Delilah opened her mouth to answer and then blinked. Love? The Duke of Branville? She didn’t even know him, and she only knew a bit about him. He was handsome and rich. He was eligible. Wasn’t that enough? She might not be madly in love with the man, but that hadn’t stopped anyone from marrying before. The fact was, she wasn’t madly in love with anyone. Love simply hadn’t seen fit to barrel her over as it had some of her friends. She could get to know the Duke of Branville. She would see if hewas someone she could spend her life with. But even if they didn’t suit, she would wring an offer from him. She might be forced to turn him down, but she would get an offer if it was the last thing she did.
“No, I cannot say I love him,” she finally admitted, clearing her throat.
“That’s beside the point,” Lucy announced, glaring at Jane. “We merely want to provide her with the chance to meet him and spend time with him.”
“Oh, is that all? So you aren’t hoping for a proposal?” Jane clarified.
“I definitely want a proposal,” Delilah replied. “I suppose I’m hoping we suit.” There. That was good enough, wasn’t it?
“What about Lady Emmaline?” Cass asked, obviously trying to change the subject from Jane’s uncomfortably direct line of questioning.
“We’ve already discussed it,” Lucy said. “Lady Emmaline is—”
“Gorgeous,” Delilah pointed out.
Lucy shook her head. “She’s—”
“Accomplished,” Delilah continued.
Lucy crossed her arms over her chest. “She’s—”
“Demure,” Delilah said.
“Stop it.” Lucy touched her hand to Delilah’s arm. “Being gorgeous, accomplished, and demure are highly overrated.”
“No, they’re not,” Delilah replied, sliding lower in her chair. “Oh, why is my mouth always so quick to say things before my brain catches up? If only I hadn’t promised Mother I would secure a match with Branville, of all people.”
“You’ve as good a chance with Branville as Lady Emmaline does,” Lucy continued. “You merely need theopportunity for him to get to know you. Then, I’ve no doubt he will come to see your many qualities and love you as we all do.”
Cass and Jane murmured their agreement.
“We also have another task,” Lucy announced, straightening her shoulders. “One that may prove even more difficult.”
Cass and Jane turned their attention to Lucy.
“Moredifficult?” Jane asked, raising her eyebrows.
“Yes.” Lucy looked at Cass first, then Jane. “Thomas asked us to find a husband for… Lavinia.”
“Lavinia?” Cass breathed, her mouth forming a wideO. She pressed a palm to her cheek.
“Lavinia Hobbs?” Jane’s voice raised a good octave. She snapped her book shut and sat up straight. “Now that’s a feat I’d pay to see. I daresaythatwill be more entertaining than the play.”
“Stop it, Jane.” Lucy leaned forward to reach for the teapot and pour herself another cup. “Thomas has asked for our help, and Delilah and I intend to help him.”
“How in heaven’s name do you think you can find a husband forLavinia?” Jane asked, hugging her book to her chest.
“As our cook used to say, there is a lid for every pot,” Lucy replied, studiously avoiding everyone’s eyes. “Lavinia is lovely and rich. There’s bound to be someone who’ll want to marry her.”
Delilah took a sip of tea. “I’ve been thinking about it, Lucy. We should invite Lavinia to join us in the play.”
The room went silent. Cass’s jaw fell open. Jane’s eyebrows shot up. Lucy scrunched up her nose and narrowed her eyes, before saying, “I’m not certain Alex will approve, dear. They may be sisters, but you know those two only speak when they must.”
“But Alex cannot be in the production, so she won’t even have to see Lavinia,” Delilah replied. “I’ll discuss it with Alex. I’m certain she’ll understand once I tell her how Lavinia threatened Thomas.”
“Wait a moment,” Cass interjected, blinking rapidly. “Lavinia threatened Thomas?”
“Yes,” Delilah replied, shaking her head. “She told him she’d make his life difficult if she’s not paired off this Season.”
