary pangs of jealousy. Her association with the earl was certainly too new for her to feel possessive…and yet it was difficult not to envy the close relationship he had with Juliet. Even so, her friend had never given her any reason for concern. Not only were any ill feelings on her part disloyal, but petty besides. She would be more confident in herself and leave the darker impulses to lesser beings.
As she approached her father, she had a closer look at his companions. The physical resemblance between the two gentlemen was marked. Horatio glanced up and beckoned her closer. “Lord and Lady Kesselbury, allow me to present your niece, Stephanie.”
“Uncle William and Aunt Zinna?” A smile sprang to Stephanie’s lips. “I’d no idea you would be here this evening! I’m so delighted to meet you at long last.”
Her aunt tittered. “Forgive me, but what a dreadful accent! Cody, at least, manages to sound civilized.”
Stephanie’s good opinion of the woman evaporated instantly and she had to bite back an impertinent remark.
“Now, dearest, we mustn’t make the girl feel self-conscious,” Lord Kesselbury said. “After all, she’s attracted the attention of Lord Elbourne, just as she is.”
“Thank you, Uncle William.”
The man smiled at her. “If you’re not engaged for the next dance, my dear, would you do me the honor?”
“The honor would be mine, sir.”
He led her to the dance floor for a waltz. As the music began, she glanced around, hoping to see Augustus and Juliet. The two had taken their places nearer the orchestra, and seemed to be sharing some sort of joke.
Kesselbury followed her gaze. “Poor Miss Beaucroft.”
Stephanie was puzzled. “Why do you say that? Juliet is a dear friend of mine.”
“I’d renounce that relationship if I were you. Didn’t you know she was supposed to marry the earl?”
“What on earth do you mean? She’s never been engaged.”
“No, no, there was no formal announcement. Nevertheless, everyone expected the couple to become engaged by the end of the Season. Ask anyone at all and they’ll tell you as much.”
His words grasped her lungs and squeezed them until she could scarcely draw breath. It couldn’t be true. Her mind sifted through recent events as she tried—and failed—to refute her uncle’s assertions. On Rotten Row, Juliet had been visibly shaken. She’d said she was worried about a lost dog, but what if that was a lie to cover her disappointment? What if she’d just learned Augustus was to marry Stephanie, and her heart was broken? After all, if the earl had never heard of Hamlet, what were the chances the dog existed?
Her uncle seemed oblivious to her mortification. “If I were you, I’d secure Lord Elbourne as soon as you can, and take an extended honeymoon someplace exotic and beautiful. If you can distract him from Miss Beaucroft long enough, I’m certain he’ll fall in love with you in no time.”
“Forgive me, but I must have some air.”
Stephanie fled the ballroom, hastened down the hall, and emerged onto the patio. To her surprise and relief, her brother was leaning against the stone balustrade, staring out over the garden. “Cody!” As he turned to face her, she ran into his arms and burst into tears.
Juliet and Augustus had not been dancing long when he froze, mid-step. She glanced up at him in alarm. “What’s wrong, Augustus?”
“Miss Gryphon just ran from the ballroom, in some sort of distress.”
Juliet’s eyes widened. “We must go after her at once.”
“Yes.”
Augustus deftly steered them to the outside of the dance floor, where they melted into the crowd. She followed him to the hallway, but Stephanie was nowhere to be seen. Juliet noticed a footman standing at attention just outside the ballroom.
“Did you see a young lady rush past a few moments ago?”
The servant pointed toward the patio. “She went outside.”
Juliet fretted as she and Augustus hastened down the hall. “I wonder what happened?”
“I can’t imagine. She and I were getting along splendidly before.”
“I’m sure it has nothing to do with you, Augustus.”
When they emerged onto the patio, they discovered Stephanie sobbing in her brother’s protective embrace. Juliet rushed over to touch her friend’s shoulder.
“What’s wrong?”
To her utter shock, Stephanie turned on her. “Why didn’t you tell me you were in love with Lord Elbourne! I feel like a complete fool!”
