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When Miss Athey opened the door, the Bridgewater butler was there. “Your Grace, the Dowager Viscountess Featherton is waiting for you in the morning room.”

“Just in time. Perhaps she will have an idea.” Constance rose and picked up her cane. Getting old was the very devil. “You may help me down the stairs.”

He held out his arm. “Yes, Your Grace.”

When she entered the morning room, Lucinda was standing at the door to the garden. She turned. “Lovely this time of year.”

“I agree. My granddaughter did an excellent job when she was here a couple of years ago. Come sit. We have a problem.”

After Constance told her friend about Tolliver’s presence, Lucinda asked, “Isn’t Mary in correspondence with Lady Evesham and Lady Huntley?”

“She is. They have been friends for years.”

“In that case,” Lucinda said, grinning, “I have just the thing, and Kit won’t even know he’s been tricked.

I am quite sure the ladies would be happy to help.

I was at Catherine Beaumont’s house the other day when her grandson and his wife brought the baby to visit.

Such a beautiful little girl. They will be leaving Town in the next day or so.

As I understand it, the Eveshams and Huntleys plan to accompany them.

I believe there is some talk of going to Edinburgh. One of Huntley’s aunts lives there.”

There was no doubt both couples were discreet enough, and the gentlemen were friends of Kit’s.

In addition, in the event Mary balked, Lady Evesham and Lady Huntley were more than capable of convincing her that she must wed Kit.

Constance walked to the writing table. “I’ll ask the ladies to attend me immediately.

Not only will they be able to help ensure that everything goes well, they can stay to witness Kit and Mary’s marriage vows. ”

Eunice ambled toward the wood, her hand tucked in the crook of Mr. Doust’s arm.

Once she’d seen the look of recognition on Mr. Featherton’s face when he saw her niece, she had been fairly certain all would be well.

Mama and old Lady Featherton had been right when they said he had a tendre for Mary.

Be that as it may, it wouldn’t hurt to keep the rector near in the event of a problem.

Besides, Eunice wanted to spend more time with him.

Soon he’d be nothing more than a pleasant memory.

Well, perhaps more than merely pleasant, but a memory nonetheless.

She’d not been as drawn to a man since Roger, and she didn’t know why Mr. Doust interested her so.

He was not much above average height, nowhere near as tall as her husband had been, or as flamboyant.

On the other hand, she herself was short, so a man need not be tall to appeal to her.

His eyes were a clear brown. Much like a horse’s.

He was stocky but had not run to fat, and he moved with a grace she would not have expected.

At the local assembly in January, they had danced, and if he had tried to kiss her, she would have let him.

If not for Mary and the May game they were playing .

. . Eunice sighed. If, if, if. None of it mattered.

She recited the story she had decided to tell him.

“We will leave for Town as soon as my mother arrives.”

His brow furrowed. “When will that be?”

“I’m not sure. Next week or soon thereafter. Before my niece’s birthday.”

“And what of Mr. Featherton?”

Drat . She kicked a stone. This was what came of allowing her mind to wander.

Before she could think of an answer, Mr. Doust said, “It is clear Lady Mary was not expecting Mr. Featherton, nor was she . . . best pleased to see him.” The rector stopped, turning her toward him.

“Lady Eunice, I hope we have become friends. If you tell me what is going on, I might be able to help.”

Eunice repressed a groan. Should she reveal the secret and watch as Mr. Doust lost all respect for her? Yet when he gazed at her with those steady brown eyes, she felt herself wanting to confide in him.

“You do realize,” he said quietly, “that even if I were prone to gossip, my vows prohibit me from doing so.”

A smile tugged one corner of her mouth. She could not imagine anyone less disposed to tittle-tattle than the rector. She took a breath. “Very well, but you must promise not to say a word until I’m finished.”

He led her to a wooden bench and waited for her to sit before he did, then he took her hand and held it. “I promise.”

A light shiver ran through her. Why did it feel as if he were offering more than concern for a friend?

“After Mary’s father died, only a year after her mother, and the mourning period was up, her brother Barham and his wife removed to Town for the Season.

Mary resided with them. Mama and I thought nothing of their cousin Gawain Tolliver being around, until he began pressing his attentions on Mary.

Barham warned him off, but that just made Tolliver more devious about following her.

Then one evening, during some entertainment or other, as she was returning from the ladies’ retiring room, he tried to trap her.

