Then a soft grumble: “Drat. Mama, I don’t think he is in his bedchamber. Do you think he is visiting someone else?”
Botheration.
Lady Willa.
The mother muttered something he could not make out. Not that it mattered, for their plan to set up a compromising situation was clear.
What a pair of simpletons.
Apparently,hismessage to these debutantes and their parents had not been clear enough. What did they not understand about his warning that he wouldnotdo the honorable thing if put in one of those contrived situations?
Not an hour later, the Tenney sisters attempted the same thing. He heard their giggles along with the jiggle of the doorknob, and realized they were both offering to join him for the night.
This could not continue. He would have to lay down the law with his mother. She needed to control her friends and their marriage-minded daughters.
But what an indignity! A grown man having to scold his own mother—and having to lock his bedroom door because he was unsafe in his own home.
Lady Viola was the only one who had remained in her bedchamber. That might have been a point in her favor had Pomeroy not discreetly informed him shortly before breakfast the following morning that he had spent the night with the young lady.
“I’m going to offer for her hand in marriage, Ramsdale. Do you have any objection?”
Jonas gave him a hearty clap on the back. “You have my sincere congratulations. Not a single objection. However, it is her father you need to convince.”
“Will you put in a good word for me?”
Jonas nodded. “I doubt he will care for my thoughts on the matter, but I shall certainly encourage the match should he ask.”
One debutante out of the way.
Three to go.
He called his mother and Edward into his study shortly after breakfast.
When they arrived, he shut the door behind them and ordered them to sit in the chairs in front of his desk. He stood in front of them, leaning against his desk as he folded his arms across his chest and stared down at their expectant faces. “What in blazes were you thinking in choosing these supposed ladies to bring here, Mother? I thought perhaps I was being too cautious by barricading my door, butthreeof the young ladies came to my door last night.Three.”
“Which ones?” she asked, not in the least appalled.
“That is not important. The fourth, by the way, entertained a gentleman in her room, which is the only reason she did not come knocking at my door last night.”
“They didn’t waste time, did they?” Edward remarked.
Jonas shook his head. “No.” He returned his attention to his mother. “Need I point out that their behavior rules them out as potential brides? The last thing any man wants is a wife whowill make him a cuckold. How am I to trust any of them to be faithful?”
His mother nibbled her lip, fretting for a long moment before responding. “But I thought you did not want to be burdened by a wife who will actually live with you once she has given you children. Is this not a perfect arrangement? You get your heirs and she gets to set up house in London and leave you in peace.”
Jonas grunted. “That sounds completely horrid.”
His mother sighed. “Then what do you want, Ramsdale?”
“To be left alone. Have I not made this clear enough to you? If you have bet on my marrying, then you have only yourself to blame when you lose the wager.”
Edward was sitting back, his long legs stretched before him as he listened to Jonas bickering with their mother. “I have placed my bet,” he said, “but I am not going to lose.”
Jonas nodded. “Then you know I will not marry.”
“Quite the opposite, my dear brother. I wagered like our beloved mother. I say that youaregoing to marry.”
Jonas turned to him in surprise. “Then you are certainly going to lose, Edward. Not to mention that in doing so, you will betray your friends who are counting on my remaining a bachelor.”
