* * *
Felicia walked out of the ballroom in search of a moment’s quiet, and as she meandered into the Waverlys’ drawing room she gasped.
Scott was just getting off one knee, and Felicia squealed and then joyfully exclaimed, “Oh, I am a wretch to have walked in on you! I knew that Scott had applied to your father, dearest, but I did not realize … oh, do forgive me … I was looking for a little quiet …”
Becky came forward and shoved her hand out in front of her. “We are engaged!”
Felicia hugged her fiercely. Scott had told her that he had applied to Becky’s father for permission to marry Becky and that the squire had heartily agreed.
“We must tell Daffy at once. She will be overjoyed—”
“No, Felicia. This night is yours. Ours will come,” Becky said softly. “Now go on … you had better get back before people come looking and find us all huddled here.”
“Yes, yes, of course, you need some privacy,” Felicia said and hugged them both before turning on her heel and hurrying out.
* * *
Becky waited only long enough for her friend to leave before saying, “Now, I am off to dance with the duke.”
“Are you, precious?” Scott asked, not unreasonably, considering he had rather thought she would remain a bit longer at his side, “Why?”
“Because, dearest, I adore Felicia, but she does not seem to know just how to manage her own affairs, though she thinks she does. Neither does the duke, you see, and this nonsense has gone on long enough. ’Tis time someone—namely me—handled it … him … her.”
He took her hand and led her down the hall and back to the ballroom. She spied the duke chatting with some friends and, with a wink at Scott, moved off towards her prey.
“Dance with me, Your Grace,” she said softly to him as she pulled on his sleeve for his attention.
“With the greatest of pleasure … ah, a waltz,” he said and smiled fondly at her. “This, however, will be our second dance of the evening. Are you not concerned about the gossipmongers?”
She laughed. “Poor dears, might as well give them something to chew on.”
He took her hand and led her onto the floor as she got her words and thoughts in order. She had to speak without offending, without overstepping. Could she? Facts needed to be presented to him in such a way as to make him see that his present course would end in heartache for himself as well as for Felicia. Did he not see that? No, of course he didn’t’. He thought he was being honorable … How could he when he had already been dishonorable with Felicia? This almost made her giggle at herself. Felicia had confided about her night with the duke, which of course happened when neither knew who the other was.
Finally, she said, “I have come to know you … and Felicia very well.”
“Y-y-es?”
“Enough to understand that she knows her own mind … and heart.”
“Yes?” he answered with a question, a frown descending over his handsome face.
“I know her, really know her, and it is next to impossible to move her from a goal once she has set it.”
“Your point, my dear?”
She almost stomped her foot but managed to keep her thoughts in line and continued, “My point, well, she will choose her own husband when she is ready to do so, and she will never marry anyone she is not in love with, and as of this moment, she is in love and has made her choice.”
“What are you saying?”
“Thick, you are so very thick, Your Grace. How can such a knowing man can be so blind? She doesn’t want any of the puppies constantly showing up at Waverly. She doesn’t want Reinhart. She has had her pick for quite six weeks now and has made her choice.”
He seemed to blanch under Becky’s intense gaze. It appeared he was worried and that her words had made him think Felicia might actually be in love with someone else. He said, “Who is it? How is it I have not been told about him?”
“Oh my word! Can it be that you really don’t know?” Becky was, in fact, flabbergasted.
“I am not sure that—”
“Stop it! Listen to me now, for it is evident you have not been listening to her! She knows her mind. She is not infatuated but in love, and your present course will ruin two people with one fell swoop!”