The Famous Heroine/The Plumed Bonnet by Mary Balogh Page B

favorite blend on the back of one hand.
    “Instead of which,” he said, “she very near outshoneJane this afternoon. It is to be wondered, by the way, if Jane will find someone to her liking during what is left of the Season this year. It became tedious last year sending away all those suitors who came to me with their offers merely because she had assured me each time that she could not possibly, possibly marry so-and-so. I believe I acquired notoriety as an ogre of a brother.”
    “Jane is still very young,” his mother said, “and very full of ideals. She still believes that somewhere out there is the person who was created with the sole purpose of being her mate. I believe, Alistair, that she is not alone among my children in harboring such a belief.”
    The duke sniffed a portion of the snuff up each nostril and paused for it to take effect. In doing so, he avoided responding to his mother’s comment.
    “It appears,” he said when he was able, “that one does not even need to stress the fact that Miss Downes will undoubtedly be the recipient of a very large dowry indeed when she marries. At least, I have not stressed any such fact yet. Have you?”
    “Not at all,” his mother said. “People have chosen to take to her for a far more noble reason. She is the heroine of the hour. It is very gratifying.”
    “I have often wondered.” His grace regarded his mother with lazy eyes, which perhaps held a modicum of humor. “
Would
Henry have drowned without Miss Downes’s heroic act?”
    The duchess looked shocked. “Of course he would have drowned,” she said. “Cora saved his life at considerable risk to her own.”
    “Can Henry not swim?” his grace asked. He knew the answer. He had taught the child himself the previous summer.
    “Alistair!” her grace exclaimed. “A five-year-old who takes a tumble fully clothed into a cold river is scarcelylikely to remember the skills taught him almost a year ago.”
    “I suppose not.” His grace returned his snuffbox to his pocket. “And so a number of visitors called this afternoon for the express purpose of conversing with the heroine and congratulating her. There were even one or two eligibles among them. Did they come out of curiosity alone, do you think? Can any of them be brought to the point?”
    “I believe Mr. Corsham is a possibility,” the duchess said. “He danced with her last evening and you say he inquired about her after I had fetched her home. He is just the sort of young man who would be eager to marry a fortune, Alistair. He has the one his aunt left him, but he is still very much a younger son.”
    “I shall be sure to have a word with him at White’s,” his grace said, “and steer the conversation toward the enormous wealth of Mr. Downes, in addition to his recent emergence as a man of property.”
    “Mr. Pandry might be brought around as well,” the duchess said. “Sir Robert Webster might not. He would not wish to risk the reputation of a baronet’s title by taking a bride of inferior rank. Lord Francis Kneller was remarkably kind to her last evening, and he is to take her driving in the park later. Did you know? He is out of the question as a suitor, of course, but his notice can do her nothing but good in the eyes of the
ton
.”
    “Yes,” his grace agreed. “It is well known that Kneller takes notice only of those ladies who are worth noticing. He was obliging me last evening and clearly decided to take my plea seriously enough to extend the invitation for today. I shall encourage him to continue to take notice of her. He needs employment. He has recently suffered a severe disappointment.”
    “Miss Newman?” his mother asked. “I heard of her recent marriage to your friend the Marquess of Carew. Iwas surprised, I must confess. I thought Lord Francis to be the favorite among her suitors, and heaven knows he paid determined court to her for long enough.”
    “But Carew bore off the prize,” his grace said, “and