Page 17 of A Desperate Proposal

“That little recruitment offer was hardly your only business in Town. Don’t fib.”

Now he was the one frowning. “You should never admit what you know or do not know. You want your opponent to guess as wrongly as possible.”

“Tristan, please! You know I’m only concerned for—”

“Peace, Evie. I know.” His back settled against the paneled wall as he looked out the window. “Cecilia’s coming down with—”

“Aunt Verity sent me a letter as well.” Their aunt, the dowager Marchioness of Hartfell, was irascible as a badger, with a similar constitution. He didn’t envy Cecilia. Between Aunt Hartfell and Cavendish’s eternal squirming, that carriage would a be a merry trip to hell. “And the children. What of little Lydia?”

He shook his head. “She’s to stay in the London house a little longer. She caught a cold coming across the channel, and the nurse frets that a journey would only make it worse. I would not wish her to share the gift as her first introduction to the family.”

“She is not very ill, I hope?” Evie looked so stricken, he felt bad for informing her.

“Only a passing trifle. Her nurse is very careful of her. I shan’t worry unless it goes another week unaltered.”

“Is there any hope of this nurse taking on Cavendish and Elizabeth?”

He resigned himself to another negative response. “No. She might mind Elizabeth, but she’s a widow of little learning, and rather rural in her ways.”

Evie’s expression turned skeptical. “Is she entirely fit to look after Lydia, then?”

“Yes. She was married to a sergeant in the 7th. After he fell, she was looking for employment to get herself and their sons back to England. I was quite fortunate to find her—and that she wishes to stay now she’s here. I fear making her put up with Cav would send her packing like all the rest. And Lydia’s attached to her.”

“Then the quest for a governess continues.” Evelina sounded as enthusiastic as Tristan felt.

“My solicitor in London’s been conducting inquiries. He’s found few to his taste and none to mine.”

“How would two men even know what to look for? You should let Cecilia handle it, since there is no Countess. Yet.” Evelina’s left brow rose.

“About that. You know you miscalculated on your virgin sacrifices. I remind you, one’s half a child, the other is … attached.” Though Elinor’s kisses said something else, he wasn’t cold enough to disregard her hopes—plenty of marriages were made without passion. “At least expecting to be so.”

Evelina sighed. “I would not worry about that, Tris.”

“Really?” He expected her to elaborate, but she resumed her interest in the shirt and its label. “If you had overheard our conversation yesterday, you would worry.” He replayed it again in his mind.

“But Saunders said your ride went well.” Evelina tied off a thread.

“The ride was lovely. She’s lovely. But she’s wearing another man’s love token.”

“What?” Elinor frowned. “You must be mistaken.”

“The gold cross at her throat. It’s from her cousin.”

“Cousins give one another gifts. That’s hardly—”

“That’s not the way she sees the item. She seems quite fixed upon him, Evie. Though I admit I now have reservations about this Henry Weston. And about just how kind his parents are toward their niece.”

She lowered the shirt with a quickness he didn’t anticipate, bristling as if he’d insulted her needlework. “Doctor Weston and Charlotte adore Elinor. Charlotte speaks nothing but good things of her temperament and helpfulness.”

“Yet she remains keenly aware of her status as a poor relation.”

“That’s only natural to a girl of intense feelings.” She hesitated. “Charlotte has expressed some worry regarding the other matter. Henry is, ah, not as settled as his mother would hope.”

“Mm.” He made a noncommittal sound and picked up a scrap of pink linen from the workbox, creasing it into an irregular star shape. “It seems ‘the other matter’ as you term him, has been impressing upon Elinor just how perilous her position is at every opportunity. That she risked being sent away for her prior injury, and for any other inconvenience upon the household. I had presumed the arrangement was more secure in nature, as the girl appears to be their ward in all but surname.”

His sister scowled. “I find I am not surprised. Speaking with Arabella…”

When Evie didn’t continue, he chuckled. “I do know how to keep a secret.”