Nathaniel turned back to his friend. “To take heat before I accuse somebody of attempting witchery. People have ended up on the stake for less than that.”
“Not for a few centuries, but I shall keep it in mind too,” Julian replied. “Now, what are you looking at?”
“Nothing,” Nathaniel said, though he did not move away from the window.
Julian’s grunt came to his ear, and his glass clinked against the table as he marched up to the window. “I see. So the ‘nothing’ you were looking at was actually your precious Duchess.”
“She is not my precious Duchess,” he replied through clenched teeth.
“But I dare say you would wish she were, which is why you are scowling as if you drank curdled milk. You should see if they need your assistance in the dairy.”
“I am not in the mood for your colorful commentary,” he replied. “I am only looking to see how the arrangement is going. That is all.”
“And how is it going?” Julian asked.
Nathaniel shrugged, looking back out into the distance. Lord Worthington had arrived promptly that morning, and after the three of them had conversed for a little while, he had revealed his plans for the day. He was taking Evelyn… riding.
As he thought back to Evelyn’s mortified face, Nathaniel grinned. He knew this was the last thing she had wanted. And it might have been almost amusing if it hadn’t also made it very clear that Worthington was therefore not a contender.
He hadn’t even asked in advance if she would like to go riding. He had simply brought two of his best horses with him to take her.
Now, as they rode away, he shook his head. “She hates riding,” he mumbled under his breath.
“Oh, so you have got to know her better, then,” Julian said with a smile.
“Of course I have. I had to get to know her better so I could find her a better husband. A better option. Since she turned everybody else down.”
“Right,” Julian said. “You don’t think that perhaps she has been turning them down for other reasons?”
“Such as?” he asked.
“Perhaps she is fond of you,” he said.
Nathaniel rolled his eyes. “Do not be ridiculous. Of course, she is not fond of me. She would like it if I just let her have the house and let her be who she wants to be. She does not want to marry at all. That is the trouble. But she will.”
“And what, pray, will you do if she continues to wreak havoc on these gentlemen that you select?”
He shrugged again. “I do not know. She would have to go back to her townhouse then. I know she does not want to be around her father because she knows that he will take her fortune if he can get his hands on it.”
“If,” Julian said. “Without a husband, her father will be the one who is in charge of her fortune.”
“I am aware,” Nathaniel said. “I have not told her yet, but my solicitor received a letter this morning saying that Lord Lowey is asking for access to his daughter’s funds.”
Julian grimaced. “Have you told her?”
“Not yet. Though I believe it may be best to tell her because it might inspire her to be less picky when it comes to husbands.”
“And what are you going to do about her father in the meantime?”
“The best thing I can do is delay him. I have instructed my solicitors not to reply for a fortnight and then send a noncommittal reply. That ought to give us some time.”
“Time?” Julian tilted his head. “To do what exactly?”
He wet his lips. “Time to tell her. Time to see that she?—”
“Time for you to admit what is obvious? That you care for her?”
“I do not,” he replied sharply—sharper than he had intended.
