Midnight Bride (29 page)

"He certainly is not here because of Charles," Louisa said, patting her skin with her hand to be certain that it was as smooth as she wanted. "And I would think that Charles too gives every sign that you may be correct. If he is a true gentleman, I expect that he will do the right thing."

"He certainly forgot he was a gentleman when he entered her bedroom."

"Perhaps he had had too much to drink," Louisa said soothingly. "You know what gentlemen are like then. And he has tried to do the right thing. He has offered what reparation he can."

"Will she have him?"

Louisa looked at her cousin for a moment, her face registering her surprise. "Does she have any choice?"

"Ordinarily I would have said no, but Elizabeth has never been one to make the decisions expected. All we can do is to be certain that Lord Dunstan has his chance. If he is wise, he will convince her to marry him before he asks her the question." Lady
Ramsburg
lay back on her chaise, her face somber.

"What if the scandal begins here?"

"It will if we give it enough time. With company thin right now, we can give the gentleman a chance. She may accept him tonight, and our problems will be solved."

Louisa looked at her cousin, disbelief written on every line of her face. The room was quiet for a few moments. Then Lady
Ramsburg
said, "He is a handsome rogue, isn't he?"

Elizabeth would have agreed. No matter what her mind told her, her heart was telling her to be gracious to Dunstan, to smile at him and to encourage him. At first that evening she listened to her heart.

When the ladies entered the drawing room that evening, the two gentlemen were waiting.
Charles,
dressed in a
corbeau
-colored, double-breasted tailcoat with a deep A-shaped collar over a gold and white striped waistcoat and sage green breeches, hurried to his mother's side and gave her a kiss. Dunstan stood to one side, his eyes on Elizabeth. Dressed in a dark blue coat and buff breeches, he wore a lighter blue waistcoat embroidered in fine silk.

Elizabeth could hardly keep her eyes off him.

The blue he wore almost matched his eyes, making them brighter than ever. Even when she was not looking at him, she could feel him staring at her. Unlike the times before when she had been the center of attention, his gaze did not make her feel uncomfortable.

Their plans already made, Lady
Ramsburg
called her party to order. "Charles, you will escort Louisa and me. Dunstan, will you escort Elizabeth?"

He nodded, his face breaking into a smile. "My pleasure, Miss
Beckworth
," he said quietly, his eyes reinforcing his words. She
lay
her hand on his arm, wondering at the warmth that seemed to spread through her body.

Their journey by coach to the
Steine
was pleasant, each member of the party adding some conversation. The walk in the cool evening air, in spite of the damp, was pleasant. Strolling along, they talked. At first Dunstan and Elizabeth had walked along in a silence which neither enjoyed. Finally Dunstan asked, "Have you been enjoying your visit to Brighton?"

Elizabeth smiled and answered, explaining the entertainments that had already been given. The silence broken, they continued their conversation until suddenly they were joined by two officers. "Major, Captain," they said, Dunstan less than gracious.

"We have been looking for you, Miss
Beckworth
. Usually you are much earlier," the captain said, looking at Dunstan with a frown.

"Mama is convinced that too much salt air in the evening is making her look
hagged
," Elizabeth said. The officers laughed loudly, taking in the petite figure that seemed to radiate health and happiness. "Therefore our walks will be limited ones."

They groaned and began protesting. Almost without his being aware of what had happened, Dunstan found himself standing alone, the two officers now on either side of Elizabeth. Disgruntled, he walked over to where Charles and the other ladies were standing, visiting with friends. Introducing him, Lady
Ramsburg
brought Dunstan into their conversation. Although he laughed and talked, his eyes followed Elizabeth when he thought he was unobserved.

"What do you think of the prince's summer home, Lord Dunstan?" asked Louisa, nodding at the Marine Pavilion behind him. He turned and looked at it, his eyes assessing the rounded dome and peculiar towers that rose behind it.

"That, my
lord,
is the royal stables," Charles told him with a laugh. Lord
Ramsburg
walked up about that time, having arrived with the carriage. "I wish I could see the inside. The horses are said to live in the greatest luxury."

"And what did that cost us?" Dunstan
asked,
his face disapproving. "I suppose we did pay for it? And I thought the prince was known for his taste in art."

"Do not let the people of this town hear you disparage the prince or his construction, Lord Dunstan," Lady
Ramsburg
laughed. "To them he is a saint."

"With the money he has brought into their town, who could blame them for thinking that," Louisa
added,
her face solemn.

"Not only Brighton merchants have had their pockets lined," Lord
Ramsburg
explained. "Look at all the shops that are filled with London merchants here to take advantage of all of our custom."