Fortunately she was able to get away, but he didn’t stop his attempts to compromise her.

Barham wrote to his uncle, Tolliver’s father, and complained, but he received no reply.

Soon it got to the point where Tolliver was popping up wherever Mary went, and .

. .” Once she’d finished the story, Eunice waited as Mr. Doust sat quietly for a few moments.

“Why Mr. Featherton?”

“His grandmother, one of my mother’s bosom friends, was sure he’d had an interest in Mary, and Mama thought that during Mary’s first Season she had noticed him more than the other gentlemen.

To hear Mama and the Dowager Lady Featherton talk, it is past time he was wed.

Even his father, who has been very tolerant about his unmarried state, has begun pushing for him to find a wife.

That was when his grandmother, Mama, and Lady Bellamny hatched their plan.

” Eunice glanced at Mr. Doust, but his countenance showed nothing but polite interest. “I must admit, I agreed with them. Mr. Featherton is a much better choice than Mr. Tolliver, who is a fish-faced cur who only wants Mary’s money.

Mama is a dab hand at arranging matches.

Still, after being here, I do wish there had been another way.

I did not appreciate how close to courting scandal this would be. ”

“How did you become so involved?”

She shrugged one shoulder. “I generally travel to visit my children and grandchildren, and cannot be pinned to one place. As I was the least likely to be missed, I agreed to remain with Mary.”

Mr. Doust grinned, shaking his head slowly. “A conspiracy of old ladies—other than you, of course. I’ve often thought women should be given more to occupy their time. We gentlemen ignore a great deal of talent by not recognizing their skills.”

Eunice couldn’t believe he wasn’t upset; in fact, she was stunned. “How can you think this situation is funny?”

He sobered immediately. “I don’t. I do, however, admire you ladies. And if the young man is so inclined, this could all work out quite well.”

She pressed her lips together. “You are as bad as Mama and her friends.”

“Oh no.” Then he did laugh. “Just an old war horse. I’ve seen far stranger things than this.”

What did he mean by war . . . “You were in the military?”

He smiled. “Yes, as a chaplain. I was army mad, but my father insisted I go into the church. In the end, I managed to satisfy both his requirements and my desires. Once Napoleon was exiled at Elba in ’14, I was offered a position with the Bishop of London, but I was not only sick of war but of politics.

I asked for someplace quiet and was sent here.

Despite being a market town, the living here is a pittance.

They were having trouble filling the position.

I accepted it as the money didn’t matter to me. I have a comfortable independence.”

Eunice had wondered at his seeming freedom to act in all matters. This explained quite a lot. “How nice it must be not to have to answer to anyone.”

“It is, rather.”

Rising, she placed her hand on Mr. Doust’s arm. She felt good about telling him the truth and was ecstatic he had taken it so well. “Despite my mother’s machinations, Mary has been insisting she’ll have a full Season and be allowed to fall in love. That will create a problem. ”

“I don’t see any way around a marriage with Mr. Featherton,” Mr. Doust said, then was quiet for a moment, frowning. “Surely she’ll see she’s been outmaneuvered?”

“So one would think; however, Mary can be stubborn, inventive and, in many ways, na?ve. Quite frankly, I do not expect her to simply fall in with Mama’s scheme.

” Eunice glanced at the sky. She had been away longer than she had planned.

“It is time for me to check on her and Mr. Featherton, and change for dinner.”

Mr. Doust twined her arm with his, drawing her close. “Invite me, and I’ll try to discover his intent.”

She gazed up at him. “You would assist in this conspiracy?”

His eyes warmed. “My lady, I would have thought that by now you’d have realized there is very little I would not do for you and those who matter to you.”

“Oh my.” Warmth rose in her face. How long had it been since she’d blushed? “You have me acting like a girl again, and I must tell you, my salad days are long past.”

He raised her fingers to his lips, kissing them one by one. “I think you are the perfect age. I would be honored if you will call me Brian, and may I call you Eunice?”

This was more than she had expected and everything she had wished for.

Pulling his head down to her, she pressed her lips to his.

He moved slowly, gently at first; then she touched her tongue to the seam of his lips and he opened his mouth to receive her.

Frissons of pleasure shot through her as he tilted his head, deepening the kiss.

She threw her arms around him, pressing her breasts to his chest. Who would have thought a rector could kiss like this?

Their tongues tangled and caressed. He tightened his arms around her. Oh, God. How could she have lived so long alone?