Juliet exchanged a bewildered glance with Augustus before responding. “But I’m not in love with him. What would make you think so?”
“That’s not what I heard! You two were supposed to be engaged and then I came along and spoiled everything. I’d never consider a man who’s in love with you!”
Out of Stephanie’s view, Cody grimaced and rolled his eyes skyward.
Augustus intervened. “Miss Gryphon, I love Juliet, but I’m not in love with her. I swear it, on my honor as a gentleman.”
Stephanie turned her tearstained face toward Juliet. “And you? Don’t bother to deny it. I know you told a falsehood about Hamlet to cover up your broken heart.”
“I do deny it. I feel the same way about Augustus as he feels about me! We’re dear friends, and that’s all there is to it.”
“I don’t believe you.”
Juliet became desperate. “I’m not in love with him because my affections are engaged by someone else!”
“Who?”
“I-I can’t say his name. Not just yet.”
“Why not? Is he another figment of your imagination, like Hamlet?”
When Juliet gave Cody a supplicating look, he cleared his throat. “Miss Beaucroft doesn’t wish to tell you the name, but I will. We’re in love. I’ve proposed to her, but she hasn’t yet given me her answer.”
He held out his hand to Juliet, which she took with a rush of gratitude. Nothing could be permitted to come between Stephanie and Augustus…even if it meant she was forced to agree to a ruse which meant certain disaster for her.
“I love your brother quite desperately, Stephanie, but I didn’t want to say so. I thought you’d be angry.” Juliet met Cody’s gaze. “I want to marry him.”
He smiled. “Thank heavens.”
Cody pulled her into his arms and pressed a kiss to her forehead, which she thought was a nice touch. Nevertheless, shocked silence ensued.
“This is stupid!” Stephanie blurted out finally. “You hardly know one another!”
Cody chuckled. “Didn’t you say with certain people you feel as if you’d known them before? That’s how it is with Juliet and me. We were drawn together almost instantly.”
Augustus pressed a handkerchief into Stephanie’s hands. As she dried her eyes, she still seemed skeptical. “You’re quite serious?”
Juliet sighed happily as she relaxed against Cody. “Oh, yes.”
Stephanie seemed contrite. “I’ve overreacted, then, and I apologize. I shouldn’t have allowed my uncle to upset me.”
Cody stiffened. “Uncle William is responsible for hurting your feelings?” A muscle rippled in his cheek. “Father said he might try to cause trouble of some sort. He’s upset about being disinherited.”
Stephanie frowned. “It’s not as if we asked Grandpapa to change his will.”
Augustus reached for Stephanie’s hand. “Perhaps now would be a good time for you to introduce me to your father. We’ll show Lord Kesselbury he can’t come between us.”
She gave him a beaming smile and tugged him toward the house. Before Augustus disappeared from the patio he gave Cody and Juliet a surreptitious nod and silently mouthed a thank you.
As soon as they were alone, Juliet stepped away
from Cody and took a deep breath to calm her nerves. “I can’t believe that worked.”
“Lord Elbourne seems aware of what we are up to.”
“Yes. He knows me too well to believe I would rush into an engagement with you.”
“That sounded suspiciously like an insult.”
“No, I just meant I would never rush into an engagement with a relative stranger.” Juliet paused. “Thank you for your help just now. It was rather gracious of you, considering my adamant refusal earlier.”
“My sister’s happiness is my main concern, but I’m glad if I can help you as well. It seems to me that far too many people in society are eager to relish the misery of others.”
“Perhaps it’s because they are miserable people.”
“I imagine you’re right.” He gave her a crooked grin. “So, we’re engaged. Would you like to seal it with a kiss?”
He leaned in so close she caught a whiff of his cologne. Her knees went slightly weak at his masculine scent, but she forced herself to push him away. “Don’t joke! This is actually going to be a trifle messy. You’ll have to speak with my father and can’t predict how he’ll respond. My mother, on the other hand, will probably have a fit.”
“Because I’m a Gryphon?”
“I shan’t lie to you; she detests your cousin, and by extension, your family. In addition, she desperately wants me to marry an aristocrat.”
