Page 101 of The Highlander Is All That

With that he spun from the room.

Despite his threats, Elizabeth was happy to see him gone.

“Oh, I don’t know why he doesn’t find a wife who wants to marry him,” Victoria grumbled.

“Would that be possible?” Lady Pennington quipped.

The duchess tipped her head. “Perhaps the attraction is your connection with Caithness?”

Most likely. For a man of his wealth, her dowry could hardly be the lure.

“What does a connection with a duke matter if he has the prince’s ear?” Lady Pennington asked.

The countess huffed. “Assuming he does. I can check with James. He would know.”

The duchess nodded. “I’ll speak with Edward as well. Somehow . . . I just don’t trust Twiggenberry’s motives. He was far too . . .”

“Desperate,” Victoria offered, and they all nodded, because that summed it up in a word.

For her part, Lady Pennington shuddered so hard her corkscrew curls bounced. “I really hate that man,” she said.

“Would it be so terrible if you didn’t marry him?” the countess asked. “I’m fond of you and I’d like for us to be friends, but I don’t think even I could tolerate him at my table.”

Elizabeth laughed. “Neither could I.”

“She’s not marrying him,” Esmeralda said, to the shock of all. Most especially Elizabeth.

“What?” she croaked.

Victoria clapped her hands. “Oh, famous!”

“You’re not marrying him. I won’t have it. I cannot tolerate it. I thought I could, but I can’t. I am so sorry, darling. And now that Mary—”

“And Anne have gone to Kent to visit an ailing relative . . .” Victoria put in.

“It is just not going to happen.”

“Oh, thank you, dear, dear aunt!” Elizabeth leaped to her feet and pulled her aunt into a hug. “I can’t marry him. I just can’t.”

“Lady Esmeralda,” the duchess said in an arresting tone.

“Yes, Your Grace?”

“Do you mind if we chat with Elizabeth. In private?”

Her aunt glanced around the room and then cleared her throat. “Not at all. Come, Victoria.”

Her sister put out a lip. “But I want to hear.”

“Come.” A command Victoria could not resist. Begrudgingly, she stood and followed Esmeralda from the room.

Once the door closed, Kaitlin folded her hands on her lap. “Very well then,” she said in a businesslike tone. “Let’s review your options.”

Helena held up one finger. “Marry him and be miserable.”

“I’ve been there,” Lady Pennington said with a shudder. “You cannot choose that one.”

Elizabeth gaped at her. “But you and Lord Pennington seem so happy.”