The Virgin in the Rake’s Bed by Ava MacAdams
Chapter Five
“Catherine, where have you been?” her father hissed, as she entered the ballroom a few moments later.
She and Ian had agreed to enter separately so as not to arouse suspicion, and he had slipped in through a side door used by the servants and was now standing with Rickard by the punch bowl. Catherine smiled and made her excuses. “I was just in the powder room,” she said, and her father looked at her suspiciously.
“I see. Well, we must make the announcement shortly. The Earl of Westwood is waiting,” he said, glancing over to where the Earl stood waiting patiently in a corner.
Another dance had just come to an end and there was much bowing and curtseying amongst the ladies and gentlemen who now thronged back and forth, as the musicians took a break from the endeavors. Catherine now turned to find Rebecca and Samantha glaring at her, but she shook her head and beckoned them over.
“I did not do it,” she said, and the two of them breathed a sigh of relief.
“Thank goodness, we were so worried. We have been nothing but nerves since you left. We saw Hamilton Asquith return and were just waiting for the scandal to break. Did you decide against it or did circumstances conspire against you? Please, tell me you decided against it, Catherine?” Rebecca said, but Catherine shook her head.
“I fully intended to seduce him, but he was not in the library and so I could not do so,” she replied, as though it were as simple as missing the mail coach.
“But then, what do you intend to do? Is the announcement not to come immediately? Why do you look so happy if your plan has failed?” Rebecca asked, and Catherine laughed.
“You shall see,” she said, glancing over to where Ian stood with her brother, their eyes meeting for a moment, just as Catherine’s father tapped a glass and brought the room to order.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to thank our most gracious host, Her Grace, the Duchess of Sinclair, for giving me this opportunity to speak,” he began, as the attentions of the room now turned to him.
The duchess had been holding court at the far end of the room and she turned to acknowledge, as Catherine’s father raised his glass to her and offered a toast.
“It is my pleasure, Mr. Ferguson,” she said, and Catherine could not help smiling at hearing her father addressed in such a manner.
His greatest disappointment was that he had no title of his own, and despite currying many favors, moving in all the right circles, and confining his acquaintances only to the aristocratic classes the one thing which alluded him and set him apart from others was his lack of title. It was for this reason that he desired Catherine’s match with the Earl of Westwood, a match which would ensure his own respectability by association and, he hoped, the possibility of a title for himself.
“Thank you, Your Grace. I do not wish to take up too much of your time, ladies and gentlemen, for I know that we have several dances this evening, but I wish to share some happy news,” Catherine’s father said, and now the room fell entirely silent, as all eyes were fixed on him.
Catherine caught Ian’s eye, and he gave a nod, poised to step forward at the precise moment he was needed. The Earl of Westwood, too, seemed ready, as though he was about to claim a prize he had long coveted and which was now to be awarded him.
“Oh, Catherine, you do not have to do this, I am sure,” Samantha whispered, but Catherine ignored her, waiting for the exact moment of surprise.
“I am pleased to announce,” her father continued, “that my daughter, Catherine is to be married, and I announce the betrothal between her and…”
“I,” Ian said, stepping forward, as Catherine’s father looked somewhat shocked.
“Oh… well…” he stammered, but now Catherine took her cue stepped forward, too.
“That is right, between the Baron Westwick and I,” she said, as Ian offered her his arm.
A muttering rose amongst the crowd of guests, for it was surely a strange thing to know that a sworn bachelor like Ian Bennet should so suddenly announce his betrothal. The Earl of Westwood seemed lost for words an angry look coming over his face, and Catherine’s father stammered, though made no protest – perhaps wishing to save himself any embarrassment.
“Ah, yes, Ian Bennet, the Baron Westwick, a match I am sure has made my daughter ever so happy,” her father said, and a round of applause broke out around the room, before the guests still muttering their surprise, as they returned to their drinks and conversation.
As the musicians struck up their notes again and another dance began, Catherine faced her father, who looked from her to Ian and back in astonishment, as the Earl of Westwood came bustling up, his face flushed red with anger.
“This is outrageous,” he declared, fixing Catherine’s father with a furious gaze.
“I… I did not know anything about this, my Lord. Catherine, explain yourself,” her father demanded, turning to Catherine who smiled.
“Well, it is really quite simple, father. I have met the Baron Westwick on a number of occasions through Rickard and this very evening he has asked me to marry him, and I have accepted. I trust you are happy for me?” she said, fixing her father with a smile.
