Page 31

“It’s your word against mine, Darius.” Eudora lifted her pointed chin in smug defiance. “Who do you think the townsfolk of Woodhaven will believe?”

A formal naval officer who served with distinction and honor and the son of a respected peer of the realm or the pampered, willful daughter of an unpleasant, greedy harpy?

“I think we both know the answer to that question, Eudora,” he said, his tone dryer than the Sahara’s summer sand.

Worrypleating his forehead, Cassius peered around the doorframe.

Bless the interfering rapscallion.

“Right you are, Dare. I’ve been blatantly eavesdropping just outside the door.” His visage stern, Cassius shifted his attention to Eudora. “Unlike my buffleheaded brother, I never trusted you, MissClarke. I recognize a fortune hunter when I smell one.”

Hewrinkled his nose as one does when one chances upon fish rotting in the afternoon sun on a hot summer’s day.

Cassiuscontinued conversationally, as if they sat in HefferwickshireHouse’s drawing room, exchanging banal pleasantries. “WhenMissWeldon informed me that my imbecile of a brother had escorted you to his office, I deemed it prudent to spy unabashedly upon you.”

Hereached behind him and dragged Araminta into the entrance.

“Using the guise that two witnesses are better than one, I also compelled MissWeldon to eavesdrop. To her credit, she was most reluctant to intrude.” A rather smug grin split his face. “I, happily, have no such compunction.”

Darius’susually taciturn twin appeared positively gleeful.

Aramintalifted her contrite green-eyed gaze to Darius’s, and he couldn’t summon a jot of anger. Their joint testimony would protect him if Eudora carried out her preposterous threat. Though why she would when he’d made it clear that he would probably never possess the amount of money she coveted was beyond him.

“We heard everything as well.” GarnetMulbury stepped forward, arm in arm with her sister Opal, their eyes alight with mischief. “Safety in numbers and all that.”

“’Twas quite entertaining, I must say,” Opal added with a cheerful smile.

“MissWeldon, do forgive our forwardness.” Garnet turned to address Araminta. “We took the liberty of purchasing another hot chocolate and more biscuits for your sisters.” She leaned in and whispered sotto voce, “Didn’t think their young ears should hear this claptrap.”

“Thank you.” Araminta gave her a grateful smile.

“Where is my daughter?” Mrs. Clarke’s imperious voice rang out from the shop floor. “Eu-doooooo-ra?”

Herbellow rose an octave on the last syllable.

Bloodyperfect, but not unexpected.

“Where are you, daughter?” Mrs. Clarke called in a sing-song voice. “With your betrothed?”

Severalaudible gasps carried into the office.

Apparently, everyone in the bookstore had taken it upon themselves to listen in on the conversation, and several had assembled just outside his office.

Goodfor them.

Dariuswould emerge from this potential scandal unscathed.

Eudora, on the other hand…

Themachinating wench and her meddlesome mother had clearly planned this debacle, and they deserved the unpleasant and likely lasting repercussions.

“LordDarius is not her betrothed,” came the satisfied voice of an older woman.

Amale patron chimed in, “Turned the chit down flat, he did.”

“Even after she tried to blackmail him,” another woman added. “Such a shock. Is that how you raised your daughter, Mrs. Clarke?”

“Do shut up, you cackling hens,” Eudora bit out between clenched teeth as she stomped across the floor, fury accenting every step. Gone was the guise of a demure, sweet-tempered, biddable miss. A malevolent, intractable viper had replaced her.