“I knew that he was more than mildly interested, but I never dreamed he would actually come up to scratch … and then, Lady Jersey said you would be refused vouchers to Almack’s because of your recent hoydenish behavior … That awful woman never liked me—I daresay she was looking for the chance to … but never mind, all will soon be well.”
“Jersey said she would refuse me entrée to Almack’s?” Cherry returned on a hushed note. She always thought the Haute Ton hostess liked her.
“No, no, not Sarah but the other one.”
“Princess Esterhazy? Stiff-rumped—”
“And that is another thing—your language. You spout terms like any man—stiff-rumped, indeed.”
“Well, I don’t care about Almack’s anyway,” Cherry answered.
“Then why are you pouting? This won’t do. You shan’t be admitted there this season, you dreadful girl. However, all is not lost. You will be married to the catch of the century, and they just might change their minds about you yet. No matter, you will be busy enough this season with your new life.”
“Married?” Cherry jumped to her dainty feet. “I won’t! No—what are you talking about?” Had she indicated any partiality for any of her suitors? No, she had not. How could her stepmother do this? It was absurd. She had refused no less than five offers in the past eight months. What then—this offer had to be from a virtual stranger. Who could have applied for her hand?
“Oh, but my girl, you will be married, and one day you will thank me for taking this high-handed method of settling you comfortably just when you were on the brink of scandal.”
“Mama, I don’t know what you are talking about. I must tell you that I have no intention whatsoever of marrying where my heart has not thrown in the towel, and I must advise you that my heart is very much my own.”
“And still you will be married, my darling, and he is just the man to set you to rights,” Lady Elton returned gently but firmly.
“The devil you say!” her wayward stepdaughter retorted in just the style her stepmama deplored.
“Now that is precisely what I mean.” Lady Elton sighed. “You cannot go about using expressions like that one. It is most unbecoming.”
“And it is not becoming to marry a man I have never seen!” Cherry was now desperately wringing her hands. Her mama was talking absurdities, and she found it all incredible.
“His lordship is an exceptional man. He is handsome. He is wealthy beyond imagination, with a family name that dates back to—”
“What do I care for that? Mama, you are asking me to marry a man I have never met!” Cherry, now pacing frantically, screeched.
“Yes, dear, but often those matches turn out very comfortably.”
“I don’t want comfort!” Cherry snapped. “I want love … passion …”
“That may come as well. When your dear father proposed to me, I scarcely knew him … but after we were married, all those things came—”
“No, Mama … I want those things first!”
“Cheryl, you know nothing—”
“I know I won’t do this,” she snorted.
“You will meet him, and this will be done. Darling, I rather think you will even like him immediately. He is most charming and has experience enough to—”
“Ah! No doubt he is ancient.”
“Not quite ancient.” Lady Elton’s tone was dry. “Eight and twenty, and you, my dear, are one and twenty … nearly past your prime. You are certainly past your first bloom and still on the town. It is, considering your exquisite looks and dowry, most odd.”
“Odd? It is what I want,
and I am very willing to remain single forever. Mama, this is completely ridiculous.”
“No, darling, it is not ridiculous. I don’t know exactly what prompted him to offer for you, for quite honestly, he has never seen you either … but offer he has, and I have accepted.”
Cherry’s mouth dropped, and it took a moment for her to recoup for the attack. “Indeed!”
“Dearest daughter, don’t you know that I fell in love with you even before I did with your father? I want the best for you, and believe me, this is. Some of the best marriages are created in this fashion.”