Let Love Find You (36 page)

A
MANDA BRACED HERSELF. THE
old dame, with her friend Gertrude in tow as usual, barely spared a greeting, simply latched onto Amanda’s arm and dragged her straight across the parlor to stand before Farrell Exter. He didn’t seem surprised that they were joining him, which made her wonder if Mabel had actually told Farrell he was now in the running for her simply because the old matchmaker had recommended him. She wouldn’t dare! Would she?

Farrell looked a bit disheveled tonight as if he’d slept in his clothes. He did arrive yesterday, so it was possible. Had he not brought his valet with him? There was ample room in the servants’ wing for maids and valets who came with the guests, but not everyone brought one along. Which was why Ophelia had made sure plenty of extra valets and maids would be on hand. She did think of everything, after all.

Amanda wondered if she should mention that, but dismissed the thought, since it would probably embarrass Farrell.
And he didn’t seem to think anything was amiss with himself. He immediately took Amanda’s hand to kiss it.

“Ah, the most beautiful lady in England, you take my breath as usual, Amanda.”

Farrell did know how to turn a nice compliment, but that was about all he knew how to do well. But Mabel was beaming at him and said to her friend Gertrude, loud enough for everyone nearby to hear, “They do make a beautiful couple, don’t they?”

Amanda was embarrassed enough to cough. That remark was out of line even for a matchmaker. Mabel’s friend must have thought so, too.

“I believe that could be said no matter who Lady Amanda stands next to.”

That salvaged the moment, but to change the subject, Amanda told Farrell, “I believe Ophelia is planning on setting up whist tables throughout the house tomorrow.”

His eyes lit up as she’d guessed they would, so she was surprised to hear him say, “I’m giving up gambling.”

“Even for fun?”

“Indeed, I’ve finally figured out there’s no fun in losing.”

It had taken five years for him to conclude that? A lousy gambler, he wasn’t good at lying either. She didn’t for a moment believe that he’d give up something he craved. Had Mabel convinced him that he had a chance with her? Was that why he was saying what he thought she would want to hear? She ought to be honest enough to tell him to look elsewhere for his “pot of gold.” He might be amusing at times, but he certainly wasn’t the man for her.

John Trask saved her from having to make that unpleasant confession right then and there—either from jealousy, since he
hoped to win Amanda, too, or simply because he shared Farrell’s love for gambling. Amanda didn’t know and didn’t care.

John grabbed Farrell, telling him excitedly, “A moment, old chap. You’re the only one who can tip the scale on a wager we’ve got going,” and he dragged Farrell away.

Amanda took that opportunity to tell Mabel, “I don’t want to hurt his feelings but I will if you persist. Who is paying you to recommend someone so inappropriate for me? I assumed it was my father, but now I’m beginning to think you work for Exter’s family instead.”

Mabel gasped. But Julie had been close enough to hear that, and she, apparently, already knew what Mabel had been trying to do. Joining their little group, Julie said gruffly, “Good God, Mabel, have you gone batty in your old age? How dare you try to foist a ne’er-do-well on my niece?”

That left Mabel red-faced and speechless, but then Julie didn’t expect or want a reply. Having made her contempt known, she added insult to injury by giving the old dames her back and leading Amanda away with her.

“Well, I never!” Mabel huffed as soon as Julie was out of earshot.

For once, Gertrude didn’t hold her tongue. She didn’t like to argue, which was why Mabel, with her more dominant nature, had got away with cowing her for so many years. But Mabel wasn’t always this way. She used to be sensible. She’d just got too overblown with their successes, most of which could be credited to Gertrude’s sound advice. But Mabel really had gone too far this time.

“I saw that coming,” Gertrude said. “The Lockes aren’t fools. That member of the family is simply more outspoken than the rest. And Julie was absolutely right. Even you know she’s right.
If I can’t recommend Exter in good conscience, neither can you. And don’t think I don’t know why you’ve done it. Just because his mother’s a dear friend of yours whom you’ve known even longer than me.”

Mabel was a little shocked that Gertrude was openly disagreeing with her. “But he
will
make a good husband—with the right wife.”

“You mean someone who will overlook the fact that he’ll never amount to anything other than a pile of debts? I warn you, Mabel, if you persist in ruining the reputation you and I have strived to achieve over the years, just to help out an old friend, then I think you and I are done.”

“The boy
has
to marry, Gertrude. He’s driving his mother to drink, she’s so worried over him.”

“I don’t believe that’s our problem, is it?”

“Since when don’t we help friends—if we can?”

“When it would hurt
other
friends. But if you truly want to help them, then look for someone who would feel elevated to be a member of his family. I can think of at least one social climber who would be thrilled by that association, enough to overlook his gambling habits, and two others who would be thrilled, but only if he actually gave up those habits.
That
would be the sensible approach to helping out an old friend.”

Mabel sighed. “I know you’re right. It just would have been such an achievement for him to land a duke’s daughter. I suppose I got carried away. I’ll break the news to him.” Then with a conciliatory smile she asked, “Which gel would overlook his nasty habit?”

J
ULIE HAD LED AMANDA
out of the parlor and into the dining room across the hall. The formal table had been removed for the duration of the house party, replaced by a half dozen long serving tables at which servants stood ready to assist guests and refill the platters and serving dishes as needed. Amanda still wasn’t hungry enough to eat, but Julie was and began filling a plate. Unfortunately, Devin was also in the dining room, a drink in his hand, talking with yet another middle-aged couple. He noticed Amanda immediately, gave her a long look, but didn’t break off his conversation.

