This explained why Julius had come alone to Lady Fullerton’s rout.His wife was the size of a small whale right now.
Tulip smiled sweetly as Adela added to their ruse.“I saw it, too.The sparks between you two could light up the night sky.”
“Ah, you are so very clever,” Davenport said smoothly.“We thought it might be impossible to fool our good friends.”
John’s wife, Sophie, now made her way through the crowd.She was the matriarch of the Farthingale clan and the one to be credited for holding their large family together.
“Oh, my word,” Sophie said with a groan.“Am I hearing right?Is there to be another wedding?”
What she really meant, as she cast Tulip a look of exasperation, was that not a single Farthingale female had ever managed a proper courtship, and now Tulip was about to be added to that growing list.
Tulip cast her a wincing smile.“Yes, Aunt Sophie.Isn’t it wonderful?”
Sophie sighed.
The last dozen Farthingale weddings had been chaotically patched together affairs.Poor Sophie had been the one charged with organizing a wedding breakfast within a matter of days each time.
Tulip hoped her count was a little off and she wasn’t number thirteen.
Not that she was superstitious, but why tempt fate?
Having this number of rushed weddings within the family did not speak well for the Farthingale brides involved, she supposed.
“Hooray!Another wedding!”Tulip’s cousin, Marigold, cried as she pushed her way forward through the crowd.Marigold had been the last Farthingale to wed in haste and was now happily married to Leonides Poole, the Marquess of Muir.Having been caught kissing Leo in similar circumstances, she had to know this announcement was utter fakery.But ever softhearted, Marigold would never give them away.
Of course, her cousin was going to ask a hundred questions afterward.
Davenport turned to John.“I would appreciate discussing this matter with you privately, Mr.Farthingale.”
Tulip coughed to stifle her laughter.
Had Davenport just asked for a private meeting?
Did he not realize with whom he was dealing?The Farthingales had raised meddling to an art form.
The wordprivatedid not exist within the family’s vocabulary.
The elders were already starting to gather around John.Those included John’s two brothers, George and Rupert.George was a revered doctor, London’s finest, and among the smartest men she had ever met.Nothing ever got past him, although the same could be said of Davenport who still had his arm protectively around her waist and did not appear inclined to remove it anytime soon.
Both of John’s brothers were going to insist on participating in the betrothal discussion.
Listening in through the peephole of John’s study door would be herself and a handful of her female cousins, likely to include several of John and Sophie’s five daughters, and Marigold for certain.Probably her cousin, Violet, too, since she lived next door to John and Sophie on Chipping Way with her husband, Captain Romulus Brayden.
Marigold and her husband also lived on Chipping Way.
Lord Caruthers, having suddenly reassessed the situation, was livid as he approached her and Davenport.“It is lies!All lies!She was in the garden withme.I am the one she must marry!”
Lady Fullerton strode forward, no doubt seeking to regain control of her party.“Lord Caruthers, it is well known you are in the desperate hunt of a fortune to save your estates from your own reckless actions.I must say, this is a new low even for you.The hour is late, and it is time for you to leave.”
To make certain the lout gave her no difficulty, Lady Fullerton motioned for two of her burliest footmen to escort him out.
Tulip was worried Caruthers might try something else, although not at this party but at a later time.He had lost out and this should have been the end of it, but the venomous gleam in his eyes warned there was more to come.
Perhaps she was better off marrying Davenport and gaining his protection instead of looking for ways to wriggle out of this coil.
Well, they would discuss this shortly upon returning to John and Sophie’s residence.
If Davenport was willing to marry her, why should she resist?The prior Davenport dukes had awful reputations, which was of deep concern to her.But he did not appear to be like them at all.He was a nice looking man, big and muscled, and that was a heady combination when matched with his intelligence.Least in importance was his title, but Tulip could not deny the protection gained in becoming his duchess.
