Chapter 24

CHAPTER 24

R ob looked around the room as people settled into their places at the long dining table. Lord and Lady Yelden sat at the two ends, with Lord and Lady Bengrove, the sharp-featured Lady Misterton and Mr Stretton in the places next to them. He noticed, with some amusement, that he and Chadwick had been seated across from each other in the middle of the table, as far from the titled guests as possible. Rob wasn't sorry; Lady Bengrove and Lady Misterton had barely been civil when they were introduced, in contrast to Lady Yelden's friendly welcome.

Chadwick, lucky dog, was seated between Miss Stretton and her mama, whereas Rob had Bengrove's older brother and his wife to either side. Conversation was stilted at first, with Mrs Bengrove asking Rob where his family were from and what he'd done in the army. Opposite, Miss Stretton's attention was being monopolised by Bengrove, seated beside her. She nodded and smiled at his words—compliments, probably. Compliments that he did not mean.

Rob did his best to concentrate on the excellent food and what the people beside him were saying, and not on watching Bengrove and Miss Stretton. Then Mrs Bengrove turned to George Yelden, on her other side .

"Did you ever think of joining the army, Mr Yelden?"

A natural lull in the conversation meant everyone around the table heard the question and Yelden's reply. "Papa didn't want me to. As I'm the heir, you know. I did fancy myself as a cavalry officer," he went on as quiet conversations restarted. "But even if I had gone against Papa's wishes, I could not afford to buy a commission in a good regiment. It costs a great deal."

"Quite right too," Lord Bengrove said. "Makes sure command is in the hands of those born to it. And the best regiments cost the most, naturally." He looked straight at Rob then. "What regiment were you in, Delafield?" There was a definite note of scorn in his voice, and the other diners fell silent.

"The 30th Foot," Rob replied, forcing himself to speak in a neutral tone.

"A real gentleman buys himself into a decent regiment." Captain Bengrove tapped his glass for a footman to refill it. "And does not need to work his way up through the ranks. I purchased my captaincy as soon as I'd done my time as a lieutenant."

"I'm sure all regiments, and all officers, do their duty," Lady Yelden said, casting an anxious look around the table. Rob was not about to abuse her hospitality by arguing with Bengrove, so he didn't reply.

"There is a school of thought that considers serving more than the minimum time would be beneficial," Mr Stretton said. "Particularly as a lieutenant could have served the whole of his three years in barracks."

Bengrove was beginning to look angry. "Are you saying I'm incompetent, Stretton?"

"By no means," Mr Stretton said calmly. "After all, how could I know?" He glanced in Bengrove's direction, then returned his attention to his plate.

Bengrove could not resist having the last word. "Just a foot regiment," he muttered. "Army couldn't function without the cavalry."

"Didn't notice you at Badajoz, Bengrove," Rob said, finally roused to respond. "Had trouble getting the horses over the walls, did you?"

This drew a crack of laughter from George. Miss Stretton covered her mouth with one hand as she glanced at Bengrove, then looked down at her plate. Bengrove slammed his napkin onto the table and pushed his chair back. A hissed command from his mother made him subside, although his face was still flushed with anger.

"Were you at Badajoz, Captain Delafield?" Yelden asked. "Were you in the breaches? What was it like? I heard?—"

Lady Yelden coughed, and George went rather red in the face and stopped.

"The Fifth Division went around the back," Rob said. "We had a much easier time of it than the men in the breaches. If you wish to know more, you may ask me some other time." He gave George a friendly nod, which removed any rebuke from his words. But George's question had successfully deflected the animosity, and conversation returned to general topics.

"That was an uncomfortable dinner, Jo," Mama said quietly as the ladies left the gentlemen to their port and made their way to the drawing room. "Captain Delafield was very restrained in the face of the Bengroves' rudeness; from your Alfred, I'm afraid to say, as well as his father."

"Indeed, Mama." Alfred had chosen to take offence when he could have ignored Papa's comment about experience. Was it wrong of her to be amused by Captain Delafield's riposte? No, she decided. Alfred had set out to denigrate Captain Delafield, and the latter had turned it into a joke instead of becoming angry in return.

When the tea tray arrived, Jo and Lydia poured and passed the cups around. Lady Misterton inspected Jo as she sipped her drink.

"You are a very fortunate young woman to be marrying into the Bengrove family."

"Yes, my lady." Jo did her best to remain polite.

