Tobias curled his hands into fists. “They would marry her only to gain access to her father’s money?”
Henrietta nodded. “Yes. But more than that. Many do not care for convention. They’ll marry her because they like her. Sheislikable.”
Tobias studied his sister. “Do you know Lady Maggie well?”
“I wouldn’t say well. But you don’t reside in the same house as another woman for a fortnight without getting to know her a bit. Lady Maggie has engaged me on the matter of gowns a time or two. She’s quite observant. Intelligent. I’ve enjoyed her company.”
Tobias wanted to yell,Why didn’t you tell me she existed?because it seemed unfair his sister had enjoyed the presence of his Pocket Princess for two weeks while he had not.
He ran his palms over his face, recognizing the feeling coursing through him. He wanted to be friends with the girl, to tease her and share ideas with her. He wanted to hear her ideas, too. If they all ran along the lines of breaking into strangers’ bedrooms, she’d likely amuse him no end. And he also, just a bit, wanted to kiss her. Must be the amusement. Dangerous dual desire, that. Friendship and lust did not make friendly bedfellows. Celia had taught him that.
He swallowed the desire and smiled. “I’ve had limited interaction with Lady Maggie so far, most of it under duress, but she is … lovely.”
Grayson peered at him. “Are you all right?”
“Of course. Why do you ask?”
“You’ve made too few jokes since walking through that door. And, when you said Lady Maggie was lovely, you spoke the truth.”
“What of it? She deserves the praise.” He could admire a woman without falling for her. He’d done it many times before.
Grayson held up his hands, palms forward in concession. “It’s simply that I rarely see your serious side.” He grinned. “I like it.”
Henrietta grinned. “Me as well. But what will you do about Lady Maggie?” Henrietta took her husband’s arm and pulled him toward the door.
“Nothing to be done, sis. Her parents are not forcing the issue and the lady herself prefers ruination to marriage.”
Henrietta exhaled, her shoulders visibly lightening. “I’m relieved nothing terrible has come of this. I was worried.”
“Don’t worry, sis. Everything is as it should be. There will be no gnashing of teeth or wailing over futures lost.” He’d had enough of that with Celia.
Henrietta nodded. Grayson pulled her out the door, but she escaped his grasp and lunged at Tobias, wrapping him in a tight hug. “I want you to marry for love, not because you must,” she whispered, releasing him. “Just … maybe … avoid Lady Maggie for the rest of the party?”
“Right-o, sis.”
She smiled and let Grayson drag her from the room, probably to find some dark corner to kiss in.
Tobias rolled his eyes and let the silence of the now empty room settled into his bones. He used to enjoy being alone, but the feeling suited him less and less, ever since Celia Weatherby had punched her perfectly manicured hand into his chest and shred his heart into tiny bits. Henrietta wanted him to fall in love. Ha! He’d tried that once. He’d even proposed. And to his best friend from childhood, no less. He’d thought Celia saw him,reallysaw him, through the clothes and the ridiculous banter, straight to the heart of him. He’d told her everything about himself he kept hidden away from others—his past, his dreams for the future, his plans.
And she’d laughed. “You cannot be serious, Toby!” she’d said. “You? Build an empire like your father’s?” Her laughter had sounded like forks tinkling against fine china. “You’re so silly. I could never marry a man likeyou.” She’d shrugged. “You’re good for a laugh, a flirtation, butmarriage?” She’d shrugged again.
The memory of her laugh ricocheted around his brain every waking hour if he let it. The only way to silence it was to prove Celia wrong, prove even a silly fool could accomplish great things.
Great job he was doing so far. He’d not found a suitable business partner and had, instead, compromised himself a wife who did not wish to marry him.
Tobias pulled an embroidered waistcoat from the wardrobe. Lady Maggie liked this one. She’d laughed at the frogs, but it had not been a pitying laugh. It had been bursting with admiration. He tilted his head and tried to see the design through her eyes. Itwasclever, wasn’t it? And clothes like thesewouldmake him a success.Ifhe found a partner.
But there was no reason not to also take a wife, especially since his honor clamored at him to do so, and especially since he liked the woman in question so well. Just because he married a woman didn’t mean he had to tell her everything. Perhaps if he’d kept his secrets to himself, instead of spilling them to Celia, he’d be married already.
He shoved the waistcoat back into the wardrobe and slammed it shut. It wobbled under the force. Damned piece of furniture. Surely a family as affluent as the Bromleys could replace it. Or at least have it fixed.
But they also allowed their only daughter to run a bit wild. And, now that he thought about it, the carpets were a bit threadbare and there was a water spot on the ceiling in the corner of the second-floor drawing room. Tobias scratched his chin. People like the Bromleys simply didn’t pay attention to practicalities. Or they were hiding something. Tobias knew disguises well. He wore them often enough himself.
Marrying him would be best for Lady Maggie. And it would amuse him. He’d just have to be careful around her. He wouldn’t let another woman see his secrets. Never again.
Chapter 5
Maggie ducked behind a rosebush and dashed toward the cover of her favorite bench under her favorite tree. The foliage surrounding it was dead or dying, so the artists currently in residence were unlikely to find the inspiration they sought there. Except, perhaps, the sculptor Densby. He was going through a rather morbid phase and had asked her at least twice in the last several weeks if he could take a mold of her face for a death mask. She sat on the bench and hunched over low, just in case Densby was about. To do what she planned, she needed quiet and solitude.
