“Given the circumstances, it might be best for you to reconsider your feelings on a marriage of convenience,” Elias said carefully.
Bridget’s jaw dropped, injustice and indignation burning inside her. “What?” she whispered, scarcely daring to believe the cruel words.
“We may be forced to marry you to whomever will have you,” Elias said. “And if a man is inclined to marry you after two scandals, I fear that he will not be thinking of love. He will be acting out of desperation.”
“Or else, he will truly love me!” Bridget exclaimed, bursting with passion. “That possibility remains!”
Elias raked his hand through his hair. “It is a small possibility. I want nothing more than for you to find a love-match, but we must face the possibility that you will not. Love-matches are rare even in the best of circumstances. I dare say our family is remarkably fortunate to have found two.”
“It will be three,” Bridget declared.
“I hope it is,” Elias said.
Bridget’s breath hitched, and her eyes burned. Tears threatened to fall again, and if the situation had not been so wretched, she might have laughed. How could she have any tears left after crying so much throughout the day?
“Love has always been all that I have wanted out of life,” Bridget said. “It is the one thing that I—that I thought of when I was in the countryside after Lord Fourton betrayed me. I could live with the error I had made if I could have faith that I would find love someday. But what do I live for now? I would rather die than marry someone for whom I bear no affection!”
Beside Bridget, Dorothy inhaled sharply.
“It is not so terrible,” Elias said gently. “Many women marry without love, and it ends well for them. Think about Cat! She is quite happily married, and she did not initially marry Sarsen out of love.”
“She has been fortunate!” Bridget argued.
A throat cleared, and Bridget’s head snapped to the parlor’s entryway. Nathanial Halls, Gerard’s butler, bowed deeply. “You have a guest, Your Grace. The Duke of Wheelton wishes to speak to Lady Bridget.”
“Wheelton?” Elias asked.
Bridget grimaced. She doubted that the Duke of Wheelton would say anything that she wanted to hear. In all likelihood, the man had changed his mind and decided that he did wish to be compensated for his ruined clothing. Perhaps she ought to suggest that His Grace find a more adept laundress.
“I suppose,” Elias said. “Maybe he has found some solution that we have not.”
“We will see him, Halls,” Dorothy said. “But first, do find my husband. Ask him to rejoin us.”
Elias frowned. “Is that really necessary?”
Dorothy shrugged. “I know not what to think. I have only heard rumors about the Duke of Wheelton, and…”
“And he is a reasonable man,” Elias interjected.
“Is he?” Bridget interrupted. She huffed indignantly as she smoothed the creases in her gown. “He struck me as rather unreasonable.”
Elias arched an eyebrow curiously in her direction, prompting her to continue.
Bridget gestured to her own finely made muslin frock. “The man was obsessed with his clothing and appearance. I was drowning, Elias, and yet, he had the audacity to…”
The sound of Halls clearing his throat pulled Bridget out of her tirade.
She turned slowly and saw that behind the butler stood not only Gerard but the Duke of Wheelton. Bridget rose slowly to herfeet because it was proper, but a petty part of her considered remaining seated. Why should she make an effort to impress when this man would not?
“Good evening,” the Duke of Wheelton said briskly.
Like Bridget, the man had changed into new, dry clothes, but his hair was still clearly damp from his plunge into the lake. Bridget’s heartbeat quickened, and she tried not to notice once more how attractive he was.
She failed. The man was infuriatingly beautiful.
“Good evening,” Elias said. “I am glad that you came to call. Dorothy has told me about what you did for Bridget today, and I wanted to personally express how grateful I am for your rescue. I value my sisters more than even my own life, and I would be…beyond distraught if anything happened to them.”
Bridget’s chest tightened. It was suddenly impossible to meet her brother’s eyes, even though she sensed him looking at her.
