Page 27 of The Bridal Quest

"Very true." Irene released a little sigh and turned to look out at the buildings they were passing.

After a moment of silence, Irene said, "The worst thing about his invitation is that he and his aunt went to our house to invite me. Now Maura knows that I have been invited to Radbourne Park. She will be impossible if I do not go. She is desperate for me to marry and leave the house, and if I refuse to make a push to catch the earl, she will be furious. She will badger me night and day to change my mind. Worse, she will run Humphrey and Mother mad, trying to enlist their support."

Francesca studied Irene. "Perhaps you should go to the party." Hastily, seeing Irene's scowl, she went on, "Do not fire up at me. Hear me out. Consider the advantages. You could get away from your sister-in-law for a week or more. And you could even take your mother with you, for I imagine that she would not mind a respite from the woman herself. It would appear to Lady Wyngate that you are following her wishes, so she would not harangue you. Just think of it, a blessed week of freedom, of being able to do as you like, no arguments—"

"If I am around Lord Radbourne, then I am sure there will be arguments," Irene stuck in drily.

"No arguments with Lady Wyngate," Francesca corrected with a smile. "And you do not have to become engaged to the man just because you pay a visit to the family seat. You simply return and say that you did not suit."

"I would still have to be around him," Irene pointed out. "I am not altogether certain that I could be with him for so long without getting into a raging argument with him. That would scarcely brighten up the house party. Besides, I would feel awkward attending under false pretenses. If I do not mean to even consider him as a husband, I feel that I would be deceiving Lady Pencully and Lady Radbourne. It would be wrong to accept their hospitality in those circumstances."

"Nonsense. However much his family may wish to marry him off, they can scarcely hope that each and every woman whom they invite would accept his proposal. They simply hope that he will be more appealing to a prospective bride if she is able to spend more time with him."

"I cannot imagine why they should think that would help," Irene said sarcastically. "I would think that the less time a woman spent with Lord Radbourne, the more likely she would be to agree to marry him. A few minutes in his company are enough to scare away even the most marriage-hungry female."

"Well, perhaps if one spends long enough with him, one is able to get past the initial roughness. Or perhaps one might grow accustomed to his manner."

Irene shrugged. "I suppose. But I am certain that will not happen to me. I cannot pretend that I am willing to consider him as a spouse."

Francesca released a little sigh. "I am sorry. I would have enjoyed your company. Now I shall probably be surrounded by nothing but giggling young girls ... and Lady Odelia."

She pulled a face, and Irene had to chuckle.

"I am sorry, Francesca. Indeed, if it were nothing more than a week in your company, I think I would enjoy it. But it would be unfair to the Bankes—and even to Lord Radbourne."

"What if—" Francesca straightened in her seat and reached out a hand, putting it on Irene's arm. Her face became more animated as she leaned a little closer, saying, "What if you did not go under false pretenses? What if you stated clearly up front that you had no intention of marrying him?"

"I don't understand. What would be the point of inviting me then?"

"To help me," Francesca replied, a triumphant expression on her face. "I would explain to them that you were adamant about not marrying Lord Radbourne—though I would, perhaps, couch it in a more general way than your intense dislike of the man. But you see, Lady Pencully wishes me to arrive a week earlier than the other guests and see what I can do about making Lord Radbourne more acceptable to a lady."

"How do you intend to accomplish that?" Irene asked.

"Of course I cannot change his character. But I think there are things that we could do to make him more appealing to a less discerning lady than yourself."

"Less critical, I believe you mean," Irene countered, smiling to take away any sting from her words.

"Lady Odelia says his dancing is poor. We can practice with him on that, and it would be much easier with two of us. We can school him in etiquette and making social chatter and such."

"Well, he certainly is in need of schooling in that regard," Irene said. "Although there are those who would tell you that I am scarcely a good example of those qualities."

Francesca shrugged. "Ah, but I am, and I shall use you for making blunt appraisals of his abilities and progress. He will have to be told what he is doing wrong, and I may rely on you for that, may I not?"

She cast a roguish little smile at Irene, who gave her a grin in return. "Yes, you may. I would be most willing to inform Lord Radbourne of his missteps."

"There. You see how well we would work together? I think you really could be of value in improving his lordship. I realize that you would have to spend a fair amount of time in his company, but surely it would not be so bad as long as he was aware that you had no intention of marrying him. I shall make it clear to him, and to Lady Odelia, that he is not to importune you to change your mind."

Irene hesitated. The idea appealed to her. Perhaps it was the thought of getting to point out to the irritating earl his innumerable faults. Or perhaps it was simply the idea of getting away from her sister-in-law—and all the baby plans—for two weeks. Or of spending time with Francesca, whom she was unexpectedly growing to like. Irene was not sure why, but she could feel her spirits rise at the prospect of going to Radbourne Park.

"I'm not sure," she said slowly. "It sounds reasonable enough, but I am not certain that Lord Radbourne is the sort of man who would necessarily accept my refusal."

Francesca shrugged. "Oh, he might hold to the idea that he could persuade you to change your mind, but I do not think that he would use any force. I do not think he is a bad sort of man, only ... inelegant."

"No! Oh, no," Irene agreed quickly. "He is not wicked. Merely stubborn, I think. And confident in himself. Those are not bad qualities."

"And you, I am sure, would be quite able to resist his attempts at persuasion," Francesca went on.

"Of course." Irene grinned again at the other woman. "I would venture to hold my stubbornness up against anyone's."