“Two and twenty.”
“I’d say she’s a bit past prime marriageable age.”
The earl stared down the length of his nose at Zeke. “May I finish?”
Zeke waved a hand.
“I thought we might put together a list.”
Zeke blinked at the earl. “I don’t follow. What sort of list?”
“I want to plan a dinner party, or a garden party or weekend party—something, anything so long as the guest roster includes a few eligible bachelors who might suit Kitty.”
“A party. Of eligible bachelors.”
“Precisely. So that when Kitty ends your engagement in a few months…”
“Some other bloke can step in to fill my boots,” Zeke said, his tone flat.
“Just so.”
Annoyance sparked through him. He planted his feet on the carpet and leaned forward. “Supposing I agree to aid your cause, what makes you so sure she’ll attract a suitor?”
His grandfather looked at him as if he’d sprouted antlers, then shook his head. “You’ve evidently got blinders on when it comes to the girl, which is neither here nor there since you’re not in the running. Trust me when I say attracting a husband won’t be an issue. She’s not only beautiful, she’s got a certain indefinable charmmostgentlemen will find irresistible. Add to that a small fortune in dowry, between her inheritance and my offering.” He left off with a shrug.
Zeke resisted the urge to scowl. “It sounds like you have it all worked out.”
He sent Zeke a crafty smile. “Yes, it does, doesn’t it? All I need from you is—”
“A list. I’ll see what I can do.”
“The sooner the better, please. Oh, and one other thing. Don’t breathe a word of this to Kitty.”
“Why ever not?”
“Because she’ll go all stiff if she thinks she’s on display. Not that she’ll be on display. In actuality, it’s the men who need to impress her. Not that they can know why they’ve been invited.”
Zeke groaned. “This is getting complicated.”
“Nonsense. Just think of us as cupid’s little helpers.” The earl smiled cheerfully. “It’ll be great fun.
"Now on to the next bit of business. In two days time, our solicitor will arrive with the proper documentation to make this thing legal. We need to discuss the terms of the arrangement, get all our ducks in a row, so to speak.”
***
Kitty gave up. She couldn’t concentrate on the local gazette’s article, detailing the goings on in and around town. Not with the meeting between the earl, Garrick, Zeke, and the earl’s solicitor taking place, and not with the posted ad in the classified section of theTimescalling to her like a siren luring sailors to their deaths.
She cast a furtive glance toward the open library doors, and snatched-up the classified section of theTimesonce more. She opened to the engagement announcements.
The Earl of Claybourne and ninth Baron of Maidstone proudly announce the betrothal of Lord Ezekiel Thurgood, Viscount of Claybourne, to Lady Christine Hastings, daughter to the late Lord Charles Hastings.
If only it were true.The inane thought came without warning. With a self-derisive moan, she covered her eyes with one hand. How ridiculous. If she’d wanted to marry Zeke, she could’ve accepted his offer days ago. His thoroughly unromantic, obviously grudging, offer of marriage.
She’d had to say no. How could she marry a man who not only didn’t love her, but didn’t like her?
Witness his grim face on the carriage ride to Maidstone, his air of detached boredom all the way to Derby. His monosyllabic replies to her efforts to draw him into conversation over breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
She refolded the newspaper. Smoothed her fingers over the crisp, cool sheets. Then, very deliberately, set the newspaper aside.
