The Courtship (Sherbrooke Brides 5)

He frowned, not looking up from her fingers. “I don’t know why I told you that. You will contrive to forget it. It is no one’s affair. Are you quite through? Your ice is melted and looks revolting.”

Helen watched him pay for their ices. When they reached the carriage, she said, “May we drive in the park, Lord Beecham?”

“Why? Haven’t you yet decided if you want to use me?”

“You are very smart. That’s it exactly.”

4

LORD BEECHAM SHOUTED up to his driver, “Babcock, to the park. Drive slowly.”

“Aye, my lord.”

They had taken a full turn when Helen leaned forward on the opposite seat. “I would very much like to walk a bit.”

Lord Beecham shouted out the window to his driver, “Babcock, pull over.”

“Aye, my lord.”

It was the middle of the afternoon, still on the early side for all the ladies and gentlemen to venture out for their social hour in the park. The sun was spilling out bits of light and warmth, Helen thought, looking up, but it was still chilly, the feel of dampness lingering.

“You just shivered. Are you too cold?” He was drawing on his gloves as he spoke.

“No, I was just thinking. You know, Lord Beecham, I have wanted to meet you for the past week.”

“But you still don’t wish to tell me why?”

“A bit more conversation, perhaps? We were speaking about women and perhaps about your uses for them.”

“My favorite species.”

The black shadow of bitterness coming through, she thought. But she said nothing, just smiled at him.

He shrugged. “Truth be told, Miss Mayberry, God set us upon this stage to play our roles and so we play them, pathetically for the most part, but we try.”

“Our roles are infinite, Lord Beecham. We may stumble and bumble about, but you are right, we do try.”

“What role are you playing now, Miss Mayberry?”

“I am Diana the Huntress.”

“And you are after my fair self. I am not certain that I wish to be caught. You are not married. I much prefer women to be married. It simplifies things.”

“Good heavens, why? Oh, I am being obtuse. You believe that an unmarried woman wants to use you only in order to marry you.”

“If a man is rich, yes, that is the way of it.”

“You are very jaded, sir. If I were to tell you, for example, that all I wished from you was your company involving only a certain activity, you would automatically disbelieve me?”

“If you are speaking of taking me as a lover, then, yes, Miss Mayberry.”

“You would be wrong, Lord Beecham.”

She saw the contempt again, the incredulity, but all he said was, “Time will tell.”

There was a bench on the side of the path. Helen sat down.

Lord Beecham leaned toward her. His eyes were brilliant, knowing. “What is your use for me, Miss Mayberry?”