“Really? How delightful.”

“Delightful?”

“In the past, rumors about me have been of a far more scandalous nature.” She could hear the grin in his voice. “This will be mild in comparison.”

A knock sounded at the library doors.

“Quiet,” Edward said. “The curtain rises.”

A frisson of excitement skated up Gwen’s spine. Her life was extraordinarily dull, as well.

Gwen heard the door open.

“I beg your pardon, my lord,” Edward’s butler said. “Miss Bromley is here. She says you requested to speak with her.”

“Indeed I did.” The chair scraped against the floor as he rose to greet his guest. Katherine perhaps? “Please send her in, Jervis.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“And when my estate manager arrives, please show him in at once. He has papers I need to sign.”

“Yes, my lord.” Jervis hesitated. “This is entirely inappropriate, sir, but might I say something?”

“You’ve been with this family since my father was alive, Jervis, and I value your opinion. Please go on.”

The butler’s tone took on a confidential tenor but he lowered his voice only slightly. Gwen could hear him quite clearly, as could anyone standing behind him.

“I just wished to ask you if you’re certain you need to take this step. Selling off much of the estate property strikes me as a drastic measure.”

“I have given this a great deal of thought, Jervis.” Edward heaved an overly dramatic sigh. “And it is a drastic step but one that cannot be helped, I’m afraid. Unfortunately, I fear it’s just the beginning. We shall soon have to decide which of the staff we will be letting go but that can wait until after the wedding. These are desperate times.”

Desperate times? Gwen stifled a laugh.

“I understand, sir.” Jervis paused. “Should I show Miss Bromley in?”

“Yes, of course. Thank you, Jervis.”

Gwen did wish she could see Edward’s face but the angle of the nearly closed door did not permit it. A moment later she heard Katherine enter the room.

“Katherine, my dear, you have outdone yourself. I daresay I have never seen a creature as dazzling as you are tonight. My brother is a lucky man.”

“Thank you, Edward.” Caution sounded in Katherine’s voice. “Your butler said you wished to speak to me on a matter of some importance.”

“Yes, I do. Please sit down.”

The rustle of skirts indicated Katherine settled in one of the chairs positioned before Edward’s desk. Edward resumed his seat. He really should get that chair oiled.

“I should be speaking to your father about this but as you are soon to be a member of the family, I thought it best to discuss this with you directly.”

“Is something amiss?” Katherine asked lightly.

“Oh, no, not really.” Edward paused for a long moment. “I find it distasteful to discuss such matters. I have no wish to cast a shadow over the happiness of this week’s wedding festivities. I’m not sure how to say this.”

“Good Lord, Edward. Simply say what you have to say.” Katherine’s tone was a bit sharper than she had perhaps intended.

“Very well, then.” Edward drew a deep breath. “When Henry said you and he were to be married, in spite of your father’s financial difficulties, we both expected your dowry would be substantial. We understood dowries had been set aside for you and your sisters by your grandfather.”

“It was most thoughtful of him.”

“Indeed it was. Regrettably, the amount of your dowry is far less than we had hoped.”

“It is somewhat modest,” Katherine said slowly.

“Still, it may well cover the expenses incurred this week for the ball and the wedding itself. Which is something to be grateful for at least.”

“Is it?”

“Keeps the creditors away for another day.” Edward uttered a harsh laugh. The man was a far better actor than Gwen had imagined. “After the wedding, however...”

“After the wedding?”

“After the wedding is a different story, I’m afraid.” Edward blew a long breath. “You should be aware that Henry’s fortune is, and always has been, tied inexorably to mine. And mine is...”

“Yes?”

“It’s difficult for a man to admit his investments have not turned out as he hoped or that his debts are exceeding his assets.”

“Bad investments, massive debt and insolvency,” Katherine murmured.

“It’s not quite to that point yet. Well, insolvency anyway. And I am taking steps to prevent bankruptcy,” Edward added quickly. For a moment, Gwen almost believed him herself. “Selling off property, economizing, that sort of thing.”

“Yes, I am familiar with that sort of thing,” she said weakly.

“Excellent.” Edward exhaled a sigh of relief. “I cannot tell you how pleased I am that Henry has found a bride well used to the modest circumstances we will soon find ourselves in. I say.” His tone brightened. “Do you know how to cook?”

“Good Lord, no.” Horror sounded in Katherine’s voice. “We have always employed a cook.”

Gwen pinched the skin between her thumb and first finger to keep from laughing.

“I shall have to ask your father how he manages it. After the wedding of course. No need to sully this festive occasion with practical matters like finance and impoverishment.”

“No need at all,” Katherine said faintly.

“I hear there’s a woman in the village who can come in to cook once or twice a week. And I’m sure the three of us will manage quite nicely until our circumstances turn around. Which I am confident they will do. Eventually.”

“But Henry and I will be living in Henry’s house in London.”

“I’m afraid London is out of the question.”

“What do you mean?” A definite hint of panic edged Katherine’s words.

“Oh, well, this is awkward.”

“What’s awkward?” Katherine’s voice rose.

“Henry hasn’t told you, then?”

“Told me what?”

“His house in London is not as much his as it is his family’s.” Edward sighed deeply. “That house, you see, along with my residence in London, as well as nearly everything else, will have to go. However—” his tone brightened “—we should be able to keep Danby Manor. For a while anyway. So good news, there.”

“That is...good.”

The chair groaned as Edward obviously got to his feet.

“I do hope I haven’t upset you but I thought it best if everything was out in the open.” He chuckled. “Wouldn’t want any unexpected surprises after the wedding day.”

