She sighed. Her mother and father had passed away, and she was nearly alone in the world. It was a despairing fate to be reduced to (potentially) making the same mistake twice. But this time she would be prepared. She planned to take her time and pay Bow Street runners, or some private sleuths to look into possible husbands. She didn’t care how she came up with those funds. They were exigent. And once she found the right husband, he could pay back that loan. It would all make a lovely, loveless, full circle. And if she wasn’t marrying for love—again—then she damn well better be marrying for money.
Chapter 2
REGGIE HAD NO MONEY. He had spent the last of his allowance on drinking the night before, and he had a full day to wait before his next installment came in. One day. Twenty four hours. It was about to drag on forever. And not just because he had no money, though that was vying for first place for the worst of it. No, it was also going to drag on because he somehow found himself suckered into attending a wedding. And not just any wedding. The wedding. The wedding of the season. Nay, the century. It rivaled the last royal wedding because this was no ordinary wedding. Not only was it the wedding of a duke, it was also the wedding of his brothers. Plural. As in six other brothers. As in, a seven-way wedding. The Ashbourne Wedding. Emphasis onthe.
It was, needless to say, the most sought after event of the season. For women. And for women—namely his desperatemother and sister—bringing the men in the lives in need of a wife. In their eyes, it was a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of no current fortune, must be in want of a wife.
He was not. In want of a wife, that is. In want of fortunes? Yes. Wife? No. Unless said wife had fortunes. Then he might be swayed. He was being facetious, of course. The earldom had money, but Reggie would never ask for money beyond what his father allotted him. He spent within his means. But if his family was trying to snag him a bride, he wouldn’t mind if she was well heeled.
“Wasn’t that the most beautiful ceremony?” Charlotte sniffled as she wiped her eyes with her handkerchief.
“Which one?”
“All of them,” she blubbered.
“You’re just extra emotional because your own wedding is coming up soon.”
“That may be true”—sniff—“but you can just tell they’re in love.”
“Which couple?”
“All of them.” She batted his forearm with her handkerchief. “Can’t you see the love in their eyes? It’s been the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”
“I can see about seven most beautiful things I’ve ever seen in my life. I’ll give you that.” Reggie grinned, saying the words only to goad her. “I’m referring to the brides of course.”
“Reggie,” her tone had dropped. “Sometimes you have absolutely no concept of the right audience.”
“What?”
She grumbled.
“I’m just saying that all of the brides looked beautiful. Is that wrong?”
“No.”
“Well, then.”
“Only you,” she rolled her eyes.
“I’m just picking out the best in a bad situation. I don’t know why you and Mother brought me here.”
“Of course you do. Luck is in the air.”
“I thought it was love.”
“It’s both. And you definitely need both if we’re to marry you off.”
He scoffed. “You make me sound like a woman.”
“Ha. Ha. Reggie. Seriously. You need a wife. One day you’ll take over the earldom. You need to prepare.”
“That won’t be for a very long time, Charlotte. I’ll be ready when it happens.” He patted her head and she tried to dodge it.
“Don’t touch my hair, Reggie.”
“What are we, seven?”
“You started it,” she retorted.
