“It’s the only way.”
“What is it, Winnie?” Kitty’s dark eyes were wide with fear.
She hadn’t dared say the words out loud; they sat too heavily on her heart. For years she had watched others around her, peaceful no matter the circumstance. This was her last hope.
Releasing the breath she was holding, Winnie whispered, “Having a child.”
Winnie watched with bated breath as her friend processed the statement. She had not thought about the implications of her little white lie. Her only thought was of her mother and aunt, who were old in years, her mother’s illness constantly keeping her bedridden for days at a time.
“Have you gone mad?” Kitty asked, a perfect eyebrow raised in challenge.
Winnie expected such candor from the other woman. They had always been the sort of friends who shared everything, even after Kitty’s life had unexpectedly changed. Based on Winnie’s request, she was hardly surprised by Kitty’s reaction.
“I have not,” Winnie replied. “In fact, I believe for the first time in my life I’m thinking clearly.”
“Thinking clearly?” Kitty’s head whipped to face Winnie; the movement so sharp that Winnie feared her friend could have injured herself. “Your plan is to gain admittance to one of my parties, seduce a gentleman, and become with child by said gentleman? A man you have never met or know anything about?”
Winnie didn’t care about a connection or a love match. She only cared that her mother, aunt, and every servant at Brown Manor had a home.
“I admit it does sound rather mad,” she said, “But if this plan of mine succeeds, not only will I secure a home for my mother and aunt, but I’ll have a child, Kitty. A child of my own whom I would love and care for with every inch of my soul.”
Her arms ached at the thought of a babe secure in her arms. Winnie had been lonely for so long that once the seed was planted earlier in the solicitor’s office, she could not turn away from the possibility.
Kitty took a seat on the sofa, her eyes wide as she stared up at Winnie. “Winnie, be sensible. Richmore is not a man that you want to deceive. He will become suspicious that his heir’s estranged wife suddenly is with child, not to mention if that child is delivered later than expected.”
Winnie had to admit that Kitty had an excellent point, but Richmore was no concern of hers. Once she was securely and well with child, the man simply would ignore her as he had done for the last seven years.
“Kitty, you are my oldest and dearest friend. You’re the only person I can trust with this.” Winnie knelt in front of her, taking her by the hand. Everything depended on her securing an unknowing gentleman in a safe environment. “Please.”
“Very well. I’ll help you.”
Winnie jumped up, hugging her friend, a sense of hope throbbing through her.
“Thank you, Kitty!” Winnie took a seat on the sofa, feeling jubilated and refreshed.
“I must warn you, it may not work.” Her friend’s voice was gentle, as if speaking to a wounded animal.
Looking down at her black gloves, Winnie sighed. “Yes. I am aware.”
Kitty squeezed her hand. “I want you to be realistic here, Winnie. We both know you’ve never been with a man. This may not save Brown Manor.”
This was not what Winnie wanted to hear. She needed Kitty’s encouragement to be told her plan would work, but she kept silent.
“I have heard of a group of widows that help other widows in need,” Kitty continued. “Go to them for help against Richmore. Do anything other than go through with this mad idea of yours.”
Winnie had heard of the Widows League and how they aided women like her, but this was something she needed to do on her own. Her plan would work. Ithadto.
Facing her friend, Winnie held her back straight and her head high, ready to proceed. “My mind is set. Now…when is your next party?”
“Sennight,” Kitty said, causing Winnie’s heart to pound in her chest.
Winnie had not thought it would be so soon, but really, she could not waste a single moment. The sooner she became with child, the better.
A sennight, seven days.
In seven days, Winnie would give the performance of her life on the oldest, most intimate stage—the bedroom—in order to stop Richmore from stealing the only home she had and saving her future.
There was no other choice but to continue.