"You appear to have pretty enough manners. I suppose you will manage in the more exalted company you will encounter after your marriage."

"I'm so happy you think so," Jo said sweetly, annoyed more at the insult to Aunt Sarah than to herself. "An encomium from a fine lady such as yourself is an honour indeed."

Lady Misterton nodded regally and turned to Lady Bengrove.

"Well, this is cosy," Aunt Sarah said, breaking the following silence. "I do enjoy titled company, don't you, Frances?"

Jo looked at her aunt in surprise, and caught a wink directed at Mama.

"I suppose it is rare for you, Mrs Stretton," Lady Bengrove said. "Joanna will become accustomed to our ways when she marries my son."

"Indeed she will," Mama said. "But it won't take long, I'm sure." She looked towards Aunt Sarah. "Do you remember when Papa took us all to Badminton House the summer we came out?"

"I do, indeed. Her Grace complimented us on our easy manners. I'm sure Jo would be as well received should your family be fortunate enough to receive an invitation, Lady Bengrove."

Jo hid a smile as Lady Bengrove's sour expression deepened.

"And Longleat. Such a magnificent place," Mama went on. "The house as well as the gardens. Fine furnishings, all in the best taste."

"Not as fine as Stowe," Aunt Sarah responded. "The circuit of the lake provides so many different places to admire the view. It was only finished a few years ago, I think."

Lydia, sitting beside Jo, turned to her in bewilderment, but Aunt Sarah addressed her before she could speak. "Lydia, will you please go and check that Stevenson has had the card tables set up in the blue salon?"

Jo, trying hard not to laugh, followed her cousin out of the room.

"Have Mama and Aunt Frances really been invited to all those places?" Lydia asked. "Mama has never talked about it. I think she would have done if she enjoyed it so much."

"They may have been invited to Badminton before they both married. But they didn't actually say they had been invited to the other two places." Or that they had even been there.

"Oh." Lydia grinned. "Mama would scold me if I told fibs like that. But Lady Bengrove is horrid, isn't she? "

Jo took her arm and drew her further away from the door. "She is, and so is her friend, but you must not say so where any of the guests might hear. Now, I don't think we really need to see Stevenson, but it is a good excuse not to return until the gentlemen rejoin us."

It wasn't long until the menfolk appeared, and it took little persuasion for the company to move to the blue salon for cards. Lord and Lady Bengrove sat down with Lord Yelden and Lady Misterton to play whist.

"Poor Uncle Henry," Jo whispered to Mama.

Mama shook her head. "He won't mind, dear. He's so even-tempered." She looked around at the other guests. "I will leave you younger people to find your own amusement and retire for the night." She stopped by Catherine Bengrove on her way to the door and said a few words. Catherine looked tired, so Jo wasn't surprised when she accompanied Mama. Jo moved over to where the rest of the party were standing.

"Whist, Jo?" George asked. "We could make a four with James and Lydia."

James Newman was sitting beside Lydia, their heads close as they looked at a book together. "I wouldn't want to interrupt them."

"You should allow me to get my revenge at billiards," Mr Bengrove said from behind George. George accepted the challenge with a shrug. Papa raised his brows, but said nothing as the two men left.

"Shall we play, Joanna?" Alfred asked.

"If these gentlemen will join us?" Jo gestured to Captain Delafield and his friend. "But I only play for pennies, not pounds, you know."

"There's not much fun in that," Alfred protested.

He hadn't minded two years ago. Jo's irritation must have shown in her expression, for he smiled and nodded towards the other two. "These gentlemen would prefer to play for more interesting stakes, I'm sure."

"I don't m—" Captain Delafield started, but Papa interrupted .

"Do you play piquet, Bengrove? I'll give you a game. Does a guinea a partie suit you? And something for piques and repiques ?"

Alfred's eyes shifted from Papa to Jo and then back again. "By all means."

Rob, watching Miss Stretton's face as Bengrove and Mr Stretton sat at the second card table, wasn't sure if she was disappointed or offended by Bengrove accepting her father's invitation instead of playing whist with her. It could not be pleasant to be slighted in favour of a higher stakes game.

"Do you care to play, Miss Stretton? Three-handed whist, perhaps." He hadn't intended to spend any more time than he had to in her company, but the words came out before his caution could stop them.

"Or piquet, if you prefer," Chadwick offered. "I can entertain myself with a book if you two wish to play."

"I know the rules for piquet," Miss Stretton said, "but I have had very little practice."

