TWO BROTHERS CONFER
Meanwhile, in the library at Aimsley House
“Here you are,” Anthony said as he glanced down one of the rows of books in the large library of Aimsley House. Although their father had never been a voracious reader, their grandfather and the earl before him had been. They had seen to adding hundreds of volumes of leather-bound books on topics ranging from animal husbandry to farming techniques as well as a number of gothic novels and books that looked as if their spines had never been bent.
Andrew quickly closed the book he’d had open on his arm, thethumpfilling the otherwise quiet room. “Been here for the last half-hour,” he replied, sliding the book back onto the shelf and pulling out another.
“We should leave for Carlington House soon,” Anthony suggested. “We don’t want to arrive too late, or Mother will blister our ears.”
“Oh, of course,” Andrew said as he put the book back and pulled the bottom edges of his top coat down. “How do I look?”
Anthony winced. “Like you always do,” he chided. “Could you just once wear a waistcoat befitting the occasion? It’s a garden party, not a meeting of the Royal Society.”
Andrew glanced down at his green waistcoat. It was void of decoration. No embroidery. No fancy buttons. He’d worn it to Norwick House when he paid a call on the Earl of Norwick to formally ask if he could offer for Lady Danielle’s hand. He hadn’t expected the earl to react with so much excitement, and to behave as if they hadn’t discussed the matter only the day before in the park. From Daniel Fitzwilliam’s reaction, Andrew realized the earl believed his youngest twin daughter would be left a spinster. “But... it’s silk, and it’s green,” Andrew argued. “Isn’t that appropriate for a garden party?”
Anthony sighed and rolled his eyes. “Come. Let’s get you into something more festive,” he said as he motioned for Andrew to join him.
The two took their leave of the library and headed up the stairs. “Are you going to propose to Lady Dahlia again?” Andrew asked as they turned on the landing and headed up the next flight of stairs.
“I haven’t yet decided,” Anthony replied, even though he was still plotting how he and Lady Dahlia might leave the garden party so he could discuss the matter with her. “Not sure I wish to experience her rejection of me yet again.”
Andrew sighed. “She didn’t rejectyou, exactly,” he murmured.
His older-by-a-few-minutes brother gave him a quelling glance. “If not me, then who?”
“Not who.What,” Andrew stated. “The idea of marriage. I do believe Lord Norwick had the right of it. We just have to help the Norwick twins overcome their fears. Give them assurances that we won’t treat them like... like animals,” he whispered. “That we’ll hold them in high regard. Honor their wishes and worship the very ground they walk on.”
“You say that as if they’re goddesses,” Anthony remarked on a huff.
“Danielle is,” Andrew claimed.
Anthony gave his brother a quelling glance before he led them down the corridor to his bedchamber. “Norwick’s suggestion did have merit,” he agreed. “The idea that I could offer for Dahlia’s hand and agree to conditions seems reasonable.” He gave his head a shake as he opened a wardrobe filled with waistcoats. He pulled one out, frowned, and put it back before pulling out another. Holding it up, he said, “What about this one?”
Andrew frowned. “It looks exactly like the one you’re wearing,” he complained, noting not only the bright peach satin but the elaborate embroidery featuring flowers and bumblebees.
“Good, except mine has dragonflies instead of bees,” Anthony explained, undoing the buttons of his brother’s top coat and waistcoat. “Don’t think me mad, but I have an idea.”
Wincing as he removed his top coat and waistcoat, Andrew regarded his brother with suspicion. “Do I want to know?”
“Let’s switch places.”
Andrew blinked. “Are you mad?” he replied on a huff. Then his brows furrowed. “Why?” He pulled on the waistcoat and began buttoning it up. “Youdoremember how it didn’t work a few days ago.”
“I wish to discover Lady Dahlia’s response whenyoupropose marriage.”
Unbuttoning all the buttons he had already fastened, Andrew shook his head. “No. No. No. Absolutely not,” he said, pulling the garment from his shoulders. “I have no desire to propose to Lady Dahlia. I wantDanielle. In fact, I’ve already secured the earl’s permission,” he added, glad he’d taken the time to meet with the man.
Why, Daniel Fitzwilliam, Earl of Norwick, had been so glad at hearing his news that someone wished to marry Danielle—and quickly—, he blurted out an enormous sum for a dowry and assured Andrew the details would be sent to Aimsley House in only a couple of days.
“Drew! Think about it,” Anthony argued, pulling the waistcoat back onto his brother’s shoulders. “Dahlia won’t be saying aye or nay toyou. She’ll think you are me.”
“So why don’tyoudo the proposing?”
Anthony buttoned the waistcoat. “I wish to discover if Dahlia can tell the difference betwixt us,” he admitted. “And if she can, does she prefer you over me?”
Andrew scoffed. “To what end?”
Anthony took a deep breath. “Truth be told, I think I may hold her in higher regard than I thought,” he admitted, wincing even as he put voice to the admission. “Should I have to hear her deny me again...” He winced. “I cannot face her.”
