Beth,” Dacre informed Carleton.
“Lizzie likely makes a secret of the fact that she has separated from Lord Kennedy, however.” Carleton did not need to point out that Kennedy controlled the purse strings of his family; Dacre's mind was seldom far from money matters.
“I see,” Thomas Dacre said thoughtfully. “Well, neither of us is in a hurry, Carleton. Next week, when we return to Bewcastle, I shall sound Christopher out about a future marriage with your lovely daughter Raven. In the meantime, the young people can enjoy getting to know each other better.”
Sir Lancelot knew his wife, Kate, was hoping against hope that a betrothal would be finalized, so that it could be announced at tonight's ball. He tried to cushion her disappointment. “Kate, it's better this way. Dacre and his son return to Bewcastle next week, so it will give Raven more time. I want her to be sure about her feelings before a commitment is made.”
“She
is
sure!”
“No, Kate, you are the one who is sure. You have made it clear you expect her to marry someone titled, and you have pushed her relentlessly toward Christopher Dacre.”
Kate Carleton laughed. “Lance, if you think Raven can be
pushed
toward anything, you are deluding yourself. Raven will always do exactly as she pleases.”
Before the Carleton ladies dressed for the ball, Kate sought out her daughters in the bedchamber they were sharing. “Your father is in negotiations with Lord Dacre for your betrothal, Raven. I have every reason to believe that we will hear wedding bells before the year is out.” Kate touched the material of a gold tissue cape Raven had laid out on the bed. “Very pretty. I've been thinking that it has been a long time since you have visited with your grandmother. You have neglected her shamefully.”
Raven's eyes widened. Her mother had been trying to wean her from her grandmother's influence for years. Then suddenly Raven realized her father hadn't been able to make Thomas Dacre commit to the betrothal yet, and that Christopher and his father were returning to Bewcastle. Raven hid a smile. Her mother was trying to manipulate her! “I shall do my duty and visit my grandmother next week. Would both of you like to come with me?”
An identical look of horror crossed her mother's face and her sister's at the same time. “You know we never saw eye to eye on anything in our lives! You are the one she loves, Raven.”
Raven heaved an inward sigh of relief. She would have a free hand in bringing Christopher Dacre to his knees with a proposal! Dressing for tonight's masquerade, however, presented more of a problem. She had to put on the red Gypsy dress, then cover it with the gold tissue cape that would disguise her as a goddess to her family. “Lark, why don't I help you with your costume? Then you can go along and help Mother while I dress.”
It took the better part of an hour to ready Lark for the ball. She had decided to be Princess Elizabeth of York, since she already owned a gown embroidered with white roses. It was her crown of silk roses that took up most of the time; it seemed to Raven that she would never succeed in anchoring it securely to her sister's fair tresses. Lark's eye mask was on the end of a wand, so she could wave it about; she looked more like a fairy princess than a real one.
“Lark, come along and help me with my Queen Guinevere costume. The steeple headdress needs more veiling attached, I believe,” Kate Carleton declared, “but I shall take your advice in the matter.”
The moment they left her chamber, Raven undressed, slipped into the red Gypsy dress, fastened golden hoops in her ears, then also decided to wear the black silk stockings. She carefully covered all with the golden cape and donned her gold-colored eye mask. Tucked into the waistband of her dress were a couple of red paper poppies she had bought at the fair. She would put them in her hair later, once she summoned the courage to remove the gold cape and
“Lizzie likely makes a secret of the fact that she has separated from Lord Kennedy, however.” Carleton did not need to point out that Kennedy controlled the purse strings of his family; Dacre's mind was seldom far from money matters.
“I see,” Thomas Dacre said thoughtfully. “Well, neither of us is in a hurry, Carleton. Next week, when we return to Bewcastle, I shall sound Christopher out about a future marriage with your lovely daughter Raven. In the meantime, the young people can enjoy getting to know each other better.”
Sir Lancelot knew his wife, Kate, was hoping against hope that a betrothal would be finalized, so that it could be announced at tonight's ball. He tried to cushion her disappointment. “Kate, it's better this way. Dacre and his son return to Bewcastle next week, so it will give Raven more time. I want her to be sure about her feelings before a commitment is made.”
“She
is
sure!”
“No, Kate, you are the one who is sure. You have made it clear you expect her to marry someone titled, and you have pushed her relentlessly toward Christopher Dacre.”
Kate Carleton laughed. “Lance, if you think Raven can be
pushed
toward anything, you are deluding yourself. Raven will always do exactly as she pleases.”
Before the Carleton ladies dressed for the ball, Kate sought out her daughters in the bedchamber they were sharing. “Your father is in negotiations with Lord Dacre for your betrothal, Raven. I have every reason to believe that we will hear wedding bells before the year is out.” Kate touched the material of a gold tissue cape Raven had laid out on the bed. “Very pretty. I've been thinking that it has been a long time since you have visited with your grandmother. You have neglected her shamefully.”
Raven's eyes widened. Her mother had been trying to wean her from her grandmother's influence for years. Then suddenly Raven realized her father hadn't been able to make Thomas Dacre commit to the betrothal yet, and that Christopher and his father were returning to Bewcastle. Raven hid a smile. Her mother was trying to manipulate her! “I shall do my duty and visit my grandmother next week. Would both of you like to come with me?”
An identical look of horror crossed her mother's face and her sister's at the same time. “You know we never saw eye to eye on anything in our lives! You are the one she loves, Raven.”
Raven heaved an inward sigh of relief. She would have a free hand in bringing Christopher Dacre to his knees with a proposal! Dressing for tonight's masquerade, however, presented more of a problem. She had to put on the red Gypsy dress, then cover it with the gold tissue cape that would disguise her as a goddess to her family. “Lark, why don't I help you with your costume? Then you can go along and help Mother while I dress.”
It took the better part of an hour to ready Lark for the ball. She had decided to be Princess Elizabeth of York, since she already owned a gown embroidered with white roses. It was her crown of silk roses that took up most of the time; it seemed to Raven that she would never succeed in anchoring it securely to her sister's fair tresses. Lark's eye mask was on the end of a wand, so she could wave it about; she looked more like a fairy princess than a real one.
“Lark, come along and help me with my Queen Guinevere costume. The steeple headdress needs more veiling attached, I believe,” Kate Carleton declared, “but I shall take your advice in the matter.”
The moment they left her chamber, Raven undressed, slipped into the red Gypsy dress, fastened golden hoops in her ears, then also decided to wear the black silk stockings. She carefully covered all with the golden cape and donned her gold-colored eye mask. Tucked into the waistband of her dress were a couple of red paper poppies she had bought at the fair. She would put them in her hair later, once she summoned the courage to remove the gold cape and
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