“Perhaps someday you will. In the meantime, however, you’re stuck with me.”
“I wouldn’t put it that way. My mother and I don’t share the same standards.”
“So theoretically speaking, you’d consider me eligible?”
“Not entirely. Any husband of mine should plan to keep his boots on English soil.”
“That rules me out.”
“Exactly.”
“Well…are you ready to act the happy couple?” Cody held out his arm. “Lead me to your father, then, so I may do the deed properly.”
As Juliet laid her hand on his sleeve, she giggled. “This feels terribly wicked.”
“And yet, you laugh.” He grinned. “I suppose that makes me a bad influence.”
In the hallway outside the smoking room, Mr. Beaucroft peered at Cody. “What did you say?”
“I realize it’s rather sudden, but I wish to marry your d-daughter.”
Inwardly, Juliet winced. In the face of her father’s towering presence, Cody’s customary bravado was noticeably muted. Considering the proposal was a ruse, why was he nervous? After her father turned his attention to her, however, she felt intimidated as well.
“This was what you were hinting at in the carriage, eh?”
Cody raised a surprised eyebrow, but Juliet tried to ignore it.
“I…well, I hadn’t anticipated Mr. Gryphon’s offer tonight, exactly, but I suppose you could say I was testing the waters.”
“Your mother won’t be pleased.”
Juliet began to fear her father meant to withhold his permission. “Yes, sir. She’s made her wishes quite plain.”
A broad smile creased her father’s face and he burst out into laughter. “We’ll just have to bear up under the disapproval, won’t we?” He produced a cigar from an inner pocket and thrust it into Cody’s hands. “Let’s have a smoke. If you’re to be my son-in-law, we should get to know one another.”
Mr. Beaucroft smacked Cody good-naturedly on the back and steered him toward the smoking room. Cody managed a brief, bewildered glance at Juliet over his shoulder before he disappeared from view. Left alone once more, she decided to go in search of her mother. Although she dreaded the woman’s reaction, it was best to get it over with.
Chapter Seven
Slyboots
MRS. BEAUCROFT WAS AT THE BUFFET in the banquet room, loading a plate with bits of savory meat, roasted vegetables, and Yorkshire pudding.
“Mama, I must speak with you.”
Her mother radiated gloominess. “Oh, there you are.” She put her plate down and glanced around to make sure no one could overhear. “My worst fears have come to pass. Everyone has noticed Augustus’s marked attentions to that Gryphon girl and you’ve become a laughingstock. After I eat, I think I’ll plead a headache so we have a legitimate excuse to leave the ball. Heaven knows, it’s not far from the truth.”
“There’s no need, Mama. Mr. Cody Gryphon has proposed and I’ve accepted him.”
“What?” Mrs. Beaucroft stared. “Your father will never agree!”
“On the contrary, Papa gave him a cigar to welcome him to the family just now. I know this comes as a disappointment to you, Mama, but—”
Her mother shrieked and kissed her on both cheeks. “What a clever girl! How you managed to save the family from disgrace, I’ll never know, but I’m grateful nevertheless.” She lowered her voice. “The lad has no title but he’s as rich as Croesus!” She paused. “I’ll just have to get used to his unfortunate appearance.”
As Mrs. Beaucroft hastened off to tell her friends the news, Juliet was taken aback. Not once had her mother asked her about her feelings or questioned why she’d rushed into an engagement. The lack of curiosity was particularly strange considering Kitty had also used an engagement ruse not so long ago. For that matter, her father had seemed to accept the arrangement with uncharacteristic equanimity. Was her mother was more interested in social status and her father more concerned about money than either of them cared about her happiness? Inwardly, Juliet sighed. Although her parents couldn’t possibly know it now, none of the Beaucrofts would get want they wanted with this supposed engagement. In the end, she wouldn’t become Cody Gryphon’s wife, and that was the saddest thing of all.
Lady Lovejoy was gliding toward her with such an overjoyed expression, Juliet knew she must have heard about the engagement.
