Page 110

That did make sense. Fiona wanted to ask him about it. Would he open up to her about his father and about whatever had happened with Lady Bentley? Was it even any of her business? Not really, but she thought they had some sort of connection—if not as family, at least friendship?

“I did hear something this morning that made me curious,” Prudence said, setting her spoon down since she’d finished her ice cream. “The housekeeper and the butler were discussing the earl’s need to wed.”

“Why would that make you curious?” Cassandra asked. “He’s an earl and needs an heir.”

“They said something about his father putting him in a terrible situation.” Prudence looked to Fiona. “I suppose that could refer to some disagreement they had before he died.”

And Fiona hadn’t improved his situation with her behavior last week. She’d reminded everyone that he was a rogue and perhaps not the best marriage material, earl or not. “Cassandra, is there anything I can do to help him? His current predicament regarding his reputation is entirely my fault.”

“Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do. But you do give me an idea.” She tapped her finger against her chin briefly. “My brother Constantine is completely above reproach. He can probably assist Overton in ways we can’t. I’ll speak with him.”

Fiona was so glad to hear this, even if she didn’t understand how he could help. “What can he do? While we’ve been sitting here, I believe you referred to him as an ass.”

Cassandra laughed. “That much is true, but in this case his pomposity is an advantage. He can speak on Overton’s behalf, spend time with him so that people will see the earl with a new perspective.

The only thing Overton must be careful of is spending too much time with him, for then he may be found dull.

” She flashed a smile. “I am joking. Con is not always as boring as Lu says he is.”

“That would be wonderful,” Fiona said, grateful for her friend’s support. “I feel so terrible about what happened.”

Cassandra gave her an encouraging smile. “We’ll do what we can. Now, let us discuss what we are wearing on Friday!”

Fiona turned her mind to the assembly and seeing Lord Gregory.

Was she really going to accept his proposal should he offer it?

She didn’t see as she had any other choice.

At least he was kind, and she enjoyed his company.

She could do far worse, such as the vicar that her cousin apparently had in mind.

Furthermore, she expected Lord Gregory would be amenable to caring for Mrs. Tucket, but she’d have to ensure that was the case before she agreed to anything. In fact, she’d speak with him about it on Friday at the ball.

In the meantime, she meant to offer whatever support she could to her guardian, if he would take it.

“May I come in?”

Tobias looked up from the papers he was reading at his desk after dinner to see his ward framed in the threshold of his study door.

Her simple green gown was a rich contrast for her vibrant red hair.

Captivated by her beauty, he stood, as if he were pulled by an invisible rope.

He moved around the desk but forced himself to stop.

“Please.” He went to the small settee near the hearth and hoped she would sit beside him, even if it did invite temptation.

She came forward, the hem of her pear-colored skirts skimming the carpet as she joined him.

“I hope I’m not intruding on your work,” she said, glancing toward his desk.

He angled himself toward her and rested his arm along the back of the settee, bending it at the elbow so his fingers didn’t reach her shoulder. “Not at all. I’m grateful for the respite, actually. Is there something you wish to discuss?”

Her gaze dropped to her lap where she fidgeted with her gown. Straightening her hands so her fingers flexed, she placed her palms on her lap and gave him a tremulous smile.

“You seem nervous,” he said. “Is aught amiss?”

“No, nothing’s wrong. I went to Gunter’s today with Cassandra. And Prudence, of course.” She hesitated before adding, “We encountered Lady Bentley.”

Tobias gritted his teeth to prevent himself from swearing out loud. “I see,” he said slowly. “How was this…encounter?”

“She came to our table, and Cassandra introduced us. She, ah, mentioned something about you trying to kidnap her…” She looked away again, and Tobias couldn’t quite tell what she was asking.

“Did you believe her?”

Fiona’s gaze snapped to his, her pupils dilating in what he thought was outrage. “Certainly not! It was the most preposterous thing I’ve ever heard. In fact, I’m not even sure I believe you wanted to marry her. She was rather odious.”

Tobias couldn’t keep himself from laughing. “She is that, but in my defense, I didn’t realize it at the time. I was in want of a wife, and she was enchanting. I thought we suited perfectly.”

Her lips pressed into a straight line that screamed her disagreement. “After meeting her, I can’t imagine that was remotely possible.”

