Page 60 of The Marriage Wager

So she looked at Francesca, pretending to listen, but hearing not half of what she said. The smile on her face felt frozen. Lord and Lady Selbrooke remained in the small circle of conversation, which surprised Constance. She imagined that they found the exchange as stilted and uncomfortable as she did. But after a while she realized that they, too, must be hoping to avoid talking to anyone else—or to let Constance talk to anyone. She suspected that they reasoned the less said about the surprise engagement, the better their chances were of somehow disposing of the awkward matter.

Of course, marooned there with his parents and Francesca, there was no opportunity to broach the subject of ending their engagement with Dominic. She knew that she would have to wait until after the meal was over.

At last they were called in to supper, and Constance was able to leave Dominic and his parents. Of course, she was now also away from the protection of their presence, which meant that the other guests would be free to ask her questions.

She took some comfort in the fact that at least Lady Rutherford and Lady Muriel were not there; for surely they would have asked the more penetrating and embarrassing of questions. The Norton sisters would merely want to hear all the details of the engagement, and since she knew none, that would doubtless prove to be difficult, but at least with them there would be no intent to wound her.

Mr. Willoughby, much to Constance’s relief, was as polite and gentlemanly as ever, and after murmured felicitations, did not bring up the subject of the engagement again. Nor did he mention this afternoon. Sir Lucien, on her other side at the table, had clearly been instructed by his friend Francesca, for he talked wittily and at length about almost everything but the engagement.

But the gentlemen, of course, left after the meal was over, and Constance had to face the other women.

“It is so exciting!” Miss Elinor Norton said, coming up and linking her arm through Constance’s as the women trailed out of the dining room. Her sister posted herself on Constance’s other side.

“I had no idea that there was any understanding between you and Lord Leighton,” Miss Lydia added. “How long have you been engaged? How did he ask you? Did he go down on bended knee?”

Constance felt herself coloring. “Please, it isn’t really…I mean, I have known Lord Leighton for only a short time.”

“How romantic!” Elinor exclaimed, pressing a hand to her bosom. “Did you look at him and know immediately that you loved him?”

“Um, well…” Constance looked around a little desperately, wishing that Francesca or Calandra would save her.

“Oh, Elinor, you are embarrassing her,” Lydia scolded her sister. She squeezed Constance’s arm, saying, “Don’t mind Elinor. She is quite mad at the moment about weddings and betrothals.”

As Constance could see scarce a ha’penny’s difference between the two sisters’ interest, she was unsure how to respond. Finally she said, “It is really much too soon to say anything. Lord Leighton should not have brought it up.”

“A secret engagement,” Elinor contributed breathlessly.

Constance was not sure but what she was making things worse. A secret engagement sounded a little haveycavey. “Well, um, I don’t know that it was secret, exactly.”

“Well, of course your aunt and uncle knew,” Lydia offered. “Lady Woodley was telling me all about it.”

“She was?” Constance asked, rather alarmed at this news. Heaven only knew what Aunt Blanche might take it upon herself to say.

At that moment Francesca joined them, saying, “Miss Norton, you must play for us, as Lady Muriel is not with us this evening.”

The sisters were diverted momentarily from their interrogation by a discussion over which of them should play. Francesca suggested, beaming, that each of them play several tunes, adding, “And your sister may turn the pages for you.”

The girls bade Constance a quick farewell, and Francesca took her place at Constance’s side. “I am dreadfully sorry,” she apologized. “I could not get away from the Duchess. And if I offend her, I will never hear the end of it from my mother.”

Constance smiled. “You need not apologize. Indeed, I should beg your pardon for putting you in this position.”

“It will not last much longer, I hope,” Francesca said. “Once you and Dominic have a chance to confer, you will know what to say in answer to their questions.”

They sat down near the door of the music room, and Constance was relieved when Calandra came over to take a seat on her other side.

“At least we will not have to listen to Lady Muriel’s playing tonight,” Calandra remarked cheerfully.

“Or at all,” Francesca added. “I understand that she and her mother are leaving at dawn tomorrow.”

“Really?” Constance asked.

“She can hardly stay,” Calandra pointed out. “Not after what she did this afternoon. I heard Lady Rutherford talking to her when I went past their room coming down to supper.” She gave an exaggerated shiver. “I almost felt sorry for Lady Muriel. Her mother was shrieking at her like a fishwife. She said that Lady Muriel had ruined all her chances.”

“She never had a chance with Dominic,” Francesca stuck in. “But she has chased off a number of other suitors. She will have to find someone whose pockets are completely to let.”

“And marry him posthaste before he has an opportunity to get to know her better,” Calandra added.

Francesca smiled, saying only, “Callie, you are unkind.”