“Yes. There is speculation, of course, about her stealing his affections, but no one has come out and said he ruined her. Except for that bloody big block of ice.”
Amanda’s brows raised. “Block of ice?”
“He has all the warmth of a frozen pond and told me in no uncertain terms he means to marry her. Demanded he do so with all haste. But I’m not inclined to allow him to have her, especially since my sister just referred to herself as a tainted bit of stew.”
“I see.” Granby wanted Andromeda. What had occurred between them to cause such a rift? Knowing her daughter as she did, Amanda knew Andromeda would never have given away her virtue lightly. She loved him. It was painfully clear. “What do you know of Granby?”
“He’s a cold bastard. Just like his father. Terrible scandal when his mother ran away with her lover. Known for his exacting nature and lack of humor. His only redeeming quality, from what I can tell, is his business acumen. He is often in the company of Mr. Estwood, a businessman of some reputation.”
Her thoughts ran back again to Andromeda’s impassioned speech earlier. How the Barringtons existed in a bubble of their own making, oblivious to those who might not esteem them, dukes or not. It made them sound incredibly arrogant. But there was more than a bit of truth to Romy’s words. She and Marcus had known there would be challenges when they married, which is why they’d raised the girls at Cherry Hill, rarely visiting London. It had been a very long time, but she supposed some of the older members of society, those who knew she’d been a lady’s companion, like Lady Dobson or Lord Daring, still lifted their noses at her.
Of course, Lady Dobson was now living in genteel poverty, having had to sell her house in town and leave society. Greedy old bitch. Amanda felt not an ounce of pity for her.
“Did Granby give you the impression he finds us...somehowbeneathhim?”
Tony’s face hardened.
“Don’t get angry, Tony. Winnie has told me the previous Duke of Granby was strident in his views of a person’s origins. It would be nearly impossible for his son to not share such attitudes. And Leoisa bastard.” She squeezed his fingers, thinking how much worse things would become if the knowledge that Amanda herself was the illegitimate daughter of the Earl of Wight leaked out. Being a former lady’s companion was the least of her sins. But everyone who knew the truth was dead.
Except Lord Daring.
Amanda blinked, refusing to give any of her time or thought to her former employer and Olivia’s grandfather. “Granby wants your sister but not the rest of us. I expect your sister objected. She is in love with him—”
“Rotten bastard. I’m not giving Andromeda to him.”
“Tony,” she said gently. “It is not your choice. Not really.”
“I don’t know if I can stomach having him as her husband. Leo will detest him. I won’t force Romy to marry him unless...” His voice trailed off. “Unless she is with child. Even then, I would be more inclined to send her off to the country than marry him. I don’t like Granby. Not a bit. Reminds me of a giant vulture. Whatever could she possibly see in him?”
“Love is rather unexpected, as you well know. But you could try to be kinder to Granby, given the forces that shaped him. After all, the two of you have much in common besides Andromeda.”
Tony snorted. “Hardly. I can’t see that we are anything alike.”
“You both have bastard brothers,” she said as Tony’s eyes widened. “Though I think you like yours a bit more.”
27
“Your Grace, the Duke of Granby is calling for Lady Andromeda.”
Romy looked up from the game of chess she was playing with Tony, her shoulders instantly stiffening. The week since confessing to her mother and brother had been terrible. She’d been whispered about no matter where she went, even Madame Dupree’s. When she and Theo had run into Beatrice and Lady Carstairs in the park the other day, both women had given them a cut direct. In full view of every carriage passing by.
Romy had wanted to scream to everyone on the path that Beatrice was welcome to Granby. She didn’t want him.
“Ah. I wondered when he would darken my doorstep.”
“You invited him?” Romy nearly tossed the rook she held in her hand at Tony’s head. “Why would you do such a thing when I’ve told you how I feel? The talk will go away. It is already fading,” she lied.
“I merely said he was welcome to have the opportunity to convince you of his suit. Nothing more. And the talk hasn’t even begun to fade.”
Pith cleared his throat. “What shall I do with him, Your Grace?”
Romy pursed her lips. She had a great many options for Pith as to how to dispose of the Duke of Granby. “You should tell him, Pith—”
“To await Lady Andromeda in the drawing room. Thank you, Pith.” Once the butler left, he turned back to her. “You must, at the very least, receive him, Romy.”
“Must I?”
Her brother stared at her intently. “I do not think you are as averse to Granby as you pretend to be, or you would not have allowed him to ruin you.”
