Doing a quick search, Judith found Lord Trey standing by the window. He glanced at her over his shoulder, humor glinting in his eyes.
“Indeed, Mother. Those ladies Miss Faraday’s age always need something to occupy their time.”
Judith’s hackles rose. She’d show him how she’d love to spend her time—giving him a quick lesson in manners. She nodded, about to explain as kindly as she could that she requiredno further learning. However, the tears brimming in the older woman’s eyes prevented Judith from speaking.
“I never had a daughter.” The dowager’s voice broke. “Having you here now will give me a privilege I missed out on.”
Blast it all! Why did she have to say that? Guilt flooded Judith’s mind, making her doubt her plans. She couldn’t tell the dowager about Alex yet.
However, she didn’t have to make it easy for Lord Trey. She looked at him still standing by the window, hand on his hip as it pulled his frock coat away from his waistcoat. Handsome as sin, he was the devil’s own son, and she’d make him regret forcing her to come here.
Chapter Five
Trey and Hawthorneretreated to the study for drinks. As Trey paced the Persian rug in front of the fireplace, Dominic sprawled in a brown leather chair before the hearth, leisurely sipping his brandy. Trey passed his friend a scowl. How could Dominic act nonchalant at a time like this?
“Hawthorne, you are not relieving my frazzled nerves any.”
A deep chuckle rattled from his friend’s chest as he crossed one leg over the other. “My good man, I do believe Miss Faraday has gotten under your skin.”
Trey stopped to face his friend. “That lady has certainly unnerved me, but it’s only due to her circumstance. Pray tell, how can I find a wealthy husband for her if she’s so adamant to marry this sailor I have yet to meet?”
Dominic shrugged as he took another sip. “Do not rely on me for answers. I have never been in this predicament before.”
“Mother must start right away on getting Miss Faraday properly educated.” Trey dragged his fingers through his hair.
“I thought your mother had entrusted that assignment to you.”
Trey growled, wishing he hadn’t taken the responsibility. The girl affected him entirely too much. He feared the only thing to relieve his problem would be to leave everything in his mother’s hands—or try to find Miss Faraday a husband. Unfortunately, the girl’s so-called fiancé was the problem.
Trey’s thoughts came to a sudden halt.The fiancé.
He turned to his friend, grinning. “Hawthorne, I believe I have the solution.”
His friend quirked a teasing brow. “You plan to marry the girl yourself?”
“Don’t be absurd, Nic. Why would I do something so insane and ruin my life? The solution I refer to is to locate the girl’s fiancé and marry her to him.”
Nic straightened, eyes more alert now.
Trey chuckled, the idea taking shape in his mind. “I do not know why that thought never crossed my mind before. I shall find him so he can marry our dear Miss Faraday. Then my problems will be solved.” He walked to the fireplace and rested his shoulder against the edge of the stone hearth.
“It sounds plausible, although I believe you have overlooked one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“What if your mother does not approve?” Nic leaned forward. “What if the man is as poor as a church mouse and seeks her inheritance? Your mother will not want some fortune-seeking oaf taking advantage of her ward.”
Trey exhaled a deep breath. Why could nothing be simple? “I never thought of that. Perhaps we should have this man investigated first.”
“And what if you discover something incriminating?”
“I will have no other choice but to hurry her lessons so we can find her a proper husband. After all, this is what her parents wanted when they awarded her to my mother.” He rubbed his hands together. “First, I must learn the man’s name.”
Nic’s snort of laughter stopped Trey. Hawthorne shook his head as he stood and moved toward Trey.
“I fear you have forgotten one thing, Worthington. That girl is not going to provide you with any information. She loathes thevery ground you walk upon. In fact, it makes me wonder what kind of liberties you took with her in the woodsman’s cottage to make her act this way.”
Heat washed over Trey at the memory of holding and kissing her. He wasn’t about to tell his friend about any of that. “She does not loathe me.” The girl doth protest too much, and Trey knew firsthand how quickly she had succumbed to his kiss.
