“You really are a despicable creature,” Lady Hathergill said.
Even in the midst of fury, Elinor felt a moment of true admiration. Her aunt, it seemed, had not lost her ability to tell the truth or to stand up to injustice anymore.
Sir John frowned thoughtfully. “Penelope does like him—”
“I can’t be an outcast,” Penelope breathed. “I just can’t!”
Sir John nodded. “In that case…”
Elinor stared at Miss Armitage with open loathing. A smile was playing at the corners of the other girl’s mouth. She looked, of course, as unlike her brother as two people could look, but their danger felt exactly equal. And…
Wait.
Elinor felt her pulse speed up against her throat. She swallowed hard as an impossible idea blossomed inside her.
“Wait,” she breathed. “Wait.”
“What is it?” Benedict said.
“She and her brotherknewfrom the beginning,” said Elinor. “They knewexactlywhat had happened to your father, even though you had kept it so carefully secret. But theydidn’t tell Sir John. There was never any reason for them to keep their silence on that, especially when they were so desperate to betroth Mr. Armitage to Penelope—unlesstheywere too afraid to risk bringing up the topic.”
Miss Armitage’s eyes flared open. “You’re speaking nonsense. And as you’re no more than a penniless hanger-on who is about to be transported—”
“No one had heard of them in London until this past year,” said Elinor. “They appeared out of nowhere, complete with wealth and a newly-purchased estate. No one had even heard of their wholefamilybefore.”
“That is true,” Mrs. De Lacey agreed judiciously, “although we must remember that many wealthy families newly-arrived in Society do prefer to make a mystery of their background. Take Sir John, for instance, who likes to pretend that he doesnotcome from a background of low trade.”
Sir John scowled. “Look here, ma’am—”
“Andshe looks nothing like her brother,” Elinor added. “But we do all know of another charming couple who are also exceptionally persuasive...and good at keeping secrets.”
Realization dawned in Benedict’s eyes. “You don’t really think—”
“Shecan’tthink!” Miss Armitage snapped. “None of you should listen to her. You all know exactly who she is! You told me about her, remember, Penelope? How useless, how pathetic, how utterly plain and unwanted by anybody—”
“I may be all of those things,” Elinor said, “but I amright.”
Knowledge surged through her with the force of true power. She pulled her arm free from Benedict’s support and stepped forward to glare at Miss Armitage, eye-to-eye. “You,” she said. “Armitage isnotyour name. And that man you arrived with is not your brother!”
“What are you talking about?” Penelope demanded. “What wouldyouknow about fashionable people or society?”
“I read the society columns,” said Elinor, “and I remember the stories I’ve been told. SoIbelieve that Mr. ‘Armitage’ is actually her husband. His betrothal to you would be illegal, andyouwould be attempting bigamy with it. He and his so-called sister are the same pair of fraudsters who came up with a so-called investment scheme and stole all of the money from my and Benedict’s fathers, among other unfortunates.”
Penelope collapsed onto a chair. “Bigamy?”
Miss Armitage said, “I am not going to stand here listening to this libel from a nobody. I’m leaving!”
“I don’t think so.” Benedict moved to bar the door, his face white with rage. “I’ve wanted to catch the fraudsters who ruined my father’s life for over a year now. I, for one, willnotlet you go.”
“But why does he even want to marry Penelope, if he’s already married?” Lady Hathergill inquired.
“Quite!” said Miss Armitage. “An excellent point. Thank you, Lady Hathergill.”
“Oh, don’t thank me.” Lady Hathergill’s nostrils flared with disdain. “Youwant to see me locked up for my husband’s convenience. I’m only asking my niece a question, because I want to hearheranswer.”
“He doesn’t want to marry her,” said Elinor. “He only wants an official betrothal. It has to be because of her famous fortune.” All of the pieces were snapping into place, now. She’d spent the last week worrying so much about her own disguise, she’d barely noticed all of the clues that the other two had dropped. Now they all came back to her in a rush. “They arrived unexpectedly early because they’d canceled a different visit. They took care to frighten away all of her other male visitors by spreading false rumours of her mother’s madness. Now they’re desperate to have a public announcement of the betrothal by the end of tonight.”
“They’re in a hurry,” Benedict said. “In other words, they’ve been found out.”
