Prudence lifted a shoulder. “Occasionally, an arranged marriage works out well. King George and Queen Charlotte were quite happy before, well, before.”
Fiona knew what she meant—before the king had become ill and his son had been made Regent.
Cassandra waved her spoon. “While that may be true, his eldest son and his arranged wife quite despise each other.”
“There is only one solution,” Fiona declared. “We must pool our pin money and run away. Where shall we go?”
Cassandra giggled.
Prudence raised her hand. “If I also contribute funds, may I come along?”
“Of course!” Fiona and Cassandra answered in unison before they all dissolved into laughter.
“Sounds like you’re having quite a gay time.”
Fiona recovered herself and looked up at the woman who’d approached their table. Petite with pale skin and blonde hair, the woman fixed her blue eyes on Cassandra first. “Good afternoon, Lady Cassandra.”
“Lady Bentley.”
Fiona noted the tightness in Cassandra’s voice and surmised she didn’t care for the new arrival.
Cassandra offered Lady Bentley a weak smile. “Allow me to present my friend, Miss Fiona Wingate and her companion, Miss Lancaster.”
Fiona rose and curtsied, as did Prudence. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” She tried to remember who Lady Bentley was. The name was familiar, probably from Debrett’s, but Fiona couldn’t place the title.
Lady Bentley turned her bright blue gaze on Fiona. “Miss Wingate, are you Lord Overton’s ward? It seems you are. I heard about your presentation to the queen.”
Of course she had.
“How charming of you to bring that up,” Cassandra said, her voice and features carrying a sharp edge.
“Yes, well, it was quite the story.” Lady Bentley laughed, a soft but wholly grating sound. At least to Fiona. “I did feel sorry for Overton. He’s had such a bad time of things since I chose Bentley over him.”
Fiona couldn’t think of what to say to that surprising revelation. Why on earth would this woman have chosen anyone besides Overton? He was witty, thoughtful, handsome, caring. “Has he? He seems in rather good spirits to me.” Fiona looked to her tablemates. “Wouldn’t you agree?”
“Most definitely.” Cassandra blinked in what appeared to be mock ignorance at Lady Bentley. “Did you actually choose Bentley, or was the choice made for you? I can’t imagine why you’d choose him over the earl.” Her eyes rounded briefly before she leaned toward Fiona and whispered, though not quietly enough that Lady Bentley couldn’t hear, “Bentley’s opinion of himself wasn’t quite so inflated then. Also, his father is a duke.” She pursed her lips.
Lady Bentley’s eyes narrowed. “He didn’t attempt to kidnap me to Gretna Green, as Overton did. Overton would have made a terrible husband. Autocratic and cold, as his father was known to be.”
Fiona didn’t believe for a moment that her guardian would kidnap anyone. Nor did she believe the other things Lady Bentley said about him. “I’ve never known Lord Overton to be anything but warm and kind. Perhaps you misunderstood his intentions.”
“Oh yes, that must be it,” Cassandra said eagerly. “I’d wager the truth is that he offered to kidnap Bentley so he could avoid the parson’s trap.”
“You are not at all amusing,” Lady Bentley said with considerable affront.
Cassandra adopted a sober expression and lowered her voice to a remorseful tone. “My apologies. I thought you were jesting, and we were simply playing along.”
“Well, good day.” Lady Bentley turned on her heel and stalked toward the door, her maid following quickly behind.
“What an unpleasant woman,” Prudence murmured.
“Indeed,” Fiona agreed. “Did Overton really want to marry her?”
Cassandra shrugged. “I recall that he’d had his heart broken, but I don’t pay attention to gossip. And, of course, I wasn’t out then.”
He’d had his heart broken. Fiona felt a surge of sympathy for him. “I realize I don’t know him extensively, but he’s never seemed cold or autocratic to me. Yes, he’s been demanding and rather managing when it comes to my future, but even then, he seems to change his mind in favor of allowing me to do things as I choose. Friday’s assembly is a prime example. He wasn’t going to let me go and then changed his mind.”
Cassandra cocked her head as she studied Fiona. “I wonder why. Has he developed a particular affection for you?”
“It may be that he is striving to not be like his father,” Prudence suggested. “I have heard talk from the servants about Lord Overton. His relationship with his father was fraught, especially after he didn’t marry as expected two seasons ago. If the prior earl was autocratic, it makes sense that the current earl may reverse decisions that could be seen in the same light.”
That did make sense. Fiona wanted to ask him about it. Would he open up to her about his father and about whatever had happened with Lady Bentley? Was it even any of her business? Not really, but she thought they had some sort of connection—if not as family, at least friendship?
“I did hear something this morning that made me curious,” Prudence said, setting her spoon down since she’d finished her ice cream. “The housekeeper and the butler were discussing the earl’s need to wed.”
“Why would that make you curious?” Cassandra asked. “He’s an earl and needs an heir.”
“They said something about his father putting him in a terrible situation.” Prudence looked to Fiona. “I suppose that could refer to some disagreement they had before he died.”
And Fiona hadn’t improved his situation with her behavior last week. She’d reminded everyone that he was a rogue and perhaps not the best marriage material, earl or not. “Cassandra, is there anything I can do
