Parthena's Promise by Valerie Holmes

him. He had him in the palm of his hand. He was blinded by greed and not blessed with the greatest intelligence, or common sense, or conscience even it seemed. “Very simply for a debt owed to a dear friend who, when your deal is secured, will see me right anyway.”
    “Very well, how will you do this?” Bertram whispered.
    “I mean to invite her to London to be a companion to my dear young sister, Eleanor, for the Season and offer her the delights and fashions that the Season requires. If all goes well, we will tell her that she will have a permanent position. And when my sister must attend finishing school in Paris, she may find herself a husband, and we will help with introductions. How easy it will be to dazzle and bemuse her young woman’s mind.” He smiled, hating the rogue he was portraying, yet after years at war, a mere deception to a greedy fool was really neither here nor there on the scale of his “sins”. What was it compared to taking a life? Besides, this was in a very good cause.
    “And will you do all this for her?” Bertram looked incredulously at him.
    “No, of course not!” Jerome laughed. “Why on earth would I? But she will believe all. Therefore, when she willingly steps into my carriage, believing this to be so, she will be filled with enthusiasm for an adventure in a very different and exciting world. You do not need to know any more details about what befalls her. I will send word that she has run off with some young dandy who turned her head or such, if you wish to know anything, but a woman with such looks is always in demand in London, believe me.” He winked at Bertram who was so eager to believe his problems had so easily been solved that he would agree to any subterfuge Jerome explained. If he could arrest him then and there for his part in this make-believe scenario he would. Somehow, he would like to save Parthena, but in the process see Bertram fall. He wondered if Stanton had made enquiries into his estate or affairs. He supposed his reach would not stretch so far, but Jerome’s did.
    Bertram smiled. “I do not need to know any more. I shall leave it all to your judgement.”
    “Good! May I suggest I dine with you tonight and we can persuade Miss Parthena that her future would be best served by taking me up on my offer?”
    “Yes, yes of course. Do you wish to stay the night?” he asked, apparently quite taken by his cunning new friend.
    “I am afraid I cannot, for I have a room in the town, but perhaps you could meet me in the coffee shop tomorrow, say at a half past the hour of ten and we can run through the details of when I should leave. That is if she is willing. She must leave here happily, even if her happiness will not endure once in the city. I have my reputation to consider,” Jerome said and smiled.
    “Excellent idea. I will arrange for dinner then. Do you wish to meet her now? Soften her up a little.” Bertram winked at him.
    “Excellent notion, Bertram! Perhaps she could show me the garden and the path by the river. I understand from Charles the fishing is also excellent.” Jerome could not believe how easily Bertram had fallen into his plan. It was said that love was blind, but greed was a much stronger blindfold to one’s senses.
    “Yes, give me a moment and I will ask her to make herself ready for a stroll.” He scuttled from his study, which gave Jerome a chance to look around. He saw the large folder upon the desk and had a quick glimpse inside. He had seen enough laid out plans and drawings to quickly ascertain that Charles was not interested in fishing, but the fast flow of the river and the position of the estate gave it a favourable aspect for the building of a mill. More than one building was planned though, there was a manufactory also. Stanton was correct. These plans would destroy the village. To save her home, Parthena had to marry, and sharpish. But would she? Persuading Bertram to trick her was easy, but persuading Thena to wed him for