The next afternoon, Ewan, Thea, and Phillip were having tea in one of the sitting rooms. The newly married couple had just finished thanking Phillip for his generous wedding gift of Alabaster. They’d also just finished informing Phillip that thanks to him calling them both fools, they’d talked and were quite happy together and madly in love with each other.
“I owe you both far more than a horse and some well-timed advice,” Phillip replied.
“You owe us nothing,” Ewan declared.
“I quite agree.” Thea nodded and wrapped one arm around her husband’s broad shoulders.
Before Phillip could reply, the door to the sitting room opened and Beau Bellham strode inside.
Ewan glanced up. “Good afternoon, Bell. We were wondering where you’d got off to.” Ewan rose from his seat and shook the marquess’s hand.
“I’ve been quite busy today,” Bell replied, bowing to Thea and paying his respects, before exchanging pleasantries with Phillip as well.
“Oh, really,” Ewan replied. He’d made his way to the sideboard where he was pouring a brandy for his friend. “Doing what?”
Bell took the glass that Ewan offered him. “I’ve solved one of our two mysteries.”
“Two mysteries?” Thea repeated, blinking.
“Yes,” Bell replied. “The first was the identity of the culprit who provided the story of you staying here to theTimes, Lady Thea.”
Thea leaned forward in her seat. “You know the answer to that? Do tell. The truth is I’ve believed for months it was Rosalie, the house maid.”
“If it was Rosalie, she shall be sacked immediately,” Ewan clipped.
“It wasn’t Rosalie,” Bell said with a grin. “My sources told me it was Lord Theodore Harding.”
“Uncle Teddy!” Thea nearly shouted. “Are you certain?”
“Certain as I can be,” Bell replied, taking a sip from his glass.
Thea tapped her cheek with one finger. “Why, Uncle Teddy didn’t even know I was here until … right before the story came out in the paper,” she finished, irritation with her uncle growing by the moment. “Why in the world would my own uncle do that to me?”
“I took the liberty of visiting him at your father’s house this morning and asking him that very question, my lady,” Bell replied.
Ewan looked at Thea and shrugged. “What can I say? Bell is a thorough spy.”
Thea gave Bell a wary glance. “What did Uncle Teddy say?”
“He told me that you’d taken far too long to find a husband and that your father had written him telling him that your stay here was the best chance you had to make a decent match at last and if you should write him and ask him to come fetch you, Teddy should refuse.”
“My father told him that? What in the world!” Thea shook her head. “I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised, but I am.”
“I told you he wanted us together, darling,” Ewan said, placing his hand on Thea’s shoulder.
Thea covered Ewan’s hand with hers. “Yes, I knew it, but I’d no idea he’d written to Uncle Teddy. The man has no shame.”
“I’d say your uncle is the one without shame,” Bell continued. “Apparently, it was entirely his idea to involve the papers. He thought that would seal the deal for certain.”
Thea’s mouth formed a wide O. “I cannot believe—”
“Don’t be too angry with them, Thea,” Phillip said to her with a laugh. “In the end it’s worked out splendidly and that’s what matters.”
Thea sighed. “I suppose you’re right. But don’t think my uncle won’t hear an earful the next time I see him.”
“I would expect nothing less from you, darling,” Ewan said, leaning over and kissing her soundly on the cheek.
Thea hugged Ewan before turning back to face Bell. “You mentioned two mysteries, Lord Bellingham. What’s the second one?”
