If the Earl Only Knew (The Daring Marriages) by Amanda Forester Page A

dangerously. She was ready to charge into battle. “I blame men.”
    The Earl of Wynbrook was not known as a coward, but neither was he a fool. Having three sisters, he knew when to agree with the womenfolk. “Quite so, quite so. Agree with everything. Good news, Anne, good news.”
    “I am glad you approve, for you need to speak to the Duchess of Marchford and sort out the details. These things are dearly done, I fear.”
    “Of course. Glad to be of service,” said Wynbrook gallantly, hoping his generosity would not be overly taxed but resigned to pay whatever amount was requested.
    “Good, it is settled then. I only hope this matchmaker can find a replacement groom before Jane’s reputation is utterly ruined.”
    “I still do not see why that should be,” demanded Kate.
    “Ta-ta, good day.” Anne left in a swirl of silk, leaving John to answer the question.
    Kate crossed her arms and pinned Wynbrook with a singular look from her silver eyes. She could be an imposing figure.
    He cleared his throat. “Let me begin with the caveat that I agree this is wretchedly unfair.” He waited for her to concede the point, for while he did not mind crossing swords with Kate, he wished it to be for a better reason than the capriciousness of society.
    Kate gave a reluctant nod.
    “If an engagement is dissolved, it can lead to disagreeable rumors that the lady was found wanting,” explained Wynbrook.
    “But that is unfair!”
    “Indeed. Engagements are almost as difficult as marriages to dissolve. Fortunately, we had not yet signed the marriage contract; if we had, it would have been even more difficult.”
    “True.” Kate sighed.
    “You are familiar with marital law?”
    “Yes, of course. No lady should enter marriage without a good lawyer.”
    John thought she may be jesting, but Kate’s face was deadly serious.
    “The marriage contract ensures that the lady has some protection; otherwise, all assets she brings to the marriage belong to her husband,” continued Kate in a businesslike manner. “For example, a contract might stipulate the lady’s dowry must be held in trust until any children arising from the marriage have gained majority. The marriage contract may also stipulate how much per annum she would be granted in case of her husband’s death. Without a contract, a lady enters into the marriage quite unprotected.”
    “Precisely. If the contract had been signed, we would have had to go to court to have the thing undone. It would have been a nightmare of a scandal, and Sir Richard may have walked away with much of her dowry, for the court would not see his infidelity as reason to sever the contract.”
    Kate shook her head. “Of course, if it had been Sir Richard who had found Jane to be unfaithful prior to their nuptials…”
    Wynbrook shook his head. “That would be a different matter entirely. I agree—these things are not fair.”
    “A woman should never feel trapped into marriage,” Kate challenged.
    “Of course not,” Wynbrook agreed, though he wondered if she was still speaking of his sister.
    “In truth, I do not see why any lady would wish to enter the marital state at all, since it seems only to her detriment. A lady is an equal to a gentleman in every respect, save for sometimes they have more sense.”
    Wynbrook was spared the trouble of responding by the timely entrance of Tristan and Robert, whom he had never been more grateful to see.
    “Come, join me and my bluestocking friend for tea,” John announced with the wide smile of a man who’d escaped the executioner.
    Tristan and Robert joined them, and Robert helped himself to a liberal number of scones. Tristan, for his part, was positively giddy.
    “What kind of waistcoat are you wearing?” Kate asked Tristan, surprising everyone at the table by commenting on fashion. Wynbrook took a glance and was shocked himself at what he saw. The waistcoat was made of simple homespun fabric.
    “The latest fashion!” declared Tristan with a