“No, of course not...”

“Fortunately, as you and Henry are a love match, our reduced financial circumstances will be nothing more than a bump in the road of your life together.”

“A bump in the road,” Katherine echoed then cleared her throat. “I believe our guests will be arriving shortly, so if that is all...” Her skirts rustled.

“I can’t think of anything else. I must say, I’m glad you’ve taken this so well. Not everyone would, you know. And I can’t tell you how delighted I am that my dear brother will have someone like you by his side throughout the difficult times ahead. For the rest of your days. Until you both breathe your last.”

Goodness, that was a bit much. But Edward was right. This was fun.

“Perhaps you should retire until the guests arrive, Katherine. You’re looking a bit pale.”

“I believe I shall.”

Gwen heard the library door open and close.

“You can come out now.”

Gwen pushed open the door and stepped into the room. Edward stood by an open cabinet, disguised in the same manner as the door to his office, pouring two glasses of what looked like good Scottish whisky.

“A splendid performance, Edward, simply splendid.” Gwen crossed the room and accepted a glass. “I’m assuming it was all an act.”

“I assure you, Gwen, our finances are as sound as the Bank of England itself.” He grinned. “I was good, wasn’t I?”

“You were indeed. As was your butler.” Gwen sipped her whisky and savored the intensity of the drink. It was an excellent quality. “Did you tell him what this was about?”

“I did need his cooperation and I do trust Jervis implicitly. Besides, as it turns out, Katherine has not endeared herself to the staff.”

“Imagine my surprise.” Gwen grinned. “My congratulations, Edward. Why, I almost believed you myself.”

“That’s good to know and I do thank you. But the more important question is—” he raised his glass “—did she?”


CHAPTER ELEVEN


IT WASN’T AS if this was her first ball. Celia had been to any number of balls before. Specifically, four such social events, which probably did not qualify as “any number.” One was even in London, although admittedly the rest were country affairs, as was the ball tonight. But this was given by an earl. Certainly Father was a viscount but there was a vast difference between a nearly impoverished viscount and a wealthy earl. In this ballroom, liveried footmen carried trays of champagne, and a constantly replenished refreshment table offered bowls of fresh berries and platters of cakes and all manner of sweets and savories. And it did seem most of the people here were Lord So-and-So and Lady Such-and-Such and Sir Whateverhisnamewas. It was a most imposing gathering.

Aunt Guinevere, Mrs. Higginbotham and Mrs. Fitzhew-Wellmore knew a startling number of people and were apparently quite well connected. Between introductions from the ladies and those made by Edward, Celia must have met nearly everyone at the gathering.

Still, it was not as enjoyable as it might have been under other circumstances. The underlying purpose of the evening, after all, was to celebrate the upcoming nuptials of Henry and Katherine.

And then there were the rumors Celia overheard in passing. The offhand remarks she caught all evening about Henry and Edward’s financial problems. She wondered if this was part of her aunt’s plan to stop the wedding but when Celia mentioned it, Aunt Guinevere said she had more pressing matters to attend to than gossip. Which did seem to indicate Aunt Guinevere had something else in mind and the talk might well be true. Poor Edward. He really did need a nice, rich heiress. Perhaps Aunt Guinevere and her friends could find him one.

Celia’s dance card had been given to her already filled with eligible men, as was Louise’s. As the bride, Katherine’s card was filled as well, mostly with older gentlemen, friends of Henry’s family and the like. Katherine did not look pleased. Indeed, she appeared less and less the blushing bride and more and more vexed as the night wore on. Perhaps she, too, was hearing the rumors. Regardless, she kept a perfect smile plastered on her face. No one who did not know her well would have suspected she was anything but blissfully happy.

“I believe this is my dance,” Henry said behind her.

Celia braced herself. She had noted Henry’s name on her dance card and had protested to Aunt Guinevere. In spite of agreeing to one dance with him, upon further consideration, she thought it would be best not to tempt fate. It was increasingly difficult to spend any time with him at all without wanting more. But her aunt had said it would be extremely odd if the bride’s sisters did not share a dance with the groom. Still, it did not strike Celia as a wise idea, although it did seem there was no choice. She adopted a polite expression and turned toward him.

Her smile faltered at the intense look in his eyes.

Henry nodded a bow. “You look lovely tonight, Celia.”

“Thank you, Henry.” Pleasure coursed through her. The pale blue gown—flounced satin with lace-trimmed bodice and short, puffed sleeves that revealed her shoulders—was her very best and she did look well in it. Still, it was lovely to hear. Especially from him.

“I was afraid you intended to avoid me.” He offered his arm.

She laid her hand lightly on his sleeve—steeling herself to the feel of his arm beneath her touch—and accompanied him onto the dance floor. “I did, but my aunt pointed out how curious it would appear if I did not share a dance with the man who will soon be my brother-in-law. I assume you are dancing with Louise, as well.”

“I already have. It was quite...enlightening.”

“Oh?”

“Apparently Louise is somewhat concerned as to my finances.” He took her right hand in his left; his other hand rested on the small of her back. A shiver ran through her. She swallowed hard and carefully placed her left hand on his shoulder.

“Should she be?” she said absently, amazed that she could manage to say anything at all.

“No.” Irritation sounded in his voice. “She mentioned hearing some sort of rumor.”

There was something so horribly right about being in his embrace. As if she were made to fit perfectly against him. As if his arms should always be around her. She wondered that she didn’t swoon at the feel of his body close to hers. Her heart fluttered hard in her chest.