“Why do you not simply ask her? In all other respects, this curious acquaintanceship is almost frighteningly honest. Why can you not also be honest in matters of the heart?”
“I do not think it quite so simple, Algernon. After all, the very basis of this acquaintanceship is that matters of the heart do not exist between us. If I were to change that now, would I not simply be looking at another broken engagement? Emmeline was no more ready to love another than I was when we first embarked on the thing.”
“That does not mean that she feels the same now, does it?”
“I can see no reason for her to have changed her feelings.”
“And yet you have changed yours. Why could she not have changed hers?”
“Algernon, why is everything so simple in your world? Why do you always have an answer for everything?” Hunter smiled, despite the harshness of his words.
“Because things really are simple, such as now; I have irritated you, and that is simple,” Algernon said and gave a little bow.
“You have not irritated me, Cousin. You never irritate me; you simply exasperate me on occasion.”
“There, honesty perfectly deployed, and no offense taken. Now then, why should you not try the same honesty on the woman you are soon to marry?”
“Because it is too soon. I realize that there is nothing that will change, given that Christopher Lennox is now married. I do not think that I would care to hear her tell me that she still loves him, regardless of all his poor treatment of her.”
“But might you not equally hear that she does not love him at all and is relieved finally that she did not marry him in the end? My point is, you do not know until you ask.”
“Perhaps I shall just tell you that I will ask her one day soon, but not just yet. Will that appease you for a while? Or perhaps brandy would appease you and quieten you just a little?”
“Yes, the brandy would probably go a long way to appeasing me,” Algernon said with a grin. “Why do you continually look over to Christopher Lennox?”
“Because he continually looks over to Emmeline,” Hunter said and felt himself annoyed by it.
Christopher Lennox had made his choice months ago and had delivered his choice most cruelly. What right did he now have to stare over at the woman he had wronged, the woman that Hunter would soon marry?
“Yes, I note that he does not seem quite as pleased with his choice of union as once he was. Perhaps married life does not suit him at all,” Algernon mused. “Or perhaps it is simply the new Mrs Lennox who does not suit him at all.”
“Then that is his business. It was his decision to throw his lot in with another and leave Emmeline to cope with the aftermath of it all. Truly, he has no right to stare over at her now.”
“There is perhaps a little justice in it all; justice for Emmeline at any rate,” Algernon said and was looking all around to catch the eye of a passing footman, or indeed anybody who would bring him a drink. “Perhaps there is some little revenge in the idea that the two people who made her so very miserable have found themselves a little miserable in their own right.”
“Perhaps there is, cousin, but I do not think that Emmeline thinks in such a way. She does not speak of anybody in such tones, even that dreadful cousin of hers who is to soon relieve her of her family home. I do not think Emmeline vengeful at all.”
“A point in her favour,” Algernon said with a broad smile as he held up his empty glass in silent toast to Emmeline Fitzgerald. “And I note the dreadful cousin is not here this evening.”
“No, I did mention to Emmeline that she might extend him an invitation, but she declined immediately and without explanation.”
“And so I take it that she has never yet mentioned the marriage proposal? Obviously, she has turned the man down; otherwise, she would not be here this evening, but I am curious as to how matters were left.” Algernon finally gained the attention of the footman and asked for a drink. “Although my curiosity would be of the idle variety for it matters not what passed between them. The material point is that she obviously declined.”
“Yes, she obviously did,” Hunter said and felt his spirits lift just a little.
In the end, Emmeline had obviously not wasted any time in giving her answer to her cousin. In truth, he would rather have heard about it from her and not the dreadful man himself. Still, as Algernon had rightly pointed out, she had at least chosen Hunter over Kent Fitzgerald. And ideas of Christopher Lennox might, one day, leave the young woman’s mind forever. Perhaps there was something to celebrate after all? Perhaps Emmeline would one day find she felt a little of what Hunter had come to feel for her?
“I say, Hunter, surely you did not invite Felicity?” Algernon said and turned to regard him with a look of pure astonishment.
“No, I did not invite Felicity,” Hunter said and shook his head, wondering at his cousin’s curious question.
“Then it would appear that she has chosen to invite herself, my dear fellow.” Algernon winced and then turned to indicate with a gentle nod of his head the place at the back of the ballroom where Felicity stood alone.
She had certainly dressed with the idea of creating a great impression. She was wearing a beautiful shade of blue, a cornflower blue that looked almost the colour of her bright eyes. Her pale blonde hair had been curled to perfection, and Hunter thought that she had never looked more beautiful. And yet, despite it all, he felt anger surge through him at the very idea she had attended Addison Hall at all.
“If you are going to have any sort of conversation with Felicity, I would suggest that you do it now, and do it quickly,” Algernon said, his tone unusually serious and forceful. “For I can see that Miss Fitzgerald has been waylaid by none other than Clara Lovett, or Clara Lennox I should say, and her attention will undoubtedly be drawn for several minutes yet. Go and speak to her now, but please waste no time on that woman.”
“Yes, I shall speak to her quickly and then make my announcement. Do not look so concerned, Algernon; I will be making my announcement. I will become engaged to Emmeline Fitzgerald this evening, have no doubt of it.”
“Good, you put my mind at rest, my dear fellow,” Algernon said, but Hunter could see that his cousin was not entirely convinced.
With a brief look at Emmeline, who was thoroughly engaged in some deep conversation with her one-time friend, Hunter hurried to the back of the ballroom.
“Felicity? What are you doing here?” he said sternly.
“I see you chose not to extend me an invitation to what I have discovered is not merely a ball, but a celebration of your forthcoming engagement.” Felicity looked at him furiously as her bright blue eyes flashed.