Page 53 of A Dangerous Engagement

But he should not be staring at her so blatantly, admiring her beauty.

“Thank you. Of course. You and your aunt shall be back home with the rest of your family very soon.”

Philip did his best to keep up with the whereabouts of as many of the houseguests as he could but especially those of Lady Blackstone and her almost-constant shadow, Mr.Ratley.

That evening at dinner, Philip informed the latter two of the dire situation of his mother, saying that she was in an unconscious state and could die at any time, or she might linger for many months. However, he felt his first duty was to make her beloved country a better place, rather than sitting by her bedside.

Lady Blackstone commended his zeal. “You are a true son of England,” she said. “Your mother would be very proud of you.”

Mr.Ratley actually clapped him on the shoulder. “It is hard to lose one’s mother. Let Lady Blackstone and me be your support. We are all a family here, of sorts, fighting for a common cause.”

“Thank you. You are good friends.” Philip endeavored to look humble.

Dinner was the same lingering affair, and everyone seemed to be drinking a bit more than usual. As the meal was drawing to a close, one of the women suggested a game.

“Mr.Ratley says he and Miss Mayson are engaged, but let us see if he is willing to pay for her hand with compliments. He must pay fifteen compliments or we shall lock her away from him until he does.”

Miss Mayson’s porcelain skin turned bright red as a hearty “Huzzah!” went around the table, and all eyes turned to her and her fiancé.

Felicity listened with self-conscious embarrassment as her friend Josephine Cartwright suggested Mr.Ratley pay compliments to his bride-to-be, “Or we will lock her away from him until he does.”

Josephine laughed and clapped her hands as the rest of the guests shouted, “Pay up!”

Mr.Ratley beamed, obviously delighted to have so much attention directed toward him.

Felicity tried to smile good-naturedly. But she wished she could sink through the floor at finding herself the object of the raucous crowd’s attention.

Mr.Ratley stood as the crowd began to chant, “Pay up! Pay up!”

“Very well, very well.” He motioned for them to quiet down. “I am a man in love, so I have no objections.”

“I will count for you!” someone shouted.

Mr.Ratley cleared his throat, then announced loudly, “My Miss Mayson is as lovely as any girl in England.”

“Lovely! That’s one!”

He paused, as if he could not think of any other compliments. Her stomach twisted. Everyone was staring, waiting, their faces fastened on her fiancé with caustic grins.

Finally, Mr.Ratley said, “Miss Mayson is the girl I have dreamed of my whole life.”

“That’s two! What makes you want to marry her? Come on, man!”

“She is an ornament on my arm, my brightest jewel.”

“A bright jewel,” Mr.Cartwright said. “That’s three.”

She pressed the back of her hand to her burning cheek.

“No, no, that’s the same thing!” someone shouted. “Lovely, a dream, and a jewel. Something else, something else!”

“She is beautiful, handsome, lovely,” Mr.Ratley listed, still smiling broadly.

“Those are all the same!”

Felicity tried to force an amused smile while she prayed he would think of some other compliment, something appropriate—or, better yet, put a stop to this “game.” When she glanced up, she noticed Mr.Merrick’s hands were clenched into fists as he glared at Mr.Ratley. But when he looked at Felicity ... She couldn’t meet his look of compassion.

“Think of something else,” another man shouted, “or we will take her now and lock her away.” He even went so far as to stand up from his chair, motioning to Mr.Sproles to join him.