The Emperor's New Clothes by Victoria Alexander

sold it to was of good, honest stock. A man worthy of the ancient, extremely respectable and highly civilized title of Count of Brickwater.”
    Tye frowned in confusion. “I thought it was Bridgewater.”
    Damn. She nodded. “Of course.”
    He shook his head in a puzzled gesture. “Didn’t you just say Brickwater?”
    â€œSurely not, but”—she sniffed again and dabbed at her eyes—“I might have. This whole topic is so dreadfully upsetting to even think about. I tend to get terribly, terribly confused. Why, sometimes I forget my own name.”
    â€œThere, there, darlin’.” Jack gazed at her with the lost expression of a man who is helpless in the face of a woman’s tears. “I’m sure everything will work out.”
    â€œNothing will work out. It’s hopeless.” She covered her face with the handkerchief and sobbed.
    For a long moment her weeping was the only sound. Silence from the two men stretched on until she wondered how many more tears she could squeeze out. Honestly, how long would it take Jack to recognize the answer to her alleged dilemma and his own?
    â€œOphelia?” Jack’s voice broke through her sobs.
    â€œYes?” She gazed at him with all the pathos in her arsenal.
    â€œWould you consider selling…” Jack paused as if considering his words. “To an American?”
    Triumph speared through her, and it was all she could do to keep it from showing on her face.
    â€œWhat American?” she said, as if she didn’t already know the answer.
    A slow grin spread across Jack’s face. “Me.”
    â€œJack!” Shock rang in Tye’s voice.
    â€œYou!” Ophelia gasped. “Why, I couldn’t possibly.”
    Tye heaved a sigh of relief. “Damn right.”
    Jack threw him a stern look. “Keep out of this, Tye.I’m serious, Ophelia. I’d like the chance to buy your property.”
    â€œYou are a dear, dear man, but I can’t imagine an American as the next count.” Ophelia shook her head. “Why, the scandal alone would be phenomenal.”
    Jack set his lips in a firm line, the sure sign of a man who had his mind made up. “Think about it, Ophelia. I’d pay you a good price.”
    â€œJack, this is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.” Disbelief and exasperation underlay Tye’s words. “You can’t be serious. Why would you even consider leaving Wyoming for England?”
    â€œWhat makes you think I’d leave?” Jack gazed at his nephew as if he had taken leave of his senses.
    â€œWouldn’t you?” Confusion once more colored Tye’s face, and Ophelia smiled to herself. She did so love it when this arrogant male didn’t know what was going on.
    â€œOf course not.” Jack laughed. “I’d get one of them English lawyers and a good manager to handle things for me. Lorelie and I would go over maybe once a year.” He leaned toward Ophelia. “She’s never been abroad, and I’ve always promised to take her. And she’d be going as a countess.” He pulled his brows together. “She would be a countess, wouldn’t she?”
    Ophelia nodded. “Naturally.”
    Jack grinned his satisfaction. “She’d have all the respectability and civilization any one woman could handle, and I’d hardly have to do much of anything except part with a bit of money.”
    â€œI don’t know, Jack.” She stared at him helplessly. “I’m not sure what to say. Or what to think, for that matter.”
    â€œI think it’s ridiculous,” Tye snapped.
    â€œWhy?” She gazed at him wide-eyed.
    He clenched his teeth. “It just is, that’s all.”
    â€œI think it’s a great idea,” Jack said with enthusiasm. “So, Ophelia, what do you say?”
    â€œIt’s a very big decision. I’m really not…” She shrugged and