The Suitor List (13 page)

"But Odyssey is written in Greek. I can only dream
of studying that language. As it is, I'm afraid I've only
had minimal instruction in Latin. I find the Romans'
way of life, their advancements, fascinating. Everything about them is so interesting." Muriel stepped into
the room toward the window, toward him.

"I know of a tutor, he's in London" Mr. Lloyd pulled
a stub of pencil and a bit of paper from his pocket and
leaned toward the table to write. "If you are ever in
Town, you should look him up"

Mr. Lloyd held out the slip of paper to Muriel. Another
two steps brought her to the window that overlooked the
parterre. She took the tutor's name and address he held
out to her: Signor Biondi, 4 Tavistock Road. She realized
that this was something quite precious.

"Thank you" Muriel could not meet his gaze and
thought herself a goose.

He took in her tightly bound dark hair and conservative attire. Perhaps he was a bit intimidated by her, thinking she was much older than he. She glanced out the
window, where a group of gentlemen guests congregated.

Mr. Lloyd followed her example. "Besides having
cheroots, what do you suppose that is about?"

Muriel drew her opera glasses from her pocket and
brought them to her eyes. The suitors, most but not all,
were lounging about the marble benches blowing clouds.

"They appear quite amiable to one another even
though they are in competition for Lady Augusta" Mr.
Lloyd's voice seemed to constrict. "I don't think I
could pretend friendliness, especially with that sort of
company."

"What do you mean?" Muriel drew the glasses from
her eyes to glare at him. "I'm sure you'd rub along with
them quite well."

"No, I'm far too shy-especially when it comes to
females-especially talking to females." He sounded
nervous uttering the word.

"I am a female, Mr. Lloyd!" Muriel took exception to
his doubt of her sex. She once again brought the glasses
to her eyes and continued to study the men below.

"I beg your pardon, Lady M-Muriel," he stammered.
"You are d-different fr-from other-"

"Please don't address me as Lady. It makes me sound
so old"

His gaze darted away from her and he looked out the
window, watching the gentlemen below. "I wonder
what they could possibly be saying."

"Your brother is asking Sir Nicholas of his odds at engaging my sister's interest," Muriel told Mr. Lloyd
without thinking how inappropriate their topic might
have been.

"Odds? As in wagering?"

"Exactly." Muriel concentrated on the precise reply.
"Sir Nicholas gives him fifteen to one and tells your
brother Lady Augusta thinks him no better than any of
his contemporaries. He might have an advantage if he
could show his superiority by besting the young lady in
a battle of wits, because she does show a preference for
verbal dueling."

Even without the benefit of magnification, Mr. Lloyd
could see the reaction as the surrounding men laughed
in good humor.

"Your brother says he'd not place a wager while on the
Duke's property, because if they are discovered, they'll
not have a chance to explain their actions before being
expelled. Sir Warren is impressed with your brother and
says he'll stake a quid on your brother's matrimonial
future."

Lord Tremaine and Sir Warren Cantrell had moved
forward, blocking Muriel's view of Lord Marsdon's reply. A roar of laughter followed.

"They're making bets on who wins Lady Augusta's
hand? How can you know that's what they are saying?"
Young Mr. Lloyd appeared affronted at the conversation and, it seemed, he refused to believe it.

"I observe them speaking, how they form the words
with their mouths. I watch them and I know what they
are saying."

"Is it possible?" Mr. Lloyd stared at Muriel. "Can
you really do such a thing?"

"Not only can I do it, Mr. Lloyd, but I do it well. Why
don't you join the gentlemen below and have a word
with your brother and see if that is not what nefarious
activity they have chosen to occupy their time."

Mr. Lloyd straightened and it seemed he was plucking up the nerve to do just as she suggested.

"My father will certainly give birth to a bovine if he
should learn of this. Gusta isn't going to be pleased either." Muriel kept watch, studying the other men who
gathered around for what appeared to be more betting.

