“Oh.” Diana melted. “Well, that’s very sweet of her.”
He folded his arms over his ever-impressive chest. “Why is it that when I call you the queen of fashion, you are insulted, but when she does, it’s ‘sweet’?”
“Because you’re never sweet.” Liar. You’ve seen him sweet with Rosy and his mother plenty of times.
“Now I’m insulted.” He held up some pieces of paper and waved them at her. “Perhaps, because I’m never sweet, I should get rid of these tickets to tonight’s ball.”
Before Diana could even react, Eliza walked over and snatched them. “Don’t you dare. I shall not let our tickets to Almack’s become salvos in whatever battle you two are fighting.”
“Battle?” Geoffrey stared hard at Diana. “We’re not fighting any battles, are we, my lady?”
“Not at all,” Diana said with the biggest smile she could muster. “I can’t imagine what they’re thinking, Your Grace.”
“Watch out, Eliza,” Verity said sotto voce. “Once they start with the ‘my lady’ and ‘Your Grace,’ you’d better prepare to duck.”
Diana decided it was best she change the subject. “Where is Rosy, sir? I thought she was planning to join us all here.”
“She and Mother should arrive any minute. They took the carriage down to pick up something at the glover’s, and I had them leave me here first. I’ve had enough of shopping these past few weeks to last me a lifetime.”
“I can well imagine,” Eliza said with a chuckle. “My late husband would never have endured as long as you have.”
The truth of Eliza’s words hit Diana hard. She’d been so caught up in her resentment of Geoffrey’s evasiveness that she’d deliberately ignored his finer qualities, shown by his behavior to his sister and mother.
And by the fact that he was willing to try things and change. Somewhat. “You might have tired of shopping,” Diana said, “but the improvement in your . . . attire demonstrates that all your shopping has borne fruit. You’re dressed perfectly for tonight’s ball. Those black silk breeches are new, are they not? And you must have settled in with your new valet, for he has knotted your cravat most appealingly.”
“Thank you. I’ll pass on your compliment. He will be thrilled to hear it, for he, too, thinks you the queen of fashion.” Then Geoffrey cleared his throat and turned to her sisters. “Oh, one other thing. Yesterday I decided to heed Lady Verity’s advice and stop in at Gunter’s to look over the menu for the ball supper.”
“What did you think of it?” Verity asked.
“In my opinion, you made excellent choices. I didn’t change a single item.” Then he broadened his gaze to include them all. “I did, however, learn something interesting from Mr. Gunter. He said that you ladies use part of your fees to support two charities. Is that true?”
“It is,” Diana said, wondering if he were thinking to push for a lower fee that didn’t include supporting charity. If he was, he would have a bigger fight on his hands. And she would take back every generous opinion of him she’d just formed.
“In that case,” he said, “I feel it is wrong to expect the three of you to give up any portion of your fee to charity.” As all three ladies started to protest, he spoke louder to be heard over them. “Which is why I’m donating my own funds to your charities, so that you can keep your fees for yourselves.”
The three of them were stunned into silence. Especially Diana. He’d now shown both courage and compassion. Not that it changed anything. He still hadn’t given her any reason for not marrying. Although honestly she couldn’t demand such a thing of him because she herself had no desire to marry. Really, she didn’t. She’d told him that very firmly.
He handed three envelopes to Diana, fixing her with a speaking look. “I don’t know whom to approach,” he went on, “so I’d prefer you give the charities these donations on my behalf. If you don’t mind.”
Why would she mind? She stared down at the envelopes he’d handed her and noticed that while the top two were addressed to the charities, the third was addressed to her. Ohhh. That was why she might mind. Because he was attempting to give her a private message, which was very improper.
He continued to stare steadily at her, clearly aware of the choice she was making. She could always hand the suspect envelope back to him, after all, with some excuse. But her curiosity overcame her propriety, so she slipped all three envelopes into her apron pocket.
“Thank you, Your Grace,” she said. “It is most kind of you, and I know they’ll be glad to receive the donations.”
“I hope so.” When her sisters looked at him oddly, he added hastily, “I mean, I hope it’s enough to make up for the money Elegant Occasions would normally give them.”
“Any gift will help,” Eliza said. “We’ll make sure they get them.”
At that moment, Mr. Norris appeared in the doorway. “Mrs. Brookhouse and Lady Rosabel, here to see Lady Diana.”
“Show them in, Mr. Norris,” Diana said.
Once those two entered the room, the noise tripled. Rosy was excited, and so were Diana’s sisters, and everyone was talking at once. Diana thought it safe for her to leave for a few minutes.
She should have known better. Just as she was about to pass through the door that led to their private drawing room, Eliza called out, “Where are you going?”
Fortunately, Diana had an answer ready. “I just remembered something I wanted to offer Rosy to use with her new gown. I’ll be right back.”