Her mother narrowed her eyes but nodded slowly.
“A thousand pounds isn’t nearly enough. He has an entire estate to care for, not to mention his cousins,female relatives. But I have an idea.” Rhoda bit her lip. “This wager, Mother. It’s grown to more money than I ever would have imagined!”
“How much?”
“Last I heard, over seventy thousand pounds.”
At the amount, her mother’s eyebrows rose nearly into her hairline.
This was the tricky part. “If a wager was somehow made, in Lord Carlisle’s name. And if he were to win.” She bit her lip, her face burning. “If he could provide some sort of proof. Mother,Ihave the power to make him the winner!” The words sounded so much worse out loud than they had in her head.
Because both of them could only imagine what sort of proof she’d have to provide. Surely, her testimony would be enough?
“I could come forth and announce that…” She cringed, unable to go on.
Her mother had seemed to be listening with an open mind, but at Rhoda’s last words she began shaking her head. “No. Absolutely not. It is an outrageous amount of money but absolutely not. I cannot fathom the scandal if you were caught placing such a wager. Which is what you have in mind, I suppose. Oh, good heavens! And your poor sisters would suffer as well!”
Her mother twisted her mouth in thought. “This wager, I imagine. It is much like a horse race? The ‘suitors’ are the horses and the finish line…” She shook her head adamantly. “I forbid you to participate in something so outrageous. Put it out of your head completely.” Her mother’s gaze turned distracted for a moment but then she dropped onto the settee and began fussing with her writing desk. “Seventy thousand pounds,” she mumbled.
Her mother continued shaking her head adamantly. “It’s likely illegal. None of us could ever appear in society again. Think about your sisters, Rhoda.”
“But I am!”
“It’s not worth the risk.” Her mother began writing something out but then glanced up again. She tapped her lip thoughtfully with the blunt end of her pen. “And it’s best you not appear in public with him. It’s possible that being seen with you could ruin his chances with another. And that poor man, he deserves to marry money.”
What on earth? “Another?”
“Another debutante, Rhododendron. Another debutante with a much larger dowry. We need to end this betrothal.”
“What? But, you just said—”
“Break it off, dear. I no longer support the idea.”
Had her mother knocked herself on the head that morning? And even though Rhoda herself knew Lord Carlisle’s interests would be served best if she were to release him from their agreement, she hated that her mother now demanded it. “It’s a feasible plan, Mother, the betrothal, if not the wager!”
“Call off the betrothal, Rhododendron. The poor man deserves to be free of all this.”
“I thought it was me that you cared about! And Coleus! And Holly!”
“Well. Yes. Of course. Trust me, darling. Best he court another. He’d resent you for certain when he’s taken off to debtor’s prison.”
Something stabbed at Rhoda’s heart. And yet, her mother was likely right. Many a heiress would most certainly be amenable to marrying an earl, Rhoda had no doubt, regardless of how empty his pockets were. In fact, the emptier his pockets, the better!
Rhoda did not appreciate the image of Lord Carlisle marrying another, even less so now that he’d escaped a betrothal to Emily.
“But I like him.”
Her mother grimaced. “You’ll come to like another.”
Rhoda bit her lip. “He’s returning to take me for a drive in the park.”
“Not the park. Have him take you somewhere the two of you will not be seen. Better to break it off in private, anyhow,” her mother added.
Again, that painful sensation.
“Madam. Miss.” Leo appeared at the door. At least Rhoda believed the man beneath the gigantic bouquet of flowers was their butler. “There have been several deliveries for you. Er, rather, for Miss Mossant.”
“Oh, dear!” Her mother crossed the room to examine the various flowers in the arrangement. She plucked and picked at the blooms without considering that Leo’s arms were likely growing fatigued from holding the massive vase. “You say several deliveries have arrived?”
