“Hurry up! We were meant to leave half an hour ago, and you girls are sitting here fiddling with your hair!” Their grandmother stood behind him by the door, her lips pursed disapprovingly at the outlandish man but saying nothing. On their way out, Lord Ivanry leaned close to Penelope and murmured, “You may still take all the time you need to get yourself ready, my sweet flower. I know you do it all for me, and I must admit, it isgreatlyappreciated.”
He attempted to boldly take Penelope’s hand in his, but she pulled it out of his reach and simply said, “Thank you, My Lord” without smiling. After they had all found their spots in the carriage – Beatrice and Pandora on one side with Lord Ivanry and Penelope on the other at his insistence – the irritating gentleman immediately began speaking again.
“I have heard talk that the Viscount’s heir will be there for the next few days like we will,” Lord Ivanry started, clearing his throat. “I can only assume he has large amounts of money if the title is as stuffy as it sounds. Beatrice, I want you to remember what I said at breakfast and make every effort to trap him into a marriage with you while we are there; the sooner, the better.”
Beatrice looked to her grandmother for help, but the matronly woman only stared ahead, jaw working as though she was chewing her unsavory thoughts. Beatrice did not expect help from her sister, so she cried out, “How could you ask me to do such a thing, My Lord! It is bad enough that you want any excuse to remove me from my birth home, but now you wish for me to enter a marriage under false pretenses? And to a man of his reputation, no less?”
Lord Ivanry only chuckled nasally. “Exactly. Maybe you aren’t as dimwitted as I thought you were, Beatrice.” He glared at her next, and Beatrice felt every bit of its malice. “You will do everything I tell you to do without complaint, or I will find an old aristocrat to sell you to, one that will need soup wiped from his chin at every meal and a warm body in his bed every night. Besides, this Mr. Grayson sounds like a very American sort of man – he sees what he wants and he goes for it. You’d be better off married to someone like that than one of these posh bastards who are stuck in the last century.”
His long fingers then began to play with a lock of Penelope’s hair, and Beatrice watched her grandmother’s knuckles go white where she gripped her mahogany cane. “To sweeten the deal, dear Beatrice,” Lord Ivanry continued, “If you can successfully seduce the Viscount’s heir, I will let Penelope marry whomever she wants.” He smiled sneakily. “Though I think we can all guess whom she will choose.”
Lord Ivanry resumed playing with her sister’s hair, and Penelope looked close to tears, so Beatrice swallowed her pride and agreed, making a deal of her own, “I accept, My Lord.” She thought about extending her hand, as Mr. Grayson and Mr. Laughton had done, but decided she did not want any of Lord Ivanry’s grime upon her person.
Her guardian smiled at her, looking very much like Mr. Laughton had the night before when he and Mr. Grayson had made their wager, all sharp teeth and unveiled malevolence. “I’m glad that’s settled,” Lord Ivanry stated, removing his hand from Penelope’s hair. “I’d hate to think of your selfishness bringing ruin to this family.” Beatrice would have sworn she heard her grandmother’s already tense jaw creak angrily at that remark, but there was nothing the three women could do.
At least, I will be able to save Penelope from Lord Ivanry’s filth, Beatrice thought,even if it means playing into Mr. Grayson’s game though he wishes nothing to do with me. Perhaps I shall find a way to expose Lord Ivanry’s evil and avoid embarrassment at the hands of the Viscount’s heir, like killing two birds with one stone.
Their carriage clattered noisily upon the stone path leading to the Saumon Estate, and the four travelers were greeted by two marble lions guarding the stairs to the front door. “Now this is what I was expecting when I came to England,” Lord Ivanry declared, making no attempts to hide his obvious joy at the wealth around him. “Why did your parents lack this level of decorum when it can be plainly seen with every one of your acquaintances?” Beatrice resisted the urge to defend her parents’ memory while Penelope looked at a loss for words.
“Now, My Lord,” Pandora Ivanry implored calmly, “we must remember that this is an important event, not only for Mr. DeLancy and Miss Saumon but also for my – our girls. I am sure that you will conduct yourself in a manner befitting a gentleman of your station so that they may have every opportunity to find a suitable match.” Beatrice and Penelope were amazed at the diplomacy their grandmother employed when it was clear that there were many other things she wished to say instead.
“Oh, please don’t bore me with your rules, Lady Ivanry,” the offending man sighed, rubbing at his temples. “You must’ve forgotten that I come from a great family – I think I can behave in a manner that would compliment even the King of England, so don’t lecture me about my behavior like I’m a child.” He did not sneer at the composed older woman – those looks were saved for Penelope and Beatrice, whom he thought to be beneath him – but rather peered at her tiredly as though her very presence was too much for him to bear.
The older woman did not respond, satisfied only to have said her piece even if Lord Ivanry would not follow it. A footman opened the door, offering his hand to Lady Ivanry, but Lord Ivanry was already pushing his way out of the confined space. This was common no matter where they traveled, and Beatrice had seen her grandmother quickly come to terms with Lord Ivanry’s rudeness in this matter. The footman hid his shock well and waited for Lord Ivanry to step away before he again reached out for Lady Ivanry.
She accepted his help this time and stepped out of the carriage, followed by Penelope and Beatrice. Waiting for them on the front lawn, feet crunching in the slightly frosted grass, were the Saumon family, Mr. DeLancy, and Lord Randlay. Beatrice felt her heart swell at the sight of her friend, and her happiness grew when she noticed that Mr. Grayson was not with them at present. Without waiting for the ladies in his party, Lord Ivanry surged forward and exclaimed, “You have a wonderful house, Lord and Lady Saumon! I’ve never seen such an exemplary display of someone’s good fortune like this before!”
