you?” asked Wynbrook, confused.
“I am grieving the loss of the dream I had. It was naive. I see that now. I thought I couldn’t find happiness with a boy I knew from childhood, someone like Sir Gareth. Did I ever tell you he wished to marry me years ago? I discouraged him because I thought love could only be found in someone new, someone dashing, someone exciting. I was such a fool.”
“The only fool here is Sir Richard,” said Kate with disgust.
Wynbrook agreed wholeheartedly, but it had little effect on Jane.
“I told Ellen I would come down for a few minutes, which I have. So now I’m going back upstairs.” Jane was the picture of listless misery.
Wynbrook watched helplessly as Jane retired from the room.
“I can think of several ways to kill Sir Richard and make it look like an accident,” muttered Kate.
“I know where we can hide the body where no one will ever find it,” returned Wynbrook.
“Good to know.”
“And I would like to know what words you thought might shock me.”
Wynbrook exchanged a smirk with Kate. Their mutual dislike of Sir Richard was the one thing they agreed on, though he doubted murder was the best way to begin a courtship.
If he was interested in courting her.
Which he wasn’t.
Definitely not.
“Lady Durant,” intoned the footman at the door of the sitting room, doing his best impression of their stalwart butler.
Anne swept into the room, majestic as always. “Yes, yes, no need to introduce me. I think they should know their own sister.”
Wynbrook was grateful for a diversion. “Anne. Good to see you.”
Anne had been outraged at the situation with Jane, and they had spent many hours discussing what could be done to salvage poor Jane’s reputation, but so far no one had been able to divine a solution. Today, however, Anne was in brighter spirits.
“You look well pleased,” commented Wynbrook.
“I have a solution for poor Jane,” she said in triumph. “Oh, good, tea has arrived.”
The tea service was set, and the three of them sat down at a round table.
“Well, Anne?” queried John, teacup in hand. “If you found a solution for poor Jane, please do not keep it to yourself.”
“I’ve just come from a conversation with the Dowager Duchess of Marchford,” said Anne with the air of one sharing a great secret. “She knows an exclusive matchmaker who can help us. Apparently, this Madam X has helped other similar cases. You remember the Miss Talbot affair?”
Wynbrook shook his head. “I do not recall any such scandal.”
“That’s because she married Mr. Grant and it was all hushed up nicely,” said Anne triumphantly. “Hopefully, Madam X will be able to do the same for our poor Jane.”
“But what will this matchmaker do for poor Jane?” asked Kate, glaring at Wynbrook as if the situation were entirely his fault.
“You must realize the only way for Jane to save her reputation and her standing in society is to be married at once,” said Anne, choosing a scone from the platter.
“But why must Jane have to find another fiancé?” asked Kate. “And why this concern about her reputation? She found her fiancé wanting and tossed him aside. She did nothing wrong. Why should her standing in society be in jeopardy? I do not see why this should be a tragedy for her.”
John exchanged a silent but meaningful look with Anne, trying to figure out which of them would be better able to explain to Kate the workings of society. For one so clearly bright, she had little knowledge of the haut ton .
“It may not be fair, but Sir Richard has the law on his side. Under English law, Sir Richard can sue for breach of contract. His philandering is not considered just cause to break it off,” explained Anne.
“It should be,” grumbled Kate.
“I am sure it is quite unfair, now that I think of it,” John said with a shrug.
“Society is cruel to women. They always take the brunt of it, which is entirely unfair.” Kate’s silver eyes flashed
“I am grieving the loss of the dream I had. It was naive. I see that now. I thought I couldn’t find happiness with a boy I knew from childhood, someone like Sir Gareth. Did I ever tell you he wished to marry me years ago? I discouraged him because I thought love could only be found in someone new, someone dashing, someone exciting. I was such a fool.”
“The only fool here is Sir Richard,” said Kate with disgust.
Wynbrook agreed wholeheartedly, but it had little effect on Jane.
“I told Ellen I would come down for a few minutes, which I have. So now I’m going back upstairs.” Jane was the picture of listless misery.
Wynbrook watched helplessly as Jane retired from the room.
“I can think of several ways to kill Sir Richard and make it look like an accident,” muttered Kate.
“I know where we can hide the body where no one will ever find it,” returned Wynbrook.
“Good to know.”
“And I would like to know what words you thought might shock me.”
Wynbrook exchanged a smirk with Kate. Their mutual dislike of Sir Richard was the one thing they agreed on, though he doubted murder was the best way to begin a courtship.
If he was interested in courting her.
Which he wasn’t.
Definitely not.
“Lady Durant,” intoned the footman at the door of the sitting room, doing his best impression of their stalwart butler.
Anne swept into the room, majestic as always. “Yes, yes, no need to introduce me. I think they should know their own sister.”
Wynbrook was grateful for a diversion. “Anne. Good to see you.”
Anne had been outraged at the situation with Jane, and they had spent many hours discussing what could be done to salvage poor Jane’s reputation, but so far no one had been able to divine a solution. Today, however, Anne was in brighter spirits.
“You look well pleased,” commented Wynbrook.
“I have a solution for poor Jane,” she said in triumph. “Oh, good, tea has arrived.”
The tea service was set, and the three of them sat down at a round table.
“Well, Anne?” queried John, teacup in hand. “If you found a solution for poor Jane, please do not keep it to yourself.”
“I’ve just come from a conversation with the Dowager Duchess of Marchford,” said Anne with the air of one sharing a great secret. “She knows an exclusive matchmaker who can help us. Apparently, this Madam X has helped other similar cases. You remember the Miss Talbot affair?”
Wynbrook shook his head. “I do not recall any such scandal.”
“That’s because she married Mr. Grant and it was all hushed up nicely,” said Anne triumphantly. “Hopefully, Madam X will be able to do the same for our poor Jane.”
“But what will this matchmaker do for poor Jane?” asked Kate, glaring at Wynbrook as if the situation were entirely his fault.
“You must realize the only way for Jane to save her reputation and her standing in society is to be married at once,” said Anne, choosing a scone from the platter.
“But why must Jane have to find another fiancé?” asked Kate. “And why this concern about her reputation? She found her fiancé wanting and tossed him aside. She did nothing wrong. Why should her standing in society be in jeopardy? I do not see why this should be a tragedy for her.”
John exchanged a silent but meaningful look with Anne, trying to figure out which of them would be better able to explain to Kate the workings of society. For one so clearly bright, she had little knowledge of the haut ton .
“It may not be fair, but Sir Richard has the law on his side. Under English law, Sir Richard can sue for breach of contract. His philandering is not considered just cause to break it off,” explained Anne.
“It should be,” grumbled Kate.
“I am sure it is quite unfair, now that I think of it,” John said with a shrug.
“Society is cruel to women. They always take the brunt of it, which is entirely unfair.” Kate’s silver eyes flashed
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