Belle's Beau (11 page)

"Why, it is a delightful notion," exclaimed Belle immediately, including the viscount in her smiling glance. His lordship's eyes met hers, and she felt a flutter in her breast.

"Indeed, I should like it above all things," said Clarice, smiling.

"I am not a very good rider, and I do not have a horse, but I should like very much to make one of the party," said Millicent shyly and rather wistfully.

"Do not worry, Miss Carruthers," said Angus Moorehead, who had come up in time to hear what was said. He smiled down at her, a gleam in his bright blue eyes. "If you do not have a suitable mount, I am certain that we shall be able to find you a gentle one from my father's stable."

"Of course we shall, Millicent," said Clarice at once. "We would not leave you behind."

"Good. Then it is in a fair way to being settled," said Lord Ashdon with his friendly smile. "Shall we say Wednesday at three o'clock in the park?"

All agreed to it, Belle with scarcely any attempt at hiding her enthusiasm. She knew that her aunt would have wished her to show some restraint, as a proper young lady would have done, but at that moment she did not care overmuch. She loved to ride, and the chance to ride with her friends—in particular the viscount—was too wonderful to pretend polite indifference.

Since their first unlikely meeting, she had chanced to meet Lord Ashdon a handful more times in the park during her morning rides. Those encounters had been some of the most enjoyable hours that she had experienced in London. Naturally, after her aunt's upset at discovering that she had dispensed with escort the first time, she had always been accompanied by a groom on her rides. The servant's presence had restrained the conversation between herself and Lord Ashdon to mostly the commonplace, for it would not have done to speak so openly or freely as she had wished they could have in the groom's hearing. Nevertheless, she had thoroughly enjoyed Lord Ash-don's company and his ready sense of humor. It would be very nice indeed to share his company again on an equestrian outing, even if it was in a full party.

While a lively conversation took place around them, Lord Ashdon asked quietly, "Does the outing truly meet with your approval, Miss Weatherstone?"

"Of course it does, my lord. You must know that I enjoy being horseback more than most," said Belle quickly.

"Yes, I have cause to know," said Lord Ashdon, even more quietly but with warmth in his eyes.

As Belle met Lord Ashdon's gaze, and realized that he was referring to their handful of rides together, she thought, as she had more than once, that he had deliberately limited the number of times that he met her in the park, in order to safeguard their reputations. She was grateful to him, of course, but, perversely, she wished that just once he would throw caution to the winds and seek her out with the dash and lack of convention that had attended their first meeting. How positively exciting that had been! She had never forgotten that race, pounding over the green with the thunder of his horse's hooves in her ears! And neither had she forgotten the manner in which her heart had hammered with excitement.

The conversation had turned and Belle began to listen, with increasing interest. There was to be a dinner party at Vauxhall Gardens, sponsored by Lady Moorehead.

"Everyone here is to be invited, of course, for it is to be only for Angus's and my own select group of friends," said Clarice. "Mama sent out the invitations just yesterday afternoon."

Belle was at once enthusiastic about the treat. "Oh, how very amusing it will be! I have heard of Vauxhall, and it sounds marvelously entertaining."

Sensing hesitation from one member of their circle, Clarice turned toward the viscount. "You will be able to make one of our party, will you not, my lord?"

Lord Ashdon demurred quietly. "I don't know, Miss Moorehead. It seems that you have included me very kindly out of civility, for I am of new acquaintance to you all. Perhaps it would be best if I should thank you graciously but decline."

"Nonsense, my lord. You have become a fast friend to us all since your return to England," said Angus.

"It would not be the same without you, Ashdon," said Roland White, slapping his cousin on a broad shoulder.

"Indeed,
my lord, I would take it as a personal affront if you were to stay away," said Clarice with a persuasive smile.

Belle held her breath, for she was dismayed that Lord Ashdon would even consider withdrawing from the party. It would be as though he believed that there was a gulf of distance between himself and those whom she counted to be her best friends in the world. It had never occurred to her that he might think so, but she supposed that he might actually see it that way, since he was a few years older than any of them and had been a soldier who had escaped death, besides. She and the others must appear to be babies in his eyes, amusing but not terribly experienced in life. How boring they—she—must be to him at times, Belle thought with dismay. An unusual sense of insecurity touched her, making her wonder what Lord Ashdon really, truly thought about her.

