The Courtship Caper (Scandalous Miss Brightwells 6)

“He doesn’t approve.”

“How sad,” Venetia murmured, still stroking the lustrous folds of the gown she now held. “Mr Wells’s sister is...such a deserving girl. And so sweet natured.”

“You’ve met her?”

“I used to do lessons with her when my father was bailiff for old Mr Wells.”

“Really?” Fanny could not have been more surprised. “Was that Mr Wells’s idea?”

“He was kind to me when I was a child,” Venetia replied.

“And how lovely that he wanted you to be able to attend the ball tonight,” said Antoinette. “Such a dear old gentleman, as it turns out, though he seemed very forbidding to me. Even more so than old Mr Reeves.”

“Oh, he can be forbidding. And forceful,” Venetia agreed.

“Well, hopefully Miss Reeves will persuade the two old men out of their insistence if they know what is in poor Arabella’s best interests,” said Antoinette.

“Marrying Lord Yarrowby is in that girl’s interests,” Lady Indigo insisted, leaning forward. “And that is what is going to happen.”

“No, it’s not.”

Fanny wished that Antoinette was

not so...tactless at the same time as being so liberal with the truth. This should be kept secret, for now, she thought. Especially when there might still be an opportunity to persuade Arabella out of it.

But, of course, Antoinette couldn’t resist. She was now leaning in toward the old woman so Lady Indigo could hear better as she explained, “Arabella and Sebastian have been carrying on a clandestine love affair and wish to be married, but both their fathers are set against it. Old Mr Reeves has been wanting Arabella to marry Lord Yarrowby for three years now. But she has fallen madly in love with Sebastian.”

“Sebastian Wells is in love with Arabella Reeves?” Lady Indigo sounded highly unimpressed. “Lord, what’s he see in that silly chit of a gel? That’s as absurd as suggesting he’d fallen in love with...with Venetia, for goodness sake!”

It was only by chance that Fanny caught the flare of hurt and surprise in the poor girl’s eyes, and suddenly she realized what it must feel like to be forever disparaged by a harsh and exacting woman such as Lady Indigo.

“I’m sure you don’t mean that, Lady Indigo,” she protested mildly. “When Venetia is dressed for tonight’s ball, Sebastian will find Venetia just as charming a companion as he does Arabella.”

“Except that Arabella Reeves is a simpering miss, and my Venetia is as stubborn as a mule. I can’t see either would suit.” Lady Indigo’s beetling brows made no secret of her strong disapproval. “But I’ve heard Lord Yarrowby has been wanting to marry Arabella for years. He was just waiting for her to grow up, so I heard. Sounds like she never will, though if anyone needed a steady fellow like Yarrowby, it’s Arabella. Why, she and Sebastian Wells would be disastrous together. As for that young man, well! Mr Wells needs someone who’ll keep him in line. Not some giddy schoolroom miss.” She jerked her head up. “What are you doing, Venetia? Dilly-dallying about when you should be getting ready for the ball? Now, go and fetch my book of verse. Don’t think I’ll release you before you’ve read to me. I’m not so indulgent as Ladies Fenton and Quamby, you know.”

Fanny realized she and Antoinette had been dismissed. She turned with a farewell for Venetia and a smile.

After tonight, the poor girl had little prospect of happiness if she was forever at the beck and call of old Lady Indigo.

Perhaps it really would be a kindness to orchestrate a match with someone, however lowly.

Even someone like Signor Boticelli.

Chapter 14

Venetia was so used to disparagement from Lady Indigo, that her employer’s reluctant praise was at least temporary relief from her distress over having to listen—endlessly—to talk about Sebastian and Arabella.

"Lady Quamby’s maid has worked miracles with your hair, has she not?" Lady Indigo's astonishment was plain to see when Venetia curtsied before her as she was about to depart for the entertainment downstairs. "I'm not sure I was altogether wise in allowing you to gallivant about looking like that. Next you'll be telling me you've received an offer, and you know I shan't like that."

"No, Lady Indigo." Venetia inclined her head. "But that's not likely for a girl in my position." Even in the beautiful dress, she couldn’t feel beautiful—inside. No, not even with Lady Indigo’s surprising endorsement ringing in her ears.

"Indeed, you're right," Lady Indigo said comfortably, smoothing her gloves. "And your claim to anything I might possibly leave you is distant and tenuous. No young man will be prepared to wait that long. However, your loyalty will be rewarded, as you know.” She glanced up with the same warning look she always had for Venetia when reminding her what rewards were in store.

Provided Venetia remained by her side until...the very end.

Although Venetia nodded and looked suitably grateful, she didn’t really trust Lady Indigo to be true to her word. Since her nephew had died, there’d been a number of claimants to the old lady’s fortune; and Venetia had watched her play each off against the other.

She bit back any further thoughts in this direction.