“Everyone must keep quiet. The family will descend like jackals to pick our bodies clean before he can recover, if they find out. Speak to all the household.”
Graham halted in the entry and cleared his throat. “An invitation has arrived from Sir Daniel. What would you have me reply?”
She sucked in a breath, her demeanor shifted to panic, and she started to pace. “Oh no. My brother has never missed a game, not even that time he broke his toe. He’s undefeated against Sir Daniel. Sir Daniel will know something is wrong. And he’s acquainted with Mr. Humphrey, who knows Sir Garth, and Sir Garth is always with Mr. Kenneth...”
Graham waited while she rattled off acquaintances.
She turned to him, her eyes wide. “Would you please suggest something?”
He shrugged. “Perhaps we claim that it is you who are ill.”
“He wouldn’t stay home for me, not when I have my maid and Mrs. Keen.”
“Severelyill.”
“I’m not sure... that might summon my aunt. No, we cannot risk it.”
“And he cannot go.”
“Of course he can’t go, but I—” She bit down on her fingernail. “No—yes.”
Graham folded his arms. “What?”
“I will go in his place.”
Graham blinked. “What good will that do?”
“I will goas my brother.”
His stomach fell to his feet. “To Sir Daniel’s private card party? In a gaming hell? No.” He’d never gone to Sir Daniel’s private games or anyone else’s. Cards bored him to death. But he still knew all about them. He’d been told, in quite amusing detail, about the parties. Cards were not the only entertainment.
She straightened. “We did it all the time as children.”
He resisted the urge to look at her breasts. “You are not a child, nor will you pass as a man.”
She rolled her eyes. “I certainly can with the right clothing.”
“Lady Amelia, please reconsider.”
She shook her head and then shrugged one shoulder. “Have you any other ideas?”
“I think my suggestion of claiming you to be ill is reasonable,” he said.
“You don’t know Sir Daniel like my brother and I do.”
“I assure you that I do,” he countered.
“You don’t go to his parties.”
“That is because I loathe the man, and he knows it.”
She fisted her hands on her hips. “Well, have you any other ideas besides playing sick?”
“Truly anything else will suffice rather than you dressing up as your brother to attend a card party at a gaming hall. Sir Daniel is a known reprobate.”
She scoffed. “Sir Daniel, a reprobate? He would like to be, wouldn’t he?” she snickered.
“Lady Amelia, please. What would your brother say?”