When Lord Ashdon answered, his eyes were on Belle's face. "Then I would be delighted to be one of the party, Miss Moorehead."

"Very good, my lord!" exclaimed Angus.

Later, after the Weatherstones had returned home, Belle broached the subject of the outing to Vauxhall to her aunt and uncle. Mr. Weatherstone looked at his wife, raising his eyebrows. Mrs. Weatherstone frowned over what had been imparted to her with such enthusiasm, and suddenly Belle realized that her aunt's expression was not one of approbation.

"Oh, pray say that we may go, Aunt!" she exclaimed. "It will be a party of all my most particular friends."

Mrs. Weatherstone shook her head, a tiny frown between her brows. "Belle, I am somewhat hesitant to grant my permission for you to attend. It is not quite what I like."

"Vauxhall is not as select as it once was," remarked Mr. Weatherstone.

Belle had been sorting quickly through the invitations and had located the one that she had sought. "Only see, Aunt Margaret! The invitation came from Lady Moorehead. There surely cannot be any stigma attaching to it if her ladyship is involved," she said, holding out the gilt invitation for inspection.

With a sigh of resignation, Mrs. Weatherstone extended her hand for the invitation. "Very well, Belle. Let me see it."

Mr. Weatherstone suddenly chuckled as he saw the expression on his niece's face, while her anxious eyes were riveted upon her aunt. "You might as well give in, my dear. You will never hear the end of it otherwise."

"Well, perhaps I shall take it up with Lady Moorehead when I call on her later in the week," said Mrs. Weatherstone.

Belle threw her arms around her aunt. "Thank you, Aunt!"

"Belle, I haven't yet said that you might go," admonished Mrs. Weatherstone.

"Oh, I know, Aunt!" said Belle, with a quick smile at her aunt. "But you have promised to consider it, and that is enough for the moment."

Mr. Weatherstone coughed suddenly, and when his wife looked over at him, he turned his gaze to the ceiling as though he found something of considerable interest in the decorative trim there. "Perhaps a strategic retreat would be in order," he murmured.

"Yes," agreed Mrs. Weatherstone, with a smile of her own. "Belle, I am going to bed. We shall discuss this again tomorrow."

"Very well, Aunt."

Chapter 10

Good as her word, Mrs. Weatherstone did broach the subject of the dinner party with Lady Moorehead, expressing her concerns delicately. "I am naturally quite comfortable with any party that you may get up, my lady. But forgive me! I must be honest with you and express my concerns that it is to be at Vauxhall."

Lady Moorehead nodded. "I perfectly understand, Mrs. Weatherstone. I, too, harbor a certain bias against entertainments at Vauxhall Gardens. It is not as select as it used to be, nor as refined."

Mrs. Weatherstone smiled, a hint of relief on her face that she had not given offense. "Indeed, a perfect example is this masquerade that is being held there next week."

"Yes, and I so wished to go," sighed Clarice Moorehead.

"I have never been to a masquerade," said Belle speculatively.

"And you never shall," said Mrs. Weatherstone quickly, turning a stern glance on her niece.

Lady Moorehead laughed indulgently. "You mustn't be too harsh with Belle, Mrs. Weatherstone. I suspect that all the young ladies are struck by the allure of such a fast function. Clarice begged and begged us to be allowed to attend the masquerade. She was quite astonished that we refused our permission. Well, you can certainly perceive why."

"Quite," Mrs. Weatherstone agreed. "It is just the sort of amusement at which one does not wish one's charge to be seen."

"Do you mean that it is bad ton, Aunt Margaret?" asked Belle curiously. She did not understand why something that sounded so harmless as a company dressed in masks and costumes should be frowned on. It sounded rather amusing to her.

"Exactly so, Belle," said Mrs. Weatherstone. "All sorts of riffraff attend those public gatherings. It is not at all the sort of crowd to which I would wish you to be exposed."

"Oh," said Belle, disappointed but still curious. The thought that crossed her mind was that of all the functions she had been invited to, none had sounded quite so entertaining as the masquerade. She did not voice her opinion, however, well knowing that her aunt would be scandalized. She contented herself with a mild protest. "Such a pity, for I think that I should like to see something more of the city than I have."

