Thomas had to wait while the carriage moved up again, but as soon as it halted, he poured two glasses of claret for them and handed them in through the window. Geoffrey stared at his. It looked like a decent enough wine. And there was something to be said for having a woman manage matters in his household, even considering the high cost of Elegant Occasions.
Don’t become too comfortable with that. The only woman who’ll be managing your household for a long while is Mother. At least until I’m sure it’s safe to marry.
Diana told Thomas, “You may start icing the champagne now. We’re about five carriages back, right?”
“Four, my lady.”
As Thomas left the window, she lifted her veil to sip her claret, and Geoffrey watched her cautiously. “What’s the champagne for?”
“To celebrate your sister’s success, of course.”
“You’re that sure of her?”
“I’m that sure of Eliza’s ability to guide her through this. And yes, that sure of Rosy, too. Your sister has come a long way in the past few weeks. She’s determined to do well.”
He swallowed some claret. “Then I hope you’re right. Because if you’re wrong, tonight will be a disaster.”
“But as my other clients know, I’m always correct in matters like these.”
“And modest, too,” he drawled.
“Of course. Being otherwise would be gauche.”
The carriage moved again, jostling his glass. “Showing otherwise would be gauche. Being otherwise is another thing entirely. I happen to be well aware of my own abilities, and I’m beginning to think you are as well.”
She smiled and sipped more claret. “Aware of yours or aware of mine?”
“Both, I would imagine.” He’d best change the subject. “You’ve got me curious now about your mother. What happened between her and her paramour?”
Diana waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, they married. For a time, the scandal made it impossible for him to serve in the army, but eventually he went to the Continent and took up his sword and rifle again.”
“And your mother? Did she go with him?”
“She did. For about four months. But war isn’t pretty, as you might guess, and the major-general finally packed her off home to wait for him on his estate in Cumberland.”
“I can understand why he—Wait, he has an estate?”
“He does. After he married Mama, his father died, so he inherited his father’s viscountcy.” She pursed her lips. “I suppose we should stop calling him the major-general, but we simply cannot. It’s too vexing to realize that after he and Mama upended our lives, he became Lord Rumridge through no effort of his own and in spite of his involvement in an adulterous affair. And Mama became Lady Rumridge and is now holding court in Cumberland.”
“I’ve been to Cumberland. It’s hardly a place to hold court.”
“I wouldn’t know. We sisters have not yet been invited.”
The palpable pain in her voice made him ache on her behalf. He could hardly believe what she was telling him. What grown man and woman . . . no, children behaved like this to their offspring? The offspring were more adult than the parents, for God’s sake.
She straightened her shoulders and set her chin. “So, you’ll undoubtedly understand why I am reluctant to marry. Watching my rather theatrical parents parry and thrust my whole life has made me . . . Can we please change the subject?”
“Of course.” For a moment, he was at a loss for what to say. Then he ventured, “So, is this always how matters progress with débuts? You sit in the carriage while the young lady is presented, sponsored by your sister?”
She uttered a rueful laugh. “Nothing about this is how matters generally progress. I’m not usually present, and the young lady’s mother is her sponsor, so Eliza is rarely present either. As I told you already, Rosy asked me to come.”
“Right, to buck up her courage, so to speak.”
Her lips tightened. “Do you not believe me?”
“Of course I believe you. Especially because Rosy confirmed it.” Although Diana had said this morning that he probably thought she’d planned it for her own reasons. She’d never answered him as to what reasons she might be referencing. He was on the verge of pressing her on the matter when the carriage moved forward. “What number are we on now?”
“I’m not sure. I wasn’t paying attention.”