Her father seemed too shocked to offer anything, but a stammered response. On one hand, Ian Bennet was a match as suitable as the Earl of Westwood. He had a title and estates, a considerable income, and was, by all accounts, a respectable gentleman, albeit one for whom the company of women was a pleasure. It had been his betrothed who had caused the scandal and not Ian himself, and though he had always spoken fondly of the bachelor’s state, marriage was surely not out of the question.
“I… well, it is something of a surprise,” her father replied, just as Rickard came hurrying up, his face fixed with a look of astonishment.
“Ian, you never said anything about this,” he cried, but Ian only smiled.
“And why should I have done, Rickard? Am I to confide every matter – particularly those of the heart – with you?” he asked, and Rickard seemed to falter.
“Well… I suppose not, but all those things you said, all that stuff about…” he began, but Ian cut him off.
“When a man finds the woman he loves, then that is that. I am happy, and I hope you can be happy for me, and for your sister,” he said, slipping his hand into Catherine’s.
Catherine was impressed by the way he played the part. He seemed so convincing, and she could almost believe that they were betrothed by the act he gave. She turned to the Earl of Westwood, offering him her consolation, and he scowled at her, folding his arms and muttering to himself.
“Really, it is quite out of order. I had expectations; I had made plans. You cannot simply dismiss me out of hand,” he said, but Catherine smiled and shook her head.
“A proposal was never made, it was all rather assumed, but I simply cannot marry for anything but love, of that I can assure you,” she said, glancing up at Ian, who smiled.
“That is surely the truth,” he said, and the Earl of Westwood grimaced.
“You have not heard the last of this Broderick,” he said, and stormed off across the room.
“He should not have assumed, and neither should you, father,” Catherine said, turning to her father, who seemed quite put out by the matter, though had seemed to realize there was nothing he could do about it except to accept the situation as it was.
“Catherine, what is this all about?” a voice behind her asked, and she turned to find Rebecca and Samantha staring at her.
“I think I shall leave you to explain,” Ian said, and squeezing her hand, he slipped off into the throng, followed by Rickard, who continued to question him.
Rebecca took Catherine by the arm, and she and Samantha led her off to the side of the room, the other guests congratulating her as she went.
“Ian Bennet? You told us nothing about this,” Samantha hissed, as Rebecca shook her head.
“What happened to Hamilton Asquith? Were you not intent on seducing him? This is all very confusing, Catherine,” Rebecca said, shaking her head.
Catherine laughed. She was enjoying this ruse and had evidently succeeded in fooling everyone. “It is not what you think,” she said, and leaning forward, she explained everything which had occurred in the library between her and Ian Bennet. When her explanation had come to an end, Samantha and Rebecca looked at one another in astonishment.
“I am not sure what is worse, Catherine, seducing Hamilton Asquith so that you might create a scandal and destroy your prospects or create the illusion of a false marriage with a man who has no intention of marrying you. What will happen when the truth is known?” Rebecca asked, and Catherine rolled her eyes.
“I have not had a chance to think it through, the suggestion was so sudden, but it has certainly saved me from a far worse fate,” she explained.
It was true, she had not. At some point, the simple act of betrothal – whether real or not – would have to become a plan for marriage, a date would have to be set, the invitations organized and so forth. How long could the illusion last?
But Catherine was not worried about this, all she cared about was the moment, and in that moment, she had got what she wished for – an end to any talk of her marrying the Earl of Westwood.
“But it will soon become common knowledge that the betrothal is a fake,” Samantha exclaimed.
“And by that time, the Earl of Westwood will have married a more suitable lady and will care nothing for what I have done. I have told you before, I do not wish to marry anyone, least of all an elderly aristocrat not long for this world,” Catherine replied, smiling at her two friends, whose incredulity and astonishment she could not readily understand.
As far as she was concerned, the matter was settled. In a few months, the engagement could be called off and quietly pushed aside. It would give Catherine the chance to seek a more suitable match or remain a spinster – something she was entirely happy to do.
For now, she would gladly play along with the game and make out that she and Ian Bennet were very much in love. After all, there were far worse propositions than a handsome man whose kiss she had rather enjoyed.
“And what happens when the truth is revealed?” Samantha asked, and Catherine smiled.
“Well, perhaps it will not be. Perhaps we really will be married,” she said, the thought not entirely without its merits…
