Page 26

Nine

Pippy knew before she ever set foot in the morning room that the storm had arrived. Voices carried out into the corridor. She paused to the side of the doorframe. One angry...one stubborn, yet conciliatory. “Your aunt has informed me you arrived—” There was a sniff of…what? Indignation? Disbelief? “Married,” the voice spat out.

“My aunt is correct.” Pippy recognized her husband’s voice immediately.

“You can’t be in earnest, son,” Lord Kentwood said in exasperation.

She put a hand to her stomach. She’d known it would not go over well, but⁠—

“The lady,” he said with a note of derision, “has nothing to offer.”

“I disagree. But I didn’t marry her for what she had ‘to offer.’”

Pippy took a step closer to the breakfast room. She knew she should make herself known, or leave them to their conversation, but something held her rooted in place. Perhaps it was the anticipation she’d felt for this moment since Freddie had latched on to the mad idea she blurted out. She’d never thought he would agree to it. Who in their right mind would?

The fist-sized knot in her stomach never fully seemed to disappear. Was this the moment it would? Or would it only increase?

She strained to hear if Freddie said anything more. While she knew it was unlikely, she wished he would at least claim some affection for her. Perhaps not unfeigned love, but was it too much to ask for partiality? She waited. The declaration did not come.

“I should have known better than to leave the decision to you. I should have made the arrangements myself. She’s surely using you to save her family. And I’ll not have you emptying our coffers only to fill her father’s. He made his mistakes, and we shall not pay for them.”

Pippy swallowed. She could almost see Lord Kentwood with his fist raised in the air, punctuating his statement.

A guffaw sounded, but it was of a nondescript sort. Was it Lord Kentwood or Freddie?

“She has not even asked me for her pin money,” Freddie said emphatically. “I’d think if that’s all she wanted, it would have been at the forefront of our conversation once we said our vows.”

“It’s all part of the plan, I’m sure.”

Pippy didn’t know Lord Kentwood. She’d never met the gentleman. But she’d heard of him. And she knew that tone.

“She’s lulling you into complacency…waiting for you to develop an affection for her, and then she’ll pounce.”

Pippy lifted her hand to her mouth to cover her intake of breath. The man had never laid eyes on her. How was such an opinion to be overcome?

The silence nearly screamed at her. She wished she could at least see their faces. Why had Freddie not responded? Was he considering it? Did he think his father might be right?

“She would not do that,” he finally said in a low, unconvinced voice.

His father continued. “And what of the marriage settlement? I should have been involved. I wouldn’t put it past them to use trickery to give her far more than she deserves. That family is no stranger to scandal. Her mother’s father wasn’t just a Scot...but was in trade.” The last words were whispered.

Pippy chewed at her little finger. She was trying to stop, but surely she had reason to do it then.

That was what people thought of her family? Of her mother? Her throat thickened painfully.

“I’m not an idiot, Father. I know you think I have nothing in my brainbox, but I assure you, I do.” She could hear the insult in his voice. “I’m three and thirty. I do not need my father to arrange the terms of my marriage settlement.” He cleared his throat. “I protected my family. And Lady Weymouth is now my family. But it should satisfy you to know I consulted with Miles and Mr. Purdy. Both agreed the settlement was just.”

Lord Kentwood scoffed. “And just what did this ‘just settlement’ say?”

“It’s quite common, I assure you. She’s entitled to her dowry and pin money, and I have settled a sum of five thousand pounds as a jointure, should something happen to me.”

“Five thousand?” Lord Kentwood sputtered. “You see? I should have been involved.”

Pippy leaned slightly forward and peered into the room. She could only see her husband.

Freddie held up his hand. “Considering my wealth and station, it’s an acceptable sum. Some might say it should have been more. But you may ask Mr. Purdy or Miles if you do not believe me.”

She saw enough of the earl to see him stomp his foot, reminding her of a small child who’d not had his way. “I’m not pleased, Weymouth. Not pleased at all.”