And, Regina thought, could any man as sickly as Lord Mannis truly belong with his peers? So many activities required exertion. Riding, shooting, dancing at balls, these all tired even Regina out. Meanwhile, Lord Mannis was having a coughing fit every twenty minutes, just from talking while playing cards.
He would always be left behind, she thought. Poor man. He couldn’t dance, or join the men on their hunting expeditions. In a way, removing himself from society to spend time with Miss Eliza must be the best thing for him.
It amazed her that Miss Eliza should be so willing to abandon society for him. Not that Lord Mannis was not worthy of her affection. He was more cutting in his words than anyone Regina had met besides Elizabeth. But he was also witty, and appeared well-learned, and filled with obvious affection for Miss Eliza.
No, it wasn’t his worthiness that surprised her. It was simply that Miss Eliza was giving up a year or so of her life for him. It might seem not overlong, in the grand scheme of one’s life, but Miss Eliza wouldn’t be at a marriageable age for long.
Regina didn’t know how old Miss Eliza was. She appeared to be about one and twenty. But seven and twenty was already considered an old maid. Taking a year off could harm her chances of finding another suiter after Lord Mannis died.
Not to mention that she could not attend balls or hunting parties. She probably couldn’t see many of her friends. Regina wouldn’t mind such a thing for she had no friends. And gatherings of people, of course, were not her cup of tea. But Miss Eliza was full of energy. She seemed the type to love social gatherings.
The fact that she was willing to give up being social, and risking her chances of marriage, said quite a lot. Regina was oddly proud of her. Lord Mannis was going to die either way. He wasn’t missing out on much.
In fact this way he won. He got the woman he loved, and then after his death he knew his brother would be taken care of. He would leave behind no sickly heirs. And he would die safe in the knowledge that Miss Eliza, with her breeding and character, would find another husband.
But Miss Eliza was risking much. What if no man wanted her after she was gone for such a time? What if people asked too many questions about where she had been?
Miss Eliza said something at one point about putting forth the rumor that she was traveling about the continent. This was met with much teasing as the others asked her where she supposedly was now. Miss Eliza said, why Italy of course. Where else this time of year?
Regina thought it still a risk. Not everyone would buy into the fabrication. She applauded Miss Eliza in her head for taking such a risk for love.
In a way it made them similar. Although romantic love and familial love were different, Regina liked to think that her love was no less strong, and her risk no less great.
But then, she knew she’d always have her family. Her sisters would be there whether she got along with them or not. Risking all for someone who had no obligation to you… who might reject and leave you… who might change their mind…
The idea scared her. Perhaps Miss Eliza was taking the greater risk after all.
So it made sense why Lord Quentin, Miss Eliza, and Lord Mannis were all banding together. But what about Lady Cora?
She came from wealth, going by her dress and her jewelry. She carried herself with breeding. She was as pale as Regina. And she seemed to be in quite good health. What set her apart? Why would she choose to spend time with the others? If they were all set to be judged by society, what was her supposed crime?
Finally, there was Lord Harrison.
Regina could understand why he spent time with the others. Lord Harrison had nearly lost everything. He’d had to avoid society, and he had probably been judged by them as a child for his father’s losses. He had also professed to know Lord Quentin since childhood.
It was perfectly understandable that he would end up finding friends among people such as these. Choosing to stay associated with them spoke of their closeness.
As for his playing, Regina was at a loss.
Lady Cora was a good player. Regina could not quite make out her style yet. But she knew she would in time. Lord Harrison? She had no idea if she’d ever land upon it.
He played subtly. He was not erratic like Miss Eliza but rather seemed to adjust based upon the mood of the hand. He would tip towards recklessness, baiting Lord Mannis. Then he would withdraw and become cautious, countering Miss Eliza’s wild moves. When Miss Eliza became cautious, Lord Harrison grew bold.
Oh, Regina thought. Lord Harrison didn’t have his own style of playing. That was it! He based his style of playing off of the others, rather than relying upon himself alone.
All of the others played how they wanted to. Or, rather, in the way that they thought was best. But Lord Harrison was watching the players around him. He was acting based upon their actions. He let them make their move, and then went cautious or playful or aggressive to play off or counter or benefit from what they did.
Lord Harrison lay down a card, and then gently nudged Regina with his elbow. She turned to look directly into his face. The corner of his mouth turned upward just the littlest bit. He didn’t wink, but his eyes gleamed.
“Very good,” he murmured, softly. Regina doubted anyone else could hear. The warm, intimate tone of his voice sent a shiver up her spine.
He had noticed that she had caught onto how he played. Regina raised an eyebrow at him. Challenging him. Was this how he wanted her to play?
Lord Harrison flicked his gaze over to Lady Cora. Then he looked back at Regina. His message was obvious: watch her.
Regina went back to paying attention to Lady Cora.
“I don’t see why you have to be so hung up on it,” Lord Quentin was saying.
He was speaking to Lady Cora. Regina had completely lost track of the conversation. She had no idea what they were discussing.
“I do not see why you are so hung up on staying here,” Lady Cora replied. Her voice was smooth, like velvet. But Regina thought she heard a hard core underneath it.
Something about what they were discussing upset Lady Cora.
“You could go to the continent and be quite content there,” Lady Cora went on. “Yet you insist on staying here where they will not accept you.”
“You know such a thing would break my father’s heart,” Lord Quentin replied. “I must stay here as long as he is alive.”
“He would not be nearly so fond of you if his wife had managed to give him heirs,” Lady Cora replied. The hardness in her voice was more evident now. “A dark-skinned bastard son is better than no son at all, I suppose.”
“That was out of line,” Lord Harrison said. His tone was quiet but Regina felt a chill nevertheless. This was the dark side she’d glimpsed the night they had met. Lord Harrison using that tone was not to be disobeyed for the world.
Lady Cora felt it as well. She seemed to shrink a little. “I apologize,” she said. “I did not mean to offend. I only wish to point out that Quentin cannot chastise me for my sins when his are similar.”