“It’s not that easy.”
He smirked. “It isn’t? I had no idea.”
Tristan ground his teeth at Titan’s goading. “I wish it were. But no. We all have our reasons for being here, none of them because we enjoy catering to members of the peerage.”
“Aye. But it could be worse.”
“It could always be worse, but that doesn’t mean any of us have to settle for less than we deserve.” He wasn’t going to do that to Flick.
Titan narrowed his eyes at him and flexed his scarred hand. “What are you going to do?”
“Probably something stupid. Who knows.” Tristan turned away. He had to think of a plan.
Felicity knocked softlyand walked into Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s office and caught sight of her lowering her veil, but all Felicity saw was a pale cheek. There was a woman under there. A beautiful one.
“You were looking for me?” she asked.
“I have wonderful news. Mr. Chase found you, presumably?”
Felicity tucked her head down and fussed with her plaited hair as she blushed. “He did.”
“Where have you been? I don’t fault you for running. This situation is ghastly upsetting. I acted as swiftly as I could, and I want to assure that I will move you out of the club tonight.”
“You will?”
She nodded decisively. “As secure as my establishment is—and itissecure—you’ll feel restless and timid since that event, and we can’t have that. I’ve called in a favor, and you will have a proper chaperone in a respectable household until the date of your wedding, which will proceed with all haste if you agree.”
Felicity felt like something punched her in the stomach. “My what? Did you say wedding?”
“As I said, I’ve been moving chess pieces, and you have an offer of marriage, my dear. An excellent offer.”
Felicity couldn’t draw a full breath. She plopped down in a chair next to Mrs. Dove-Lyon. The faces of the many men she’d met filtered thought her mind, too quickly to focus on or remember their names.
“Lord Hugstead,” Mrs. Dove-Lyon continued. “I appealed to him immediately, informed him of your precarious situation, and assured him that as long as he offered for your hand, you would be safe. He recommended a period of courtship, and I said I’d leave that up to you, should you agree.”
Felicity couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “He’s met me one time.”
“Yes, but you made an impression.”
“Of what, desperation?”
Mrs. Dove-Lyon folded her hands on her lap. “My dear, men do not approach arranged marriages with emotional expectations. Marriage is business. We will have a contract in place assuring both parties of their desired expectations.”
Felicity shook her head. This was madness. She felt sick and leaned over her knees.
“Miss Brandon, are you ill?”
“Yes,” Felicity moaned.
She stared at the toes of her boots and a coal scuttle appeared before her.
“I’ll summon Milly for some peppermint tea. We can continue this conversation tomorrow when you are settled with Lady Amelia.”
Felicity lifted her head. “I’m going to stay with Lady Amelia?”
“Precisely.”
“What about Tristan—I mean, Mr. Chase?”