"I don't see why she should be. It's appalling, reprehensible behavior."

Muriel pocketed her opera glasses, concluding her
eavesdropping. "If you will excuse me, my sister Charlotte is waiting to speak to me." Muriel left, pleased that
she had made the acquaintance of Mr. Sherwin Lloyd.
She believed that, for once, this young man might appreciate her books as much as she did.

Augusta had risen to a wonderful morning and
shared a fairly sedate breakfast with only seven gentlemen in attendance, exactly enough to fill every seat at the
table without crowding. She did not know how she managed to successfully leave with one gentleman without
making the other six feel left out.

Lord William Felgate escorted her down the corridor
and into the foyer on their way to take a turn in the rear
gardens. Perhaps she would show him the conservatory
or the maze. Perhaps she would convince him they
needed to drift along the water's edge of the pond.

Marriage to him, if Augusta were of a mind to select
him, should be amenable. She considered that gazing
upon his handsome visage for the remainder of her life
would not be a hardship.

As far as Augusta had discerned, Lord William
would seem an ideal choice of husband, with his lightheartedness, good humor, and joviality.

Then she, once again, reminded herself that he was
not the only suitor in attendance, and it had only been a
day since their arrival.

As they came upon the orange trees with their modest offerings of four fruit each, the massive front door
of Faraday Hall swung open. A red and gold liveried
footman stepped inside, allowing newly arrived guests
admittance.

"Lady Augusta!" Richard's voice called from the entrance. He led his fiancee forward.

"Mr. Wilbanks," Augusta greeted them. "Miss Skeffington, good afternoon"

"Good day to you, Lady Augusta and to ..." Miss
Skeffington paused.

"Lord William Felgate, at your service." Lord William
executed a splendid bow with Augusta dangling on his
arm. "We were introduced last night, Miss Skeffington,
but our meeting was brief."

"Is Moo ... Muriel-Lady Muriel about?" Richard
sounded a bit hurried and quite anxious to move
along.

"I expect you can find her where you can always find
her ... in the-" Augusta supplied.

"The Librarium," Richard finished. He glanced at
Miss Skeffington then back at Augusta.

"Is Emily here with you?" Augusta expected she was
but had not seen her.

"She and Mr. Skeffington are occupied with Miss
Randolph, Miss Sutherland, and some of the other gentlemen ... off for some type of frolic, I expect." Richard
took a step, then two, up the stairs, apparently anxious to leave. "If you don't mind, Livy, I just want to pop up
for a few minutes to see Moo, er-Lady Muriel."

"As you wish." Miss Skeffington shrugged, withdrawing her hand from his arm to free him to take his leave.

"Perhaps Miss Skeffington will accompany us to the
rear gardens?" Augusta could not very well leave
Richard's fiancee to stand alone at the foot of the stairs.

"Sounds splendid. Why don't you join them?" Richard
dashed up the stairs after giving his hasty approval.

Augusta caught Miss Skeffington's shy smile.

"I would be delighted." Miss Skeffington slid her
hand through Lord William's proffered arm.

"Am I not the luckiest man? I have the pleasure of
escorting not one, but two lovely ladies. One on each
arm!" His already smiling face brightened even more
so. "I am veritably surrounded by female loveliness!"

Augusta could not help but laugh, joining Miss
Skeffington's high-pitched giggle at Lord William's
pronouncement.

"Oh, Lord William, Mr. Wilbanks will be quite cross
with you for saying such things," Miss Skeffington
scolded.

"But it is true, is it not?" Lord William turned to
Augusta for her opinion.

"I am sure he would completely concur." Augusta
thought there could not be a more agreeable gentleman
than Lord William.

"Right, then. Shall we be off?" Lord William led the
ladies out of the foyer, down the corridor, and out the rear
of the house.

The three walked leisurely through the rear garden
and passed on the east side of the conservatory and orangery. Augusta pointed out the pond off to the
south. They continued forward to the stables to visit
the horses.

