“Because even if Annabelle is judgmental and annoying, she’s family.”
Annabelle elbowed Della sharply in the ribs. “I think you were meant to offer him something. We’ve reached the bargaining stage. Remember?”
“No, we haven’t,” said Peter. “I’ve saidno.”
“Oh, that’s right.” The situation had seemed so hopeless, Della had almost forgotten they still had a few uncashed chips. “Annabelle, please remind me what Miss Greenwood’s dowry is worth?”
“Six thousand.”
“My, my, such a sum!” Della placed a hand to her lips in exaggerated surprise. “But surely her parents will revoke it to punish her for her transgressions?”
“Impossible. This is a departed-mother’s-estate-settled-on-an-only-child situation.” Annabelle paused to skewer her brother with her look. “In fact, one might even speculate as to whether the amount has room toincreaseas a result of what’s happened. I suppose it would depend on the groom’s skills as a negotiator, but wouldn’t you show some flexibility if you were desperate to cover up your daughter’s indiscretion?”
“I certainly would!” Della replied without missing a beat.
Peter was definitely sitting taller now, his full attention fixed on their little show.
Della took the lead again. “By the way, Peter, what’s your current debt at Brooks’s?”
“I–I beg your pardon? That’s none of your business.”
“Something in the range of fourteen hundred, isn’t it?”
“How—you—” Scarlet crept up Peter’s neck.
“It’s a small circle, London gambling clubs. I’m acquainted with their bookkeeper.”
“Fourteen hundred!” Annabelle echoed. “A distressing sum. Why, it sounds like you could use a wealthy bride, dear brother. Miss Greenwood’s dowry would wipe the slate clean with enough left over to fund your hunting parties for the rest of your life. I think she even likes the sport. You have so much in common, it must be fate.”
“I don’t need that money.” Peter’s protests were beginning to take on the air of a stubborn child who was not quite ready to accept the futility of his own position. “I’ll just ask Father to cover it.”
“Again?” Annabelle pulled a face. “Do you think he’ll agree? I recall him warning you that last time was really thelasttime.”
“That’s between him and me.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he decides to cut off your funds once he hears about this,” Della said. “You can hardly expect him to trust you when you keep going behind his back to incur more debt after promising you wouldn’t. Think how much happier everyone would be if you simply married well and paid up without Papa ever learning of it.”
They’d played their hands well, and Della was about as confident as she could be of victory—which was to say, it could still go either way. But Annabelle hadn’t quite finished.
“He probably won’t believe much of anything you say once he learns how much you’ve concealed from him.” Annabelle inspected her fingernails with a casual air. “If someone were to let slip that it wasyouwho compromised Miss Greenwood… Well, I don’t think your protests would carry much weight.”
Della could only stare, nearly as stunned as Peter by this turn. They hadn’t discussed this beforehand! Still, she should have known Annabelle wouldn’t hold back.
“You lying little cheat,” Peter sputtered. “You villainess. Do youreally think you can get away with this?”
“I told you I wouldn’t go down without a fight.” Annabelle shrugged her narrow shoulders. “It isn’tmyfault you gambled away all your money and hid it from Papa. I’m offering you the perfect solution. But if you’d rather take your chances…”
“For God’s sake, I’ll do it. On the condition you never speak to me again.” Peter was turning green about the gills.
“You will?” Annabelle looked like a child who’d found the pea in her Twelfth Night cake, her eyes growing wide with joy. “I mean, of course you will. You won’t regret it. She’ll make you a wonderful bride, I’m sure.”
“Won’t things be terribly uncomfortable at family parties?”
“I promise you, it won’t be uncomfortable for me in the slightest,” Annabelle said. “In fact, I’d prefer we forget about my history with Miss Greenwood and pretend you found her first.”
“None of us has asked whetherMiss Greenwoodwill be uncomfortable,” Della pointed out. She suffered a trace of pity for the girl, enduring a connection first with Annabelle, and now with Peter! She really could have aimed much higher in life had she not been found out. There was probably a lesson there, somewhere. “Do you suppose this means we’re all selfish?”
“Probably,” Peter agreed, mopping at his brow with a handkerchief. The stress of their conversation seemed to have overset him.