“Why you slyboots! Here I was, thinking you were going to marry Lord Elbourne when it was Mr. Gryphon who caught your eye. The Beaucroft girls certainly have a propensity for sudden engagements.”
“Er…sometimes when you meet the right man, you just know it.”
“How terribly romantic. Have you any idea when you might marry?”
“None, I’m afraid. Since the Season is over, however, I’m sure Mr. Gryphon—Cody—and I will have many opportunities to discuss it.”
“I’m sure you’ll want to confer with your sister.” She frowned. “I still feel embarrassed about taking Kitty’s engagement for a ruse, but at least I can make up for it by giving you a party.”
“That’s terribly kind, but wholly unnecessary. I can assure you, no hard feelings exist whatsoever, and Kitty holds you in the highest regard.”
“Let me know when you’ve set a date, and I’ll host an engagement party.”
“Thank you, Lady Lovejoy. I—”
Juliet and the countess were suddenly surrounded by fellow debutantes. As the girls began to lob questions at her about Mr. Gryphon, Lady Lovejoy gave her a little wink and glided away.
“I can’t believe you’re the first of us to be engaged!”
“And in your first Season, too!”
“I never thought I’d see a man as handsome as Lord Gryphon—until his cousin arrived.”
“When did Mr. Gryphon ask you to marry him, and how?”
As Juliet answered her friends’ questions, she was filled with appreciation for Cody’s rescue. How vastly different the evening would have unfolded had he not done so.
The Ferndale ball lasted until three o’clock, although only the youngest and hardiest souls stayed the entire time. Mr. Beaucroft dozed off in a library wing chair, and it took several minutes to locate him when it was time to leave. With only a few hours of sleep, Juliet ate her breakfast bleary-eyed and barely awake the next morning. Her father was scarcely any better, but Mrs. Beaucroft was effervescent and buoyant from what she considered to be her triumph the evening before.
Mr. Beaucroft finally gave his wife a quelling look. “You’d think it was your engagement with the way you’re carrying on.”
A raft of letters arrived just then, which the butler carried into the dining room on a large silver tray. Mrs. Beaucroft gave the entire lot a cursory examination.
“The usual pour prendre congé notes, of course. Juliet, you’ll have to help me write ours after breakfast. We’re planning to put you and Miss Gryphon on the train to Grovebrook tomorrow. Your father and I will depart for the country the day after.”
“Yes, Mama.”
“There are quite a few letters to you this morning. I imagine they’re from well-wishers on the news of your engagement. Your father will put a formal announcement in the paper before we leave town.”
Juliet glanced through her letters, pausing when she recognized the handwriting on one in particular. For a moment, she thought her eyes must be playing tricks on her.
“What has you so mesmerized?” her father asked.
“Oh, er, it’s just a letter from an old friend of mine. She left early in the Season to marry a vicar in her home town.”
“A vicar?” Mrs. Beaucroft wrinkled her nose. “She mustn’t have been promising, then. What was her name?”
“Um…Ophelia Macintosh.”
“I don’t remember her at all.”
“She wasn’t terribly memorable.” Juliet pushed back her chair. “May I be excused, Mama? I’d like to read my letters before we get started on our own correspondence.”
“Don’t take too long.”
“I won’t. I must dash off a letter to Kitty, telling her to expect me and Stephanie tomorrow afternoon. Augustus is planning to visit Grovebrook as well in a few days.”
Juliet gathered the envelopes and rushed upstairs to her bedchamber. When the door was closed, she quickly opened the letter which had seemed to burn her hand the moment she recognized the penmanship.
Dear Juliet,
You’re my only hope. I’ve been cast off by my family and have taken refuge with my great-aunt, Mrs. Agatha Darien, in Little Brambleton. Although she’s exceedingly elderly, half blind, and barely gets by, at least she hasn’t let me starve.
After all the difficulty I’ve caused your family, I’ve no right to ask for your help. But since you’ve always been a kind and decent girl, perhaps you’ll take pity on me. Will you intercede on my behalf with Lord Gryphon? Once Zachary understands he’s to be a father before the year is out, I know he’ll change his mind and marry me.
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