Except James, having seen Beatrix seated between two of those young gentlemen, the third seated opposite, had moved down the table to take his own seat. At which time he proceeded to converse with the young unmarried lady sitting on his left and the one seated on his right, and seemed to totally forget that Beatrix was even present.
Much as the three young gentlemen seated either side and across from Beatrix tried to engage and hold her attention, they ultimately failed. How could she possibly enjoy their company when it was impossible for her not to hear the constant giggling of the two young ladies seated beside James when he said something to amuse them?
It was immensely frustrating.
Infuriating.
So much so that by the time all the ladies retired to the drawing room after dinner, leaving the gentlemen in the dining room to enjoy their brandy and cigars, Beatrix was feeling completely out of sorts. It didn’t help that the two young ladies who had been so charmed by James throughout dinner were now openly flushed and giggling together from his attentions.
“I am sure James was only being polite to them,” Bethany consoled as she came to stand next to Beatrix.
Her gaze remained narrowed on the two preening ninnies standing across the room. “He did not have to be so polite they were in danger of removing their drawers before climbing upon the table and presenting themselves to him as the next course!”
There was silence beside her for several seconds until finally she turned to look at James’s sister. Only to find Bethany chewing on her top lip, her cheeks flushed, the gleam in her eyes indicating she was having trouble preventing herself from laughing.
“It is not funny, Bethany,” Beatrix snapped.
“Oh, but it is.” Her friend could no longer hold back her laughter. “Did it occur to you that perhaps my brother might be retaliating to your marked dismissal of his company this past week?”
Beatrix frowned her alarm. “You think he knows what I am about?”
The other woman shrugged. “I believe he knows something is not right in your behavior toward him,” she conceded. “After all, the two of you had become friends before he proposed to you, and now you will barely speak to or acknowledge him.” She glanced at the two blushing young ladies who had been the recipients of James’s company during dinner. “No doubt it also does his ego good to know that some ladies appreciate his company, at least.”
All Beatrix had wanted was for James to see that she was not bereft of choice when it came to deciding on a husband, and for him to choose her as his wife over any other lady, as she chose him.
But perhaps she had gone too far in her efforts this past week to have James see her as an only a slightly damaged and still beautiful woman, and moreover, one who might have her pick of suitors.
James’s dismissal of her this evening and his flirtation with two other young ladies would appear to indicate that might be the case.
Quite what she was to do about that, Beatrix had no idea. She had assumed, when making her plans to come to London, that her seeming indifference toward James and the attentions of other gentlemen would make him more eager to win her heart. The opposite appeared to be true.
As confirmation that his feelings for her could not have been as deep and constant as he had claimed them to be?
She gave Bethany a less than happy smile. “I believe I shall go out onto the terrace to partake of the air.” She would show James she had not grown soft since arriving in the capital.
“Make sure you take your cloak,” the other woman advised. “The snow has been falling for an hour or more.”
“I shall enjoy that,” Beatrix assured. “I always loved taking walks in the snow during my years spent in the country.” The snow, and the cold that accompanied it had, before James’s visit, guaranteed that Beatrix was alone in her need for exercise.
Bethany chuckled. “This is London, not the country. I assure you, the roads will become less than beautiful once the carriages and their horses have driven through it.”
She could imagine so. “Never mind, for now, I am sure it looks extremely pretty.”
Bethany gave an affectionate squeeze to Beatrix’s arm. “Do not give up, Beatrix. I know James to be the most caring brother there ever was. I am sure he will be just as considerate and loving as a husband.”
But would he be Beatrix’s husband or that of some other, more deserving, young lady?
“That is the fourth time you have glanced out the window then at your pocket watch in the past ten minutes. Are we keeping you from another appointment?” Gabriel Templeton murmured speculatively, having joined James as he stood beside one of the two sets of French doors leading out onto the terrace overlooking the garden where an inch of snow had already settled upon the ground.
James replaced the watch before turning to look at the other man. “Not at all. I was merely wondering if it was late enough for me to call it a night. This past two weeks have not been particularly enjoyable for me, and an early night might help to restore some of my good humor.”
The duke arched a mocking brow. “I doubt your two young dining companions saw anything amiss with your humor at dinner. On the contrary, everyone remarked on what a jolly time the three of you appeared to be having. Indeed, I am sure one or other of the
