“You? Wagered? On your own daughter’s…?”
Her mother broke into a huge grin. “And there were witnesses, by God. Not only Prescott and Her Grace.” She gestured toward Sophia. “But a magistrate! A man of the law!”
She could not believe her own mother…
Did that mean?
“But how? When?”
“I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but Cecily’s father, Mr. Findlay, posted the wager on my behalf. Trustworthy gentleman for certain. Had his man of business draw up a contract for me so that it was all duly documented. And as to when, why the very day you planted the idea in my brain.”
Rhoda lifted both hands to clutch the sides of her head.
“I, too, have a confession.” Sophia’s meek statement could barely be heard.
Surely not.
“When you told us that you hadn’t placed the bet, well, I asked Dev…”
She had! “You and Prescott wagered as well?”
At this information, her mother looked more than a little chagrinned.
“There was a trust set aside for Lord Carlisle, by Dev’s father. Carlisle had refused to take possession of it numerous times so Dev, well… decided to put it to use.” Sophia shrugged. “All of the winnings will go to you and Carlisle, of course.”
Rhoda blinked. “Of course.”
“And the money I put up was to have been your dowry,” her mother said. “So, of course, those winnings are yours and Carlisle’s as well.”
They all turned when the door opened. Behind Prescott, Rhoda could hardly believe her eyes at the sight of Emily and Lord Blakely, as well as Cecily and Mr. Nottingham.
But no Justin.
“Rhoda!” Emily barreled into the room, dressed prettily in a periwinkle blue muslin day dress, with what looked to be a new pair of spectacles perched upon her upturned nose. “I am married! And I am so happy! Tell me you are just as happily engaged! Oh, and Cecily is going to be a countess after all! Did you realize that, what with Flavion spending the night in the Crabtrees’ fountain? Probably over imbibed if I were to take a gander at it. Can you believe it? I’m happily married! As is Blakely, right, Marcus?” And then she giggled unapologetically.
Rhoda had forgotten what a whirlwind of chaos Emily could bring to any situation. First and foremost, she squeezed Emily with all the strength she could muster. “You are not angry with me? For not staying to your plan? For not marrying Lord Blakely?”
This drew even more laughter from her friend.
Of course,Emily was not angry with her for that. Rhoda’s mind struggled to keep up with all that was happening.
“And you are happy? Oh, I am so happy that you are happy!”
“And Cecily is a countess!” At Emily’s reminder, all eyes turned toward Cecily and her husband. Mr. Nottingham’s lips were pinched around the mouth and Cecily was shaking her head.
“I don’t want to be a countess again! Must I?” Oh, but she must. Rhoda shook her head. No doubt, this time around would be more satisfying than when she’d been Flavion’s countess.
“And, Rhoda, you must accept Lord Carlisle’s suit.” This from Emily, who obviously hadn’t yet heard news of her and Justin’sengagement. “Marcus has placed a wager on him. Any winnings are to go toward the Carlisle estate. After all, if it wasn’t for you jilting him, Marcus would never have….” She flushed and dropped her gaze to the carpet.
“Seemed a decent way to show my gratitude to the vicar for not marrying my wife.” Blakely’s gaze settled on Emily with more than a little tenderness.
Utter. Chaos.
Had everyone wagered on Lord Carlisle? “Where is he?” She could not contain her curiosity even one second longer. Indeed, he’d yet to have officially proposed.
“He said he had an errand,” Prescott answered almost as though such information was an afterthought.
Rhoda’s heart lurched into her throat. He’d left her?
