“It is a solution, Juliet,” Aunt Geraldine said as if the suggestion weren’t devastating.
“A marriage of convenience. What am I to do, look into every man’s pocket and pick the one that meets our needs?” She downed her wine.
“Many marriages are arranged that way,” her aunt said.
“Yes, but those girls have something with which to bargain. I have nothing. Reynolds told me the creditors are getting anxious about their payment. He anticipates that so will the man holding Bradley’s vowels.”
Aunt Geraldine got up and pulled Juliet to the window.
“Do you realize what your father is telling you? Think. What does your family have of value? You. If you do not marry now, you could be forced to marry the man who holds those vowels.”
Juliet stepped back, her eyes wide with shock as her hand flew to her throat. Fear, cold and icy, ran through her. “No. He wouldn’t.” Her voice was barely perceptible.
“Let’s not give him a choice. Lady Gladstone is a friend of mine. She is having a soiree this evening. You and I will attend. There is no time to lose. Your mother was telling me about thecondolence visits she’s had from your brother’s friends. Some of those young men may be acceptable to you.”
A look of horror played across Juliet’s face.
Her aunt took her hand and said, “Don’t give up hope. I won’t let you marry any man other than the right one.”
Perhaps she should find the puppet master and join his troupe. She could speak her mind and perhaps find a gentleman who makes her heart stutter, like Glenraven.
Chapter Six
About a mileand a half south of Cavendish Square in Belgravia, Glenraven sat in his drawing room with Duncan.
“It was a shock to find out about my father’s accident. I’m sure it was the same for you.” Glenraven sat in a high back chair, his mind still clouded with a haze of disbelief, staring at the half-full glass of whiskey in his hand.
“Aye. I spoke to Pearson. He told me everything. Did Lord Barrington mention the tampering?”
Glenraven’s gaze remained fixed on his glass, the amber liquid reflecting the sunlight that filtered through the window. However, Duncan’s mention of tampering sent a jolt through him, quickening his pulse as if he had sprinted around Hyde Park. Without lifting his head, his eyes shifted to Duncan, a silent question in their depths. “Tampering?” he echoed, the word heavy with sudden dread.
“I thought not. It is a lot to take in at one time.” Sitting forward with his elbows on his knees, his hands clasped, Duncan gave Glenraven a sobering stare. “Pearson checked the carriage before they left Luton. There were markings on the underside, where the wood had split, which raised his concern.”
“What kind of markings?”
“The axles had been partially sawed through. The cuts were artfully concealed by the shadows of the wheel well. He also checked the Harmony Bridge and found the planks were compromised. Unnatural fractures and strategically placed cutswere found that would be invisible at a glance but catastrophic under the weight of a passing carriage.”
“That’s why Father is staying with Barrington.” Glenraven rubbed the back of his neck and shook his head. “He tried to uncover a fraudulent card game by himself. Barrington didn’t know about it until it was too late.”
“There is more. Your cousin Sebastian has been to see her ladyship, giving her support in these dark hours with His Grace gravely ill, and you, well, no one knew where you were. Sebastian and Fletcher—”
“Robert Fletcher? Father’s steward?”
“The same. They have been together in the estate office a great deal. Mr. Flemings, your father’s butler, spoke to me in confidence. He reminded Fletcher that the estate office was not for receiving guests. Fletcher told him that with your father gravely ill and you absent, Sebastian, who isn’t a stranger but your third cousin, was eager to help. Fletcher told him that Sebastian has been a comfort to your mother.”
“You remember Sebastian when we were growing up. He always wanted to help.” Glenraven stood and glanced out the window. The afternoon was bright, with the wind sweeping along in gusts. He glanced across Belgravia Square and chuckled.
“Did you say something?” Duncan asked.
“No, no.” Glenraven waved away the question. “I was looking at the people sitting in the square. Earlier, I sat by a puppet theater and ate a meat pie before I went to Barrington’s. The puppet master conscripted me as if I were a foreign sailor. He needed a Punch.” He turned and faced his friend.
“You?” Duncan looked appalled.
“Why are you so surprised? I was quite convincing. So was Judy.”
“A puppet? The trip from Paris was worse on you than I thought.”
“Don’t be silly. The puppet master conscripted a young lady to play Judy. We were quite a team.” Glenraven returned to the window, he gazed at nothing with a rapturous smile. “Quite a team, indeed.”