"You sound very much like Clarice, who never tires of new entertainments," said Lady Moorehead, shaking her head. "Ah, youth! Believe me, my dears, you would not do well by your reputations if you were to attend a public masquerade and it was found out."

"I should leave before the unmasking," declared Clarice, tossing her head so that her curls bounced.

Belle smiled, catching her friend's lively gaze. "Yes, and so should I," she agreed. "If we never took off our masks, I quite fail to see how our reputations might suffer."

Clarice cocked her head, a thoughtful expression on her face. “That is quite true."

"We must think not only of your reputations but also of your safety," said Mrs. Weatherstone. Though she addressed herself to her niece, her glance encompassed Clarice as well. "I am anxious that you understand this, Belle. One simply does not know who might be attending a public masquerade. It is best not to place oneself in a position that could easily become rather uncomfortable."

"I couldn't agree with you more, Mrs. Weatherstone. However, knowing how disappointed Clarice was that she was not to be allowed to go to the masquerade at Vauxhall, and not wishing to see her so cast down, I came up with this alternative scheme," said Lady Moorehead. "It
is not to be a party made up solely of young gentlemen, you know. I did not think that would be at all proper."

"Quite,"
said Mrs. Weatherstone, beginning to look more hopeful.

"Mama is inviting only our most particular friends," said Clarice.

"Indeed, it will be much more in the nature of a friendly gathering," said Lady Moorehead, nodding. "It will be Mr. and Mrs. Carruthers, with Miss Carruthers, Mr. Roland White, Lord
Ashdon, and yourselves. Of course, Lord Moorehead and I shall host the gathering, and I have persuaded Angus that he is to come so that the numbers will be even. I thought that would be a large enough party to be entertaining, yet there would also be ample supervision of the young people."

"Well! You have quite persuaded me," said Mrs. Weatherstone with a smile. "I have no other concerns. A simple dinner at a box in Vauxhall Gardens will be eminently suitable."

"Oh, thank you. Aunt!" exclaimed Belle.

Lady Moorehead chuckled. "I perceive that you are as easily pleased as my own miss. Well, it will be a very good dinner party, I think."

"Lady Moorehead, I am curious on one point," said Mrs. Weatherstone. She glanced at her niece and Miss Moorehead, who had put their heads together and were talking animatedly. She lowered her voice. "How is it that you have invited Lord Ashdon to what is essentially a private party'.'"

Though Belle was exchanging confidences with Miss Moorehead, nevertheless her ears caught the viscount's name, and she instantly tuned in to her aunt's conversation as well.

"Does it seem odd to you, Mrs. Weatherstone? It is easily explained. Roland White has been a particular friend of Angus's for ages, and since Lord Ashdon is Roland's cousin, I thought that I would include his lordship in the invitation. Lord Ashdon appears to get along so well with the younger gentlemen, and with our daughter and your niece," said Lady Moorehead.

"Quite true," said Mrs. Weatherstone with a nod. She casually moved on to another topic, and Belle lost interest in the conversation.

It was several minutes later that Mrs. Weatherstone and Belle took their leave of the Mooreheads. As they were driving back to the town house, Mrs. Weatherstone suddenly referred to the dinner invitation to Vauxhall Gardens. "I am glad that we have accepted the Mooreheads' invitation, Belle."

"Why, so am I, Aunt," said Belle. "I am always glad to spend time in Clarice's company."

Mrs. Weatherstone slid a speculative glance at her. "And Lord Ashdon's company, too?"

Belle was startled. She felt the slightest warmth mount into her cheeks, but she strove for a casual tone to cover her astonishment at the blunt question. "Of course, Aunt. I find his lordship's company very pleasing, as I am certain everyone does."

Mrs. Weatherstone gave a distinct sniff. "Just so, dear Belle! This easy explanation of the viscount's relationship to Mr. White and how agreeable his lordship makes himself! Really, I begin to suspect that Lady Moorehead has her eye on his lordship."

"What can you mean, Aunt?" asked Belle, quite taken aback.

"Why, it is certainly plain enough to anyone with wit. Lady Moorehead hopes to promote a match between her daughter and Lord Ashdon," said Mrs. Weatherstone roundly.

"Does she?" said Belle, a sinking feeling in her stomach. She suddenly recalled that Clarice had confided she had a new beau but had refused to reveal the gentleman's name. "I did not know."