Another laugh escaped him, and because he tried not to let it, the sound was somewhere between a snort and a cough. He had to clear his throat after. “You determined that from a single encounter with her?”

“Easily. I’m surprised you found her tolerable, let alone courted her.”

He winced as he rubbed his hand down the side of his face.

“I was eager to wed. My father had decreed it was time, and I didn’t have an objection to doing so.

Lady Priscilla, as she was known then, made me feel as if I was the most important person in the world.

I was certain we would wed. I was on my way to tell her of my intention to ask her father for her hand when I learned she’d already accepted Bentley’s proposal.

It was, I’m now loath to admit, upsetting. ”

“Why did she say you kidnapped her?”

“Because I offered to elope with her to Gretna Green. I was certain her father had pressured her to accept Bentley’s proposal. As the son of a duke, he outranked me. I had to know if the decision to choose him was hers, so I arranged to get her alone at a ball.”

“Isn’t that rather scandalous?”

He arched a brow at her and tried not to smile. “This from the woman who disguised herself as a maid and stole into a private club?”

She blushed. “And was the decision hers or her father’s?”

“Her father’s, but she seemed willing to do whatever he wished, like a good, biddable young lady who understands that a marital alliance is perhaps the most important thing she can do.”

Fiona made a face, her nose wrinkling as her mouth twisted. “How perfectly horrid. But isn’t that what you expected me to do?” She spoke softly, but the volley of words managed to pierce straight into his chest.

Wincing, he dipped his head. “Yes. I deeply regret it. I hope you’ll accept my apology. It is, unfortunately, the way of Society—for women and for men. Who I married was of the utmost importance to my father.”

“Was he angry when she chose to marry someone else?”

The old, familiar tension gripped Tobias, but only for a moment. With his father gone, he knew he didn’t have to suffer the man’s dissatisfaction anymore. “He was disappointed. Our relationship never recovered from that.”

“How come?”

Tobias gripped the top of the settee’s back as he recalled that night at whatever ball they’d attended.

“When I suggested to Lady Priscilla that we elope, she was extremely titillated by the idea—not because it was a chance to marry the man she loved, but because it would spark notoriety and popularity. I saw my mistake in thinking she would be a good wife, and I encouraged her to wed Bentley.”

“You changed your mind?”

“Yes. She then told everyone that I attempted to kidnap her.” He made a sound of disgust low in his throat.

“Most didn’t believe her, thankfully, but it was dodgy there for a while.

I was given the cut direct on several occasions, and my father was furious with me.

I was labeled a rogue, a scoundrel, and a rake—the worst sort of reprobate.

I grew frustrated with everyone’s judgment, especially since I’d ultimately done the right thing.

I decided to become what they accused me of. ”

She was quiet a long moment. “I can’t imagine your father approved.”

“Not at all. He was livid. We didn’t speak for some time.

” He looked toward the portrait of his father that hung on the wall to the left of the desk.

In it, the former earl stood with his pony when he was about seven or eight years old.

The portrait was his father’s favorite because of his love for the animal.

Tobias had always hoped his father would speak to him with the same tender fondness with which he recalled his horse, but he never had.

Now, Tobias wondered why he hadn’t removed the painting.

Perhaps Tobias was still hoping, even now, to find some glimpse of affection from the man.

“When I learned he was ill, that he was dying, I thought we would repair things, but he wasn’t interested in such sentiment.” Instead, he’d focused on what Tobias needed to do when he was gone—take care of his ward and marry as soon as possible or suffer the consequences.

“I’m so sorry,” Fiona said softly.

“He found my behavior abhorrent, and I must admit I did my damnedest to ensure he felt that way. His disapproval was the best approval I could earn.” He shook his head. “Looking back, that was not a terribly wise choice considering that I would need to marry at some point.”

“I did not help matters with my behavior.” She grazed her fingertips against his leg, sending a flash of heat through him.

From the moment he’d glimpsed her in the doorway, his body had thrummed with a steady, insistent longing.

Her touch amplified the sensation so that need pulsed through him, sending blood rushing to his cock.

He shifted in an attempt to get his coat to mask his desire, but it was fairly hopeless. Perhaps she wouldn’t notice.