Page 10 of A Single Obsession

“With good reason. He hasn’t exactly proved himself the most reliable of characters. As for his spending habits—”

“I’ll have to marry,” Beau cut in, his voice full of despair.

Anthony put his arm around his friend’s shoulders. “Cheer up. It hasn’t come to that yet. You need to be seen in the right places and appear to be doing what your mother wants. Impress her by taking the initiative. You can start tomorrow at Georgie’s ball. Dance and flirt with two or three well-dowered beauties and her ladyship will soon leave you alone. It’ll be just like last year.”

“Maybe. But if she keeps pushing me, I’ll have to court someone, and you know what it’s like. If you pay a lady too much attention, she gets expectations, and before you’re aware of it, you’re obliged to offer for her.”

“What if you spread yourself about a bit? Share your smiles with more than one lady. That seems to work for me. Prevents any of them from getting ideas.”

“It sounds exhausting, but it might work—if I can escape being labelled a rake. Will it satisfy my mother, though? I need to keep her happy, and if it comes to it, I guess I shall be obliged to marry to save my horses.”

Anthony raised his glass. “In that case, to your bride, whoever she may be.”

Eliza stared in the mirror and allowed a smile to creep onto her lips. It was not a big smile, but enough to bring out the dimple in her chin. Though pleased with her appearance, it was not her reflection that made her grin. Today was the day of her sister’s ball—and Beau would be there.

For that reason, she wanted to look her best. Sarah had worked wonders with her hair, lacing strands of pearls into her long blond tresses, which were piled high on top of her head with just a few select tendrils falling down by the side of her face. The pearl and diamond drops in her ears were a gift from her grandmother, the Duchess of Wessex.

They had arrived with a letter wishing her well for the season and urging her not to forget herself and embarrass her relations by making a foolish match. Eliza trusted her grandmother would not consider marrying Viscount Beaumont to be throwing herself away, for that was the only match that interested her.

With a deftness learned by years of practice, Sarah slipped Eliza’s white ballgown over her head without disturbing a hair. Eliza twirled this way and that, watching the light catching the pearls sewn onto the skirt until bid to stand still. Her maid was fastening the back of her dress when Georgiana entered the room.

“I see Madame Giselle has excelled herself,” she said, looking over Eliza’s appearance with approval. “You look beautiful.”

Once Sarah had left, Eliza looked to her sister for reassurance. “You are sure he’ll come, aren’t you?”

Georgiana’s face clouded over. “Can’t you forget about him for one moment? I should hate to feel that my efforts on your behalf have been wasted should the wretched boy not deign to turn up.”

“He is not wretched!”

“Oh well, maybe that was uncharitable of me, but he is hopelessly unreliable. Remember, he spent last season dancing attendance on me, so I should know.”

“Then you don’t think he’ll come?”

“How am I supposed to know? He said he would come, but short of telling Anthony you’re in love with his best friend and making him bring Beau with him, I’m not sure what else you expect me to do.”

Eliza paled at the thought of Anthony discovering how she felt about Beau. It was bad enough that he teased her about her masquerade in the hunt.

“Don’t you dare say a word to him.”

“As if I would,” Georgiana said, taking her sister’s hand. She paused for a moment. “How do you feel?”

“Nervous. I wish I had your confidence. You’re aware of how hard I find it to converse with strangers. I shall blush constantly, be horribly tongue-tied and appear like every other insipid young lady making her come-out in society.”

“Is that such a bad thing?”

Eliza shrugged. “Not if it will make you happy, but to me, it feels more of a masquerade than dressing up as a boy.”

Georgiana squeezed her hand, saying with a lightness that did not quite match the sternness of her expression, “I would be obliged if you would keep the boy locked up tonight. No doubt our aunt will be watching, and I should so hate to give her any reason to criticise either of us.”

“Thank you so much for reminding me,” Eliza said with a groan. There was little chance of the livelier side of her nature coming out this evening. “I already feel nauseous with anxiety, and you’ve made it worse. It makes me quake to think of performing in front of Lady Harting when it is so important I make a good impression on her. Your words have just set my heart into a fresh flutter of nerves. I wish I were more like you, then I wouldn’t tremble at the thought of her noticing me.”

Charlotte interrupted them by barging into the room, dressed for the ball, with a forbidding expression on her face. Georgiana shot Eliza a look of desperation before going downstairs to make a last check on the preparations.

“Why do I have to attend Georgie’s ball when I don’t want to get married?” Charlotte said, scowling at Eliza.

“You might change your mind.”

“I won’t.”