“We don’t know for certain, Eloisa,” Lucy said. “We may be mistaken about the whole thing. Perhaps we’re doing my Uncle Jarvis a disservice.”
“We aren’t.”
Lucy turned to her cousin, surprised at the icy note in Eloisa’s voice. Lucy knew well enough Eloisa didn’t love her father. Indeed, she had no reason to. But she was devoted to her mother, and in the past the loyalty she’d felt toward one parent translated into, if not love, at least the appearance of respect for the other.
Not anymore.
“My father likely does wish to marry you to Lord Godfrey. No doubt his lordship has offered him something in return for delivering a young, beautiful, wealthy bride into his clutches. The only question is, how far will my father go to achieve his ends? If you refuse Lord Godfrey, will he try and force the marriage? If so, how?”
“I don’t like the sound of this at all.” Lady Felicia lowered her voice. “Perhaps we’d better learn a bit more about Lord Godfrey.”
Lucy leaned closer, and her friends followed until all three of their heads—dark, fair and red—were huddled together. “But who can we ask?”
Eloisa turned to Lady Felicia. “Don’t you know anything about him? You never heard even the faintest whisper about him last season?”
Lady Felicia shook her head. “I’m afraid not. As far as I know, he wasn’t even in London last season. If he was, there was no gossip or scandal about him.”
The three of them were quiet for a moment, considering this. Even if Lord Godfrey had done something perfectly awful, it was quite possible there hadn’t been a scandal over it. Thetonmight not hesitate to hold young ladies to a brutal standard of propriety, but they were far more forgiving when it came to the gentlemen, especially the titled ones. The fact that Lady Felicia hadn’t heard a whisper to Lord Godfrey’s discredit was no guarantee he wasn’t an utter scoundrel.
“What of your brother?” Eloisa asked. “Lord Vale is quite the fashionable gentleman about town, and you said he has many acquaintances in London. Might he know something about Lord Godfrey?”
“He might, yes. I can ask him, but I warn you both. If Sebastian suspects there’s some kind of mischief afoot, he’ll tease mercilessly until he finds out what it is.”
“Very right and proper.” Eloisa said, trying once again to give Lord Vale credit. “A brother should do his best to protect his sister.”
Lady Felicia snorted. “It’s more like if there’s any mischief to be had, he wants a part of it.”
“Oh.” Eloisa’s face fell. “Well, never mind Lord Vale, then. What of Lord Markham?”
“I’ve never known a man less likely to listen to gossip than Edmund. He’s a terrible disappointment in that regard. Even if he did know anything about Lord Godfrey, I doubt he’d tellme.” Lady Felicia’s tone was bitter. “After all, I’m a mere child, aren’t I? I must be protected from anything unpleasant.”
“This is absurd.” Lucy threw her hands up, disgusted. “Here’s poor Felicia with a broken heart, Eloisa with a tyrannical father and not enough funds to escape into a decent marriage, and me, about to be forced to marry a man three times my age who makes my skin crawl. No, it simply won’t do. Something must be done.”
“Lucy’s right.” The dejected look fell from Lady Felicia’s face and a new, determined light shone in her eyes. “We don’t have to let ourselves be tossed about like pieces on a chess board. I’ll see what I can get out of my brother, and for Lucy’s sake, I’ll even try and squeeze some information out of Edmund. Meanwhile, you two must do what you can to discover what Mr. Jarvis means to do.”
“But how?” Eloisa worried her lip. “My father’s always been secretive, and never more so than when he’s doing something wicked.”
“I’d start with Mrs. Jarvis. See if your uncle has let anything slip about his plans to see Lucy wed. A little eavesdropping might be helpful, as well. See if you can overhear any of his conversations with Lord Godfrey. Villains always discuss their plans with each other.”
Lucy and Eloisa were quiet for a moment, absorbing this, then Eloisa asked, “What of Lord Markham? What shall we do about him? We can’t let Lady Felicia wither away from a broken heart.”
Lady Felicia tossed her head. “Perhaps it’s time I stopped pining for Edmund. There are dozens of handsome gentlemen in London. I’ll simply fall in love with one of them, instead.”
“And one of them will simply fall in love with Eloisa. Never mind the lack of fortune. We only need to put you forward a bit. Someone is sure to fall victim to your charms. You’ve all the makings of a belle, cousin.” Lucy took Eloisa’s hand and gave it a fond squeeze. She was determined to see her cousin safely married. Surely not every gentleman in London was chasing an heiress.
“Oh, nonsense.” But Eloisa flushed, pleased at the compliment.
As for Lucy’s own problem with Uncle Jarvis and Lord Godfrey…she’d find out what she could from Aunt Jarvis, but she hadn’t the least intention of ending it there.
Her idea to have Ciaran pretend to court her had been a good one. A bit reckless, yes, but brilliant all the same. It was a perfect solution to her temporary dilemma. She simply needed to find another gentleman willing to help her.
And she knew just who to ask.
She sighed. If only Ciaran would remain in London a little longer, he could—
No. Lucy cut the thought off before its roots could spread. She couldn’t ask that of him. Not when she knew so well how it felt to be trapped and helpless—to want freedom so badly, and see it dangling just beyond your reach.
She cared too much for Ciaran to subject him to that.
