Bromleigh winced. “Only when he is drunk.”
“Which he has been since arriving at Lady Shoreham’s two days ago. I’m sure you’ll find him off in the study with some of the younger reprobates digging into her stock of brandy.”
“Ah, then you have met him.” He raked a hand through his hair. “He is nice looking, isn’t he?”
Cherish was either going to hit this arrogant man or choose to go along with the humor in the absurd situation. She chose the humor because she was not a violent person and wouldnever strike anyone. “Did you plan this ambush of me with Lady Shoreham?”
“I wouldn’t call it an ambush,” he replied.
“Oh, then what would you call whatever it is that you are doing?”
“Matchmaking,” he said in all seriousness. “Fiona is my cousin and sort of a godmother to Reginald. We are worried about him. He is a good lad, but perhaps immature for his age. At the age of six and twenty, he ought to be thinking like a man and building a respectable future for himself. We were hoping that marriage to a beautiful, sensible young lady like you might appeal to him and mold him into the good man he has it in him to be.”
She curtsied, bowing low and keeping her gaze on him as she said, “Well done, Your Grace. You have thoroughly humiliated me, completely demolished my pride and self-respect. I thank you for considering me as the sacrificial lamb, but I must decline.” She straightened and glowered at him. “Do me the courtesy ofneverspeaking to me again.”
His mouth gaped open.
Was this man serious? Had he believed she would leap at the chance to marry his wastrel nephew just because her life was utterly abysmal at the moment?
Well, perhaps she was the idiot. But she could not bring herself to sell her soul to some dolt who would never love her.
She strode back into the parlor and sought out Fiona, hoping to draw her aside for a serious conversation. Fortunately, she happened to find her in the hallway with her housekeeper, the very able Mrs. Harris, discussing room arrangements. Cherish approached as soon as the housekeeper hurried off. “Fiona, how could you do this to me? I thought we were friends.”
“Do what, Cherish?” She appeared genuinely confused.
“Foist me on your nephew, Reginald Burton. Will you deny this was your scheme all along?”
Fiona’s eyes widened in surprise. “Bromleigh told you that? Lord, he is such an ass.”
“For telling me the truth about your intentions? Yes, he is a supreme ass and impossibly arrogant, but at least he is honest about your schemes.”
Fiona emitted a trill of laughter. “Hisscheme.”
Cherish eyed her warily. “Only his?”
“Good heavens, you don’t think I would ever consider matching you with Reggie. You are completely unsuited to each other. However, Bromleigh is determined for the lad to marry someone strong of heart, reliable, intelligent, and honest. Good looking, too, since Reggie has an eye for the ladies and would not look twice at someone he did not deem beautiful. I immediately thought of you. Apparently, Bromleigh believes you have all these qualifications. It certainly did not take him long to approve. One glance at you and he knew.”
“But—”
“I knew it as well, but that is because we have been friends for quite some time now. And before you berate me, just be aware that I quickly dismissed you as a possibility for Reggie.”
“Thank goodness for that,” Cherish muttered.
“Indeed, you are far too educated for him. Oh, I love him dearly. But he can be a bit of a clot at times, don’t you agree? I put your name forward and am only pretending to go along with Bromleigh’s scheme because…well, because my scheme is something altogether different.”
“Yours?” Cherish clasped her hands, now worried about what Fiona had in mind.
“Do you really think I would burden you with Reggie? Oh, he is a good-hearted boy, but I fear this is all he may ever be. Sweet, fun loving, and not nearly as sharp as Bromleigh.”
“How do you know? Has Bromleigh ever given Reggie a task that would test his mettle?” Although she did not know the duke or his nephew, Cherish understood how it felt to be living under another’s control and how daunting it could be.
Perhaps Reggie was behaving like a schoolboy because he had never been given the chance to be anything more.
Or was she giving him too much credit because she felt so trapped under the weight of her own uncle’s control?
Fiona sighed. “I know Bromleigh will see him set up well and leave him in the capable hands of his best advisors when the time comes. But that will not be for quite a while yet. My cousin may be a Silver Duke, but he has a lot of life still in him. Don’t you think? Goodness, he is only forty.”
“And your point?”
