William laughed. “Me? A woman would have to be desperate. And you need money to get married. But I know you don’t have any. You must tell me how you got away with it.”
Phineas kept himself from wincing. “I have a very clever wife.”
“I look forward to meeting her.”
“Yes. You missed both the wedding and the wedding breakfast.”
“I believe I was in bad shape that morning. In fact, it seems my life now is one endless day after another of being in bad shape. At least before, I would have a few good days mixed in there. But no longer.”
“We’ll try to get you some good days here, eh?”
William nodded but did not look convinced.
Caro’s entrance was heralded by Lavinia bounding in, sniffing at William once, and then turning to Phineas to get her petting.
“A dog,” William sputtered. “A huge dog.”
“Yes,” Phineas grinned while rubbing Lavinia’s ears. He turned to the door. “Lady Burchester, this is Lord Dagenham. You must have heard me or your brother speak of him.”
Caro curtsied and appeared entirely composed, so different from how she had been yesterday when he had come upon her in this same room with Lady Starling.
William had gotten up from the chair and bowed unsteadily. “My lady.”
“You are welcome, Lord D-d-Dagenham.”
“Thank you.” William bowed again.
“And this is Miss Lavinia,” Phineas said.
William acknowledged the dog. “Lavinia. Yes.”
“Pleathe thit, Lord Dagenham.”
William collapsed back into the chair.
“Darling, Will is going to stay for a bit with us, is that all right?”
“Yeth, of courthe.”
“Good.” Phineas smiled at his wife and then his friend. This was going to work out splendidly. Caro had barely stuttered and had not avoided usingesswords.
“I’ll thee to a room being prepared for our guetht.”
“Thank you, Lady Burchester.” William struggled to his feet again as Caro left the drawing room, Lavinia following behind.
“I had no idea Edmund had such a beautiful sister. She got all the looks in the family, didn’t she?”
“And all the sweetness.”
“Congratulations, Phin.” William’s good wishes this second time seemed much more genuine. “If a rascal like you can get a woman like your countess, there’s hope for all of us. Does Edmund have another sister, by any chance?”
“No. I got the only one.”
“Devil it.” Williams slumped into his chair. “How about the dog? Doesshehave any sisters?”
Phineas laughed. “Miss Lavinia was sired in Sudbury so you’ll have to ask Edmund.”
“I’ll do that. Although I suspect he knows me too well to trust me with a dog.”