Beatrice felt her stomach drop like a stone at his crass behavior and lowered her head to avoid the intense stares of those waiting to greet them. While it would have been customary to introduce himself to Lord and Lady Saumon first, Lord Ivanry strode right up to the Viscount himself and grabbed his hand to shake it vigorously. “It is a pleasure to meet you, good Sir! We haven’t been acquainted yet, so I will just introduce myself now. I am Eric Ivanry, Baron of the Ivanry Estate, and I am honored to know a man who shares my love of business as you do.”
Beatrice looked up at the moment Lord Randlay glanced over Lord Ivanry’s shoulder at Lady Ivanry, his bushy mustache seemingly twitching in victory. He grasped Lord Ivanry’s hand firmly. “Though this introduction should have been made by Lord Saumon, I am glad to make your acquaintance as well, Lord Ivanry. Your manners are…well known among the other gentlemen in our social circle, and now that I have seen them firsthand, I can say that the rumors are true.”
He released Lord Ivanry and stepped back disapprovingly. “Perhaps they are the reason you and your company should not have been invited at all.” Beatrice saw Lord Ivanry’s eager smile slip ever so slightly, and he opened his mouth as though to respond when Pandora Ivanry cut him off.
Beatrice’s grandmother stepped forward, her eyes fixed on the Viscount as she countered, “Let us not make a scene in front of our hosts, Lord Randlay. Though I do recall, when you were younger and had been partaking in the punch, your behavior was not always up to snuff either.” Penelope and Beatrice followed closely behind their grandmother, impressed by her ability to make Lord Randlay quiet himself.
“Lord and Lady Saumon,” she said, turning to address their hosts graciously, “thank you for inviting us and allowing us to stay in your home while the festivities take place. This is certainly an exciting time is it not?” Beatrice communicated wordlessly with Minnie while her grandmother exchanged niceties with Minnie’s parents. Her countenance conveyed the appropriate apologies for her guardian, who had shuffled off to the side to regather his thoughts, and excitement for the upcoming nuptials.
When the formalities had finished, Lady Ivanry looked back at Lord Randlay and inquired, “I see Mr. Grayson made an effort to avoid his duties at this social gathering as well. Tell me, when will my girls be introduced to your grandson so that they may know what a rake looks like?” This insult was by far one of the most obvious ones her grandmother had ever made, and Beatrice found herself waiting anxiously to see how the Viscount would respond.
A vein in Lord Randlay’s forehead began to throb, and he attempted to sound composed when he stiffly replied, “Anthony is inside conversing with some esteemed gentlemen. I thought it a better use of his time than meeting ladies and their talkative guardians.” Beatrice was not sure whether this offense was directed at her grandmother or Lord Ivanry, but only Pandora seemed to take insult as Lord Ivanry appeared to just be happy to be a part of the conversation again.
Lord and Lady Saumon exchanged a look, one that Beatrice had seen Minnie mimic many times whenever faced with unpleasant bickering, and ushered their guests inside. Lord Ivanry took it upon himself to comment on every facet of the Saumon Estate that he thought particularly fashionable while Lord Randlay and Lady Ivanry continued their argument over reputation and heritage. Penelope, Beatrice, and Minnie came in last, giggling among themselves at the silliness of their elders.
“It is as though he has come to help Lady Saumon decorate,” Penelope whispered secretively, relishing in this moment of levity at Lord Ivanry’s expense. “I should not dare to comment on what your mother does with her own home as brazenly as he does.”
Minnie nodded, adding gaily, “Though he should provide us with suitable entertainment during dinner tonight. Here I was, hoping that it would not be boring, and your American guardian has answered my prayers!” Beatrice wished she could join in on the frivolity as heartily as her sister and best friend did, but her deal with Lord Ivanry still required much of her attention.
When there was a lull in the conversation, and the girls were safely out of earshot to be scolded, Beatrice said, “Minnie, we must discuss some new developments that have arisen in our plans for Mr. Grayson.” When she noticed Penelope looking at her with her head tilted in confusion, Beatrice quickly explained for the benefit of her sister, “When we snuck out last night, we overheard Mr. Grayson making a wager that he could seduce me. Minnie and I have decided to thwart this plot with one of our own.”
Penelope gasped, opening her mouth to warn her sister against the rakish gentleman and to chide Minnie for engaging in Beatrice’s poor behavior, but she was stopped by Beatrice. “Though I would appreciate your counsel later, dear sister, this is an urgent matter that must be concluded between us now, before we are interrupted.” Penelope withdrew and nodded understandingly, holding her thoughts on Beatrice’s nightly outing for the time being.
Minnie looked intently at Beatrice as she told her of the deal she made in the carriage that morning and of Penelope’s benefit should she succeed. “This is most distressing,” Minnie grimaced, glancing between both of the Ivanry ladies. “How shall we proceed if you are expected to trick the wicked man who is falsely trying to steal your heart?”
Before the question could be answered, Lady Ivanry came over, muttering to herself about the “nerve of some gentlemen.” She gestured to Penelope and Beatrice, beckoning, “Come girls, we must get you settled in your chambers, and then you may spend the afternoon as it best suits you.”
The young ladies quickly obeyed their grandmother, but Beatrice stopped long enough to whisper in Minnie’s ear, “We shall talk about this later.” Without any advice to comfort her, Beatrice was forlorn for the rest of the afternoon.
CHAPTERSEVEN