"I am always willing to assist," Chadwick said, with a bow. "We can play together against Delafield."

Miss Stretton appeared surprised, then smiled. "Thank you, Lieutenant. I will accept your offer." The people at the other tables appeared to be taking their games very seriously, and Lady Misterton sent a glare in her direction. "Should we go elsewhere, though? I would not wish to distract the players here from their games."

Fifteen minutes later, the three of them were settled at a card table set up in a separate parlour. Miss Stretton's maid busied herself with some sewing in one corner. Rob picked up the pack the butler had provided, separated the low denomination cards, and set them to one side. He was glad of Chadwick's suggestion—better to sit opposite her than close beside her.

Rob dealt and quickly sorted his own cards. Miss Stretton frowned in concentration, biting her lower lip as she decided on her discards. He watched her slender fingers sort the replacement cards, and tried to ignore his wish to tuck a loose curl of hair back behind her ear. He'd liked her from her letters, and their meetings since his return had only deepened that liking and added physical attraction to it.

"Rob?" They were waiting for him to exchange his cards. He did so, still feeling disgusted that someone like Bengrove was set to marry such an intelligent and beautiful young woman. The man hadn't even wanted to spend time with her if it meant missing out on some high-stakes gambling.

She won the first partie easily and dealt for the next. Rob again went through the process mechanically, and lost again. But when she won the third, Miss Stretton started to look suspicious.

"You're letting me win, Captain!"

"Not deliberately, Miss Stretton. I'm afraid I am just not concentrating well." Her expression changed to one of contrition.

"I'm sorry, Captain. It must be quite tedious for you with me being so slow. And only penny stakes too." The words sounded as if they could have two meanings, but he could detect no sarcasm in her face or voice. She was genuinely apologising for boring him!

Take it lightly, Delafield.

"Why, yes, Miss Stretton. A day is wasted when I haven't won or lost hundreds of pounds. And the pair of us would really prefer to be spending the rest of the evening talking platitudes with people we hardly know."

Jo was momentarily stunned by the captain's first words, but by the time he'd finished speaking, the creases beside his eyes and his compressed lips told her what she should have known. He gave up trying to keep a straight face when she smiled, and the warmth in his gaze made her look away.

"Let us carry on, then." She dealt the cards again, but her concentration now seemed as poor as the captain's, and this time he won by a few points.

"Another game, Miss Stretton?" Lieutenant Chadwick asked. "I could play and?— "

All heads turned as the door opened. "What are you doing here, young woman?" Lord Bengrove demanded, his face thunderous. "Alone with two men; disgraceful behaviour!"

Jo's shock at the sudden attack rendered her speechless for a moment; before she could reply, Martha coughed loudly from her seat in the corner.

"I am not alone with them, and we were playing cards. As you can see." She managed to sound calmer than she felt. She shot a quick glance at her companions with a small shake of the head. It would be better if she dealt with this herself.

Momentarily disconcerted, Lord Bengrove gathered his anger again. "You are betrothed to my son, Miss Stretton. You should be with him, not consorting with these... these…"

"These gentlemen ," Jo interrupted. "Alfred preferred to play cards with my father. If you think I am the sort of person to be… improper… with two men at once, in my aunt's home with a house full of guests, I wonder that you still wish me to marry your son! Good day, sir." She glared at him. After a few tense moments he turned on his heel and stalked out of the room, banging the door behind him. She leaned back limply in her chair, shaken by the sudden unpleasantness.

Captain Delafield left the table, returning with a glass of claret that he placed beside her. "A drink might help, Miss Stretton."

It did, but her inclination for cards had gone. "Thank you for not speaking, gentlemen, for that was as insulting to you as to me. Although I am loath to end the game just after being commanded to do so by such a man, I think I will retire for the night."

They said their farewells, and Jo went to her room, her mood downcast. She didn't feel any closer to Alfred than she had before this morning's walk—quite the opposite. Papa had not helped, enticing him away with the promise of a high-stakes game, but Alfred had gone willingly.

"That Lord Bengrove's a bit rude, miss," Martha said, as she helped Jo off with her gown .

"That was a very well-timed cough, Martha," Jo said. Although she agreed with the maid, it would not do to say so.

"Them military men are proper gents, though. There, miss. All done."

"Thank you, Martha; you may go."

They certainly acted more like gentlemen than Lord Bengrove did, and she had enjoyed that part of the evening. They would discuss the canal project in the morning; she would see him— them —again then.