The little woman grumbled and then turned her piercing gaze on Heather. “Very well, here’s my advice to you. You have already met the man who loves you. He is not obviously suitable for you, but that is on him. He tries very hard to hide his true nature.”
“Lady Withnall, if you know his name, can you not just tell us?” Dahlia asked.
“No. Heather must learn to see through all these elegant trappings and seek the true treasure that is his heart.” She waved her hand to take in their surroundings. The glimmering crystal and shining silver. The elegant ladies in their shimmering silks and the brilliant gemstones dangling from their ears and necks. “This is all I will say on the matter.”
“Why does courtship have to be so hard?” Heather muttered when they sauntered to Aunt Sophie’s side a short while later. “I don’t understand any of what Lady Withnall meant just now. I can see beyond the glitter. The Marquess of Tilbury is no prancing peacock. Do you think he will be here? I don’t see him yet.”
“It is possible he was called home, seeing as how The Invictus has run aground in his back garden.”
“Oh, do you think so? What a disappointment. Now that I wore this gown tonight, I’ll have to wait at least a fortnight before wearing it again. And it’s so pretty.”
“It’s just a gown, Heather. What matters is who you are inside and out. You are a beautiful girl with a beautiful heart. This is what counts to any man of substance. Smile, Heather. No one is prettier than you when you smile.”
“How’s this?” She put on an exaggerated grin, crossed her eyes, and lolled her tongue to the side.
“Och, pixie. That face will haunt my dreams tonight. What in blazes are ye doing?”
They both turned in surprise to find Robbie MacLauren striding toward them. “None of the Braydens were able to attend tonight, so I was sent here to watch over Dahlia.” He glanced at Heather. “Seems ye need watching, too.”
“Any news yet from Tilbury?” Dahlia asked. “I suppose it is too soon.”
“Aye, too soon. I’ll come around to Chipping Way to let ye know if I hear word. Likely the first reports will begin to arrive tomorrow afternoon. I’ll do the same for Holly. I know how worried she is about Joshua.”
Dahlia nodded. “We were thinking to stay with her for the next few days.”
“Aye, that is a splendid idea. It canno’ be easy for her. Let me know if ye do. I’d rather no’ be traipsing about town delivering the same news to all of ye.”
The dinner bell sounded, leaving no more chance for conversation. Robbie was about to escort her in when the Duke of Stoke approached. “I’ll do the honors, Captain MacLauren, since Miss Farthingale and I are to be dinner partners.” He turned to Dahlia. “My daughter will be seated across the table from us. I’m eager to have you meet her.”
Robbie offered his arm to Heather. “Come along, pixie. Seems it will be just us.”
Dahlia was curious where her sister had been placed, for the far end of the table is where she ought to have been seated, too. She was relieved to see her settled beside Robbie. On her other side was a minor nobleman, a baron whose name she could not recall. Not that it mattered. The man had no interest whatsoever in speaking to Heather and had barely sat down before he began to fawn over the woman to his right.
“MacLauren’s a good man,” the duke said, obviously noting the direction of her gaze. “He’ll look after your sister. Baron Brookings is a bore and an idiot. She’s better off being ignored by him.”
She took her seat beside the duke and found herself staring across the table at a very pretty young lady who could only be his daughter. She and the duke had the same eyes and a similar curve of the lips. Curiously, she also resembled Dahlia’s own younger sister. There was something in Lady Melinda’s aspect that reminded her of Heather.
She turned to the duke. “I understand your daughter and I are about to undertake the decorating of your home together. Apparently, we have become fast friends.”
“Fielding told you that already, did he?” He chuckled. “Yes, I thought it was a good subterfuge.”
“Your daughter does not look like a simpering idiot. She’ll understand your game immediately. What will you do if she does not like me?”
“Miss Farthingale, simply talk to her any way you feel is right. I do not want to deceive my daughter. I only wish to make her happy. I don’t suppose there are any more Braydens left to marry off?”
“I don’t think so. Ronan is the last, as far as I know. But I will inquire. They are very good men. Do you no longer care about a title?”
“You are rubbing salt in the wound,” he said with a wince. “I will admit my mistake only this once and never again. A title is preferable, of course. But no longer required. Having strong family connections will do. But nothing less. No shopkeepers, farmers, or blacksmiths. No stable hands, horse breeders, or estate managers. I will shoot any who dare come around.”
Society being as elitist as it was, she supposed the duke did not have it in him to simply accept whomever his daughter chose to love. However, he’d taken a step forward in not ruling out military men. “But soldiers are acceptable?”
He sighed. “Yes. Indeed, I regret my mistake. I suppose not every Brayden can be an earl, although three of them are.”
“I am sorry, Your Grace. I did not mean to insult you. I simply wished to be clear on the matter. I will help your daughter if I can. I think it is commendable that you care for her happiness. But surely you must be aware that if she is in love with Captain Brayden, then my presence will make matters worse, not better for her.”
“I know. But I am terribly concerned. She has shut me out completely, and I am not used to this. We have always been very close.”
The table was long but not very wide, so the duke managed to introduce them without having to shout. They were able to engage in occasional conversation across the table. Dahlia was surprised to find Lady Melinda witty and intelligent.
She liked her. Perhaps it was because of how much she really did resemble Heather. They were similar in height and build, had the same dark hair, and even had similar gestures and laughs.
So what was going on with her?
Why was she giving her father fits by behaving so secretively?
When their feast was over, Dahlia made a point of approaching her to continue their dinner conversation, even if it was considered forward of her. She knew that she risked being given the cut direct. To her surprise, Lady Melinda was actually quite friendly. “My father rarely likes anyone,” she explained. “Nor is Captain Brayden an easy one to please. If they both like you, then perhaps there is something to you, Miss Farthingale.”
“They both have only good things to say about you, Lady Melinda. Of course, it is to be expected in a doting father.”
“What is this nonsense my father has been spouting about redecorating our home? It is much the way it was when my mother was alive. I am not keen to change anything.”
Dahlia’s heart gave a little tug. How awful it must be for an only child to lose her mother. “I am so sorry for your loss. You must have loved her dearly.”
“I did. So did my father.” Sadness reflected in her eyes. “But it was a very long time ago. Almost ten years past.”