Charles
laughed,
his eyes bright. "I really do not mind what the people of Brighton think of the prince. What I want to know is whether you can get us inside, George?" he asked his stepfather.

Just then
a crack
of laughter from the group surrounding Elizabeth startled everyone. Dunstan looked at the little group only a few feet away, anger in his eyes. Elizabeth was laughing, her face filled with happiness. The shawl had slipped from her shoulders. The redheaded captain, his head bent to hear what she was saying, could not keep his eyes from the creamy expanse that had been revealed. But Elizabeth was oblivious to that; her eyes danced with merriment. Dunstan took a step or two back to the group. Then Lady
Ramsburg
, reading the fury in his face, called, "Elizabeth, my dear."

Her stepdaughter was at her side immediately. "The twilight is beginning to fade and my skirts are becoming quite damp. I believe it is time to leave," Lady
Ramsburg
said clearly. The officers groaned and protested, but she would not change her mind. "Nine o'clock is late enough to be out for a walk," she said firmly as though she had not been one of the last to leave the
Steine
on many evenings.

"Do not forget that you have promised to ride with me tomorrow afternoon, Miss
Beckworth
," the major
said,
a smile in his voice. Dunstan glared at him.

The trip back to the
Ramsburgs
' summerhouse was a quiet one. Dunstan stared at Elizabeth, Charles, George and the other two ladies had little to say, and Elizabeth, having noticed Dunstan's stares, was growing angry. Fortunately, supper was waiting when they arrived.

"Charles has mentioned that you work for the government, Lord Dunstan. Are you interested in politics?" Lord
Ramsburg
asked, his face revealing his interest in the matter. After the conversation he and his wife had had earlier that evening, he was determined to evaluate the young man for himself.

"I am more interested in helping England win this war, my lord," Dunstan said, his usually pleasant face very stern. "My grandfather did not want me to serve in the army; therefore, I must do my part in other ways."

"Just like Mama. She stands in my way also," Charles said bitterly. "If I had my way, I would be traveling with Wellington now. You do think the Duke of York made the right choice for a commander, don't you, George?"

"A good choice.
Not always popular with the leaders in the Houses, but a good soldier," his stepfather agreed.

"I am tired of hearing about the army," his mother complained. Even Elizabeth had to admit that she had begun to have her doubts about the wisdom of Charles's serving abroad. "If you do not have an heir, you must not endanger your life," Lady
Ramsburg
added, beginning another of her campaigns.

"If you start your matchmaking again, Mama, I will leave," Charles said, the light of battle in his eyes. Prudently, Lady
Ramsburg
was silent. Dunstan looked from one to another, his face serene. His mind was still seething. How dare Elizabeth allow another man to look at her the way the captain had been?

When the ladies left the men to their port, retiring to the drawing room for tea, Dunstan turned to Charles. "She will never have me. Did you see how she ignored me most of the evening?"

"You just arrived. Give my sister time. I thought you wanted to court her. You cannot do that if you are glaring at her constantly," Charles said, his face serious.

"Take it slowly," Lord
Ramsburg
said, noting the somberness of their expressions. "Ladies must be given time to make up their minds." He smiled reassuringly.

"Is that what you did with Mama, George?" Charles asked, his face breaking into a wide smile. He remembered that Season well.

His stepfather laughed. "I took one look at her and decided that I must have her. Getting her to agree took time. Shall we join the ladies?' he asked.

The ladies had been discussing the gentlemen. "Do you think Lord Dunstan is handsome, Elizabeth?" Lady
Ramsburg
asked
,
her eyes fixed carefully on her task of pouring the tea.

Her stepdaughter blushed. "I suppose some people would think him handsome," she said. Her heart kept telling her that she was one of those people, but she ignored it. But she could not ignore the memory of him on the floor beside her bed, his blue eyes reflecting his surprise. She gazed dreamily into space, totally ignoring questions addressed to her.

When the gentlemen entered and Dunstan glared at her again, that dreaminess disappeared. As they played a few hands of cards later, she pointedly ignored him, taking Charles as a partner and leaving Dunstan to partner her cousin. Lord and Lady
Ramsburg
looked on indulgently as the brother and sister began to quarrel. Finally Louisa threw down her hand. "Enough," she said firmly.
"Gentlemen, good night.
Elizabeth, go to your room." The two involved in the argument looked up, their faces surprised. Then they broke into laughter.

"Were we retreating into childhood again, Louisa?" Charles asked when he could breathe again.

"You sounded as you did then. So stern," Elizabeth added, her hazel eyes twinkling. Dunstan, his sense of humor tickled, watched as she leaned over and kissed her cousin, wishing that it had been he whom she had kissed. His eyes darkened again when the shawl slipped once more.