After a few covert glances in his direction, Amanda tried to ignore his presence and kept pace with Julie as she made her way down the length of one table, taking a little food from each platter. Maybe she should eat, Amanda thought. Maybe she should get out of that room where her only urge was to glance behind her to see if Devin was still there. Maybe she should just cry and get it over with.

Aunt Julie, still concentrating on her plate and peeking
under assorted covers, questioned, “What’s wrong, m’dear? I thought you’d be relieved after I rescued you from that addlebrained old bird.”

“I am, thank you.”

“You don’t look relieved.”

“I’m confused.”

Julie glanced at her sharply. “Surely not over that bounder?!”

“No, really.” Amanda gave her a half grin.

“Then what’s troubling you?”

“It’s just—I don’t know. The only thing I can guess is that I thought I’d be happy with so many choices, but I’m not.”

“Do you really have so many? Seems to me you only have one.”

“Who?”

Julie snorted that Amanda would even ask that. “The one you can’t keep your eyes off for more’n a minute.”

Amanda winced to herself, having little doubt that her aunt was talking about Devin. Apparently her father wasn’t the only one who’d noticed how often her eyes traveled to him. But she didn’t want to acknowledge that guess or have to explain that he wasn’t interested in getting married. So he really wasn’t a choice—was he?

In an effort to get both their minds off Devin, she said, “You haven’t even met Kendall yet. When you do, you’ll see why—”

“I saw him. Handsome boy, quite dashing, can’t deny that, no indeed. I suppose you
could
be happy with him.”

Did her aunt have to sound so doubtful?

“Besides,” Julie added, “if
you’re
so sure about him, what are you confused about?”

“That’s the problem, I’m not sure about him yet, when there’s still Robert to consider, too. And with both of them in
the same house, both wanting my attention at the same time, I really am going to have to decide which one I prefer.”

“Thought you’d already figured on doing that by the time this party is over.”

“That was the plan,” Amanda agreed. “But that was before I realized that one of them might be offended and leave if I don’t give him my undivided attention.”

“Nonsense, you’ve had beaus competing over you for three Seasons now. They know how it’s done.”

She could almost feel Devin’s eyes on her back. It was making it deuced hard for her to concentrate. Julie was staring at her, waiting for a reply.

She finally got out, “I—I’m afraid Kendall might be the exception, that he’ll back off rather than compete. Unlike the others, Kendall didn’t come to town to get married, hadn’t even thought of marriage yet,
and
he doesn’t actually socialize, so he’s only here to see me.”

Julie scoffed. “There’s an easy solution. Just concentrate on the one you think will bolt. The other one will probably enjoy the competition as most of them do, giving you the time you expected to have to make your choice—or you could concentrate on the one you keep stealing glances at.”

Amanda rolled her eyes. “I’m going to take your first bit of advice, which is the most logical, and give Kendall my undivided attention. Well, that’s
if
he isn’t scandalized tomorrow when we go riding, me astride.”

Julie snorted. “If he is, I’ll show him the door m’self. Now, if you’re not going to eat, go enjoy your party. It
is
for you, you know.”

With a grateful nod, Amanda hurried out of the room. Devin started to do the same, but Julie moved forward to
intercept him. “She’s not going anywhere you can’t find her later,” Julie said knowingly. “A moment, if you please.”

“Of course, Lady Julie.”

“I’ve come up with the perfect payment for your matchmaking efforts on Amanda’s behalf.”

“I told you that wasn’t necessary. She’s pretty much made her choice.”

“Has she? I’m not so sure. And she mentioned to me your interest—”

“She did what?!” Devin said, alarmed.

Julie laughed. “Don’t get ahead of me. Your interest in a champion stallion. A friend of mine has one for sale.”

Devin blushed slightly before he said, “We’re probably talking about the same horse, but your friend keeps raising his price on me.”

“Yes, Mandy mentioned that, too, which is why I got him down to a firm, reasonable price for you. My payment, as it were, for Cupid’s assistance. The question is, when are
you
going to get in the running?”

Devin burst out laughing. Lady Ophelia had cornered him an hour ago to tell him how pleased she was with his work as Cupid, and if the happiness Amanda had been displaying continued to the altar, he would earn a big bonus. The Lockes didn’t need a matchmaker, they had a house full of them!

I
T WAS A HECTIC
two days for Amanda, riding with Kendall, still taking early-morning lessons with Devin, and helping Ophelia organize activities to keep the guests amused during the day. Aside from the usual parlor games, the ladies were offered tapestry sewing, which was typically a chance to gossip without men around. But Ophelia had had a special tapestry drawn for the occasion, though the ladies weren’t aware of that. If they had been, they would no doubt have asked why they were putting their needles to a finely sketched image of Scottish bagpipes. The Highland musicians hadn’t arrived yet—and were still Ophelia’s closely held secret for her husband’s birthday ball!

But the highlight of the party thus far was indoor croquet! Trust Ophelia to come up with something novel. The game was set up in the ballroom, with specially crafted wickets that would stand upright despite the absence of grass. But the very absence of grass threw a new wrinkle into a game everyone loved, since the balls went flying across the wooden floor with nothing to
stop them other than strategically placed rugs that might or might not slow them down a little. So everyone had to adjust his or her mallet swing and soon figured out how to aim toward those rugs first, then the wickets. Laughter poured out of the ballroom, Amanda’s included.