The barn-the first barn-held mostly the saddle
mounts. There were the equines that had the most personal contact with the family.

The ladies moved away from Lord William to approach the individual stalls.

"Splendid confirmation," Lord William praised
Damocles. "He has an intelligent look to him."

"My father's mount."

"And why shouldn't he have the best?" Lord William
remarked. "Or two or three. Has he a hunter?"

"Plato. He's down three stalls."

Miss Skeffington followed behind Lord William a
few paces to view the gelding.

"I say, he's a dandy, all right." Plato's soft nose settled into Lord William's hand. "And a jolly good disposition too"

Miss Skeffington, who apparently felt safe enough
with Lord William's assessment of Plato, stepped closer
and patted his neck.

Footfalls sounded, growing louder. Soon Richard appeared at the doorway.

"I beg your pardon. I hope I'm not disturbing you."
He kept his distance from the group, and Augusta wondered, when was he ever not welcomed in her company?

"We're admiring His Grace's horses," Miss Skeffington told him.

"There is much to admire. Please take your time. I'd
like to have a word with Augusta"

Augusta did not care for the sound of the declaration. She moved to the next stall, across the aisle from where
Miss Skeffington and Lord William stood. Richard
strode to Augusta's side.

"Moo tells me three gentlemen were asked to leave
last night," Richard said just above a whisper.

"I am aware of who was asked to leave, thank you.
Papa informed me this morning." Augusta stroked
Orion's arched neck, then proceeded to the next stall.

"I thought the news might be upsetting to you"
Richard sounded concerned but he really needn't have
been.

"Why on earth would you think it would upset me?"
Who had appointed Richard her keeper?

"Well, they were lured by Charlotte. I am quite certain it was not of her doing-"

"As am I," Augusta agreed. "I should not be angry at
Char-Char but those men ... Good riddance, I say"

"Good riddance, indeed," Richard mimicked, albeit
appearing relieved.

"As it happens, I am in debt to Char-Char for removing the undesirables."
"

"There are beaux aplenty, Gusta, do not lose heart"
Richard's supportive nature was not needed this time,
but she felt fortunate she could rely on her good friend
to not let her spirits sink. "Not a Blade or Blood among
them. Lord Arthur and Sir Warren Cantrell will certainly come up to scratch with your slightest encouragement"

I am not sure I wish to go so far as to encourage
them" Augusta considered the two of them the more
questionable gentlemen.

"Lord Marsdon, Lord Tremaine, and Sir Samuel Pruitt
all appear to be fine fellows"

"Yes, they are, Richard." Augusta remained calm and
humored her good friend.

"Mr. Allendale, Lord Stanton, Sir Benjamin Pelfry,
and Lord William, here," he whispered the last name as
not to be overheard, "show much promise, don't you
think? All have good qualities."

"Yes, Richard. They're all splendid."

"Oh, yes, and we should not overlook Lord Fieldstone."

No, Augusta could hardly forget him. Among the
gentlemen present, he still somehow managed to remain
in a class all to himself.

"The viscount is an unparalleled catch" Richard was
not telling Augusta anything she hadn't already heard
nor reminded herself.

"That is what I understand, and I am flattered by his
attention." Was Augusta foolish not to accept him outright? As yet he had not offered for her, thus she could
not accept a proposal which she had not received.

Miss Skeffington's and Lord William's burst of laughter echoed throughout the building.

"There really is no reason you should take a personal interest in these matters," Augusta whispered for
Richard's ears alone.

"But I am concerned, Gusta. You are my. . " He
paused, stared at her, and swallowed. "Friend"

That is not what he had meant to say.

This whole business of finding a husband was sounding more and more as if it were a horse race-odds and betting notwithstanding. Augusta needed the council of
her father, her aunt, perhaps even her sisters. There were
still too many men present. What she needed was a way
to reduce their number.