"Clarissa," Jane said, trying for severity.
"It is no use your trying to dissuade me, Jane. I am quite determined and have even given Lindley my pledge that all will be settled by next week. I do so want to enjoy the Christmas holiday without this hanging over me. Now, help me with my list if you would help me."
"I shall help," Dalton said, coming into her room, "and gladly. What is it you wish to know?"
"Oh, Dalton, just the one I need," Clarissa said, laying aside her shawl. "You know everyone in society. Just who has Irish lands?"
"Irish lands, is it? Well, I suppose I'm not surprised. You will have your way and go back, and if it takes an aging husband to get you there, then you're hardly likely to balk."
"Of course not," she said, hesitating only slightly. "If you'll only help me compile my list?"
"Yes, of course," Dalton said with a slight smile.
" Dalton, you're not to encourage her," Jane said.
"But how can I not, Jane, when she is being so very reasonable, so extremely logical?"
"Exactly," Clarissa said with a nod to Jane.
"Well, then, you must have Lord Benson on your list. He has a prime estate in County Wicklow."
"Lord Benson," she repeated, forcing herself to add him to her list. Benson was past fifty and had a small pastry for a nose.
"Then there is Lord Esherton, recently available, with an estate in Waterford much talked of."
She had already met Lord Esherton; he was without a single hair on his head, and he had a most peculiar odor about him. His first wife had most likely died of asphyxiation. Still, Waterford was so very near Wexford, the place of her youth. Esherton was added to her list.
"I almost hesitate to mention…" Dalton said leisurely, "but you did ask for my complete help."
"Yes, who is it?" she said sharply, redipping her quill.
"There is Lord Montwyn, whom I know you have met. He does have an estate of some merit in County Meath, I think it is."
"Ah," she said, trying not to smile. And failing.
"I thought you'd be glad to add Montwyn to your list," Dalton teased with a chuckle.
"Don't be ridiculous, Dalton," she barked, laying aside her quill. "If I must shop for a husband, I would be rather stupid not to have a shopping list from which to make my selections."
"And you are certainly not stupid," Dalton said merrily. "Tell me, what exactly is on your for a future husband?"
"Irish lands, of course. That is of primary importance."
"And of secondary importance?"
"His annual income."
"A most practical list," he said, smiling.
"For a most serious purpose," she said with a small scowl.
"Assuredly. Shall I inform Lord Montwyn that he is on your list?"
"Don't be an imbecile, Dalton," she snapped. "It would be so like you to do it, just for a laugh. But tell him, if you must. I'll wager it will matter little," she said, grinning.
"That confident, are you?"
"Not another word from you, Dalton," she said, turning her back to him and sipping her chocolate most delicately.
Dalton limited his response to a bark of laughter, and then left her room with Jane at his elbow, whispering words of wise counsel, no doubt. It was unfortunate for Jane that she was hampered by an obstinate family, ruled for the most part by their own stubborn ways.
But not Clarissa. She was proceeding wisely and most cautiously. Did she not have her list? And what a welcome addition Montwyn was to that list, especially when compared to his competition. But really, to be honest with herself, he had no competition. With Irish lands behind him, he became just possible for consideration as a husband. He was still rude and overbearing and proud, yet he was compelling in a blatant sort of way.
He just might do.
He was certainly a more attractive candidate than Esherton. All that was lacking was the certainty that she could manage him. Yet if she was able to manuever him into making an offer for her, it would be no great task to softly manage him during their marriage. She was almost certain Montwyn wouldn't present too much of a problem.
Let Dalton spill the truth about her list to him; she just hoped he would. If she knew men-and she did, with ten older brothers to instruct her-his knowing she had compiled a list with his name on it would fire both his anger and his interest. His pride would be pricked, as would his manly desire to win at any game, any competition. And so he would compete-to be her husband. She would have her Irish estate and, if Montwyn did as she expected, a husband who didn't smell like a dirty dish.
Dalton met Lindley in the foyer as he was pulling on his new gloves. He was in fine mettle and it showed.
"Rest easily, Lindley; I'd wager Clarissa will choose Montwyn within the week, if Montwyn can be properly encouraged to offer for her."
"Really?" Lindley asked, trying to decide just when this decision on Clarissa's part could have taken place. Of course, there was Beau to entice to the altar as well. If Clarissa was of a mind to accept Montwyn, there was no time to waste in getting Beau to offer for her. She was so changeable lately that any delay could ruin the whole arrangement.
Dalton hurried out, every item of clothing in perfect place, to find Montwyn and do his cheerful best to push him into matrimony.
Lindley, unfortunately, did not know this and left hurriedly on exactly the same errand.
Only Russell, who had heard the short exchange from the study, was of a different mind. It was obvious to him that both Dalton and Lindley were well-disposed to having Montwyn a part of their family. He, however, was much less certain of the man's worth as Clarissa's husband. Montwyn had a reputation as a hard man, and Clarissa, with her outspoken ways, would have an easier time of it with a milder sort of fellow. Certainly Clarissa could be convinced of this bald truth.
He approached her door quietly, only to hear her talking softly with Perry. It didn't sound the sort of conversation one intruded upon, and so he left to make his way to Montwyn, to put him off Clarissa, by whatever means he could find, and onto another girl. Young Mary Beckham was a lovely girl of sweet temperament and radiant complexion. If he were in the market for a wife, he'd be easily induced to look her way. He could not imagine that Montwyn would see her any differently.
He had forgotten completely how blind a brother could be to his sister's appeal.
"Is it possible that you are unaware how completely ridiculous the entire idea is?" Perry asked, as close to fury as he had ever come. "You've made a list? That is absolutely not the way to choose a husband. What if none of the men on your list offers for you? What good then, Clarissa?"
"Not offer?" She laughed. "They'll all offer for me. What is wrong with you to have so little faith in me?"
"And if they do, then whom will you pick if all are equal upon your list?"
Perry reached over and took the list from the table, reading aloud.
"Benson, Esherton, and Montwyn! They're all impossible; surely you can see that, Clarissa. How have you compiled this list, for such unsuitable men to be grouped together so cozily?"
"They are not unsuitable," she snapped. How could he put Beau in with Benson? Was it possible that a man did not see a suitor in the same light as a woman would? Could any man, even Perry, be that blind? "And I've compiled my list by priorities. My priorities. Land in Ireland is my first concern. His owning an estate in Ireland is more important than anything."