“So, you are the lady to win over the gloomiest man in London,” Charles said, smiling.
Leonard grinned, taking the tease in stride. “Charles, this is my wife, Mrs. Honora Stanton.”
Charles dipped into a ridiculous bow, making Honora’s own face light with a large smile.
“My pleasure, Mrs. Stanton,” Charles said. “And might I introduce my wife, Mrs. Marie Shepherd.” A tall, slender woman with dark hair and eyes sidled up to Charles.
She offered a quick dip to Honora. “A pleasure to meet you.”
Honora’s smile widened. “A pleasure to meet you as well.”
Everyone else made their greetings, then took their seats. Soon, Tristan and Caroline arrived, as well as Rowan and Arabella. The only one missing from their meeting was Thomas, the instigator of it all.
“Look at us,” Tristan said, relaxing into his seat. “It’s been just over a year and all of us have married.”
“I can hardly believe it,” Charles agreed. “While I didn’t have a choice in the matter,” he said, throwing a wink to his wife, “the rest of you fell rather easily. I’m more than a bit disappointed in everyone’s lack of ability to withstand the allure of a good woman.”
Mrs. Susanna Hartley leaned forward, meeting the eye of Mrs. Marie Shepherd. “Is he always this incorrigible?" Her voice held a note of teasing.
Charles's wife shook her head with a wry grin. “Yes.” Then she shot a wink back at her husband.
A scoff rose from Ambrose. “It was not easy in theleast.”
In response, his wife Susanna seemed to be fighting a smile. “Only because your plans were terrible.”
“Not terrible. Perhaps shortsighted where you were concerned,” Ambrose drolled. “Though, in the end, it all worked out to our benefit, wouldn’t you say?” He raised a triumphant grin to his wife.
“I am of Ambrose’s mind,” Andrew said, his brow furrowing. “While I loved Sophie foryears,” he enunciated, “it took some time to get her to love me back.”
Sophie’s mouth fell open as her head swung toward Andrew. “That is not true.”
“It is, too,” he insisted, eyes wide.
Sophie lightly rolled her eyes. “I believe it was two weeks. That is not so long.”
“Well, it felt like an age.” Andrew grinned as Sophie’s hand smacked him on the chest.
“I think I win this competition,” Tristan said, arm draped over his wife’s shoulder. “I asked Caroline to marry me, and she flat-out refused me.” He glanced at her. “What did you say, exactly? You would sooner marry a toad?”
Caroline covered her mouth as a laugh snuck out. “Goodness, did I really say that? I suppose I have to rescind the threat.”
“At least you all had a choice,” Marie Shepherd cut in. “I was forced to marry the most childish man, who then planned to annul our marriage.”
“And how lucky you are that I made you fall in love with me instead.” Charles beamed proudly. “It really wasn’t that hard. All I had to do was move a few trunks about the house so she could admire me.”
Marie laughed, then tilted her head as she studied Charles's frame, taking his teasing in stride and joining in with the joke.
Rowan took a deep breath, as if readying for a speech. “I had to rid my wife of the wrong man before she would consider me.”
Arabella lifted her gaze to the ceiling. “You might have attempted poetry instead of your half-absurd theatrics.”
Rowan slipped his arm around her shoulders. “But surely the ability to quote verse and provide entertainment recommends me as a most well-rounded husband?”
She sighed. “I regret speaking this aloud, but . . . yes. I suppose it does.”
Rowan’s brow suddenly puckered. He rose to his feet and strode over to the small bookshelf on the far wall. “Andrew, these books are in horrendous condition.” He turned back to thecluster of them. “Please tell me these are not a product of your own purchase.”
Andrew narrowed his eyes, as if that would help him better see the spines along the wall. But before he could retort, Sophie interjected, “That would be my doing, Mr. Ashworth. I salvaged those from the previous owner’s collection. The rest are over in the library that will be used by the students.”
