Page 39 of Fortune Favors the Frivolous (Matchmaking Mischief Makers #2)

“Yes, and her Aunt Pike threatens to make this public knowledge if Venetia does not comply with her wishes and… marry Lord Windermere.”

“Dear Lord!”

Caroline wasn’t sure what part of her torrent of words elicited such shock from Mr. Rothbury, but he quickly shook his head. “I am sure that is quite untrue!”

Eagerly, Caroline leaned forward. “You have proof?”

Rothbury was silent for a moment. “Not proof. But it makes no sense with what I know of her father’s financial affairs and everything else mentioned in my own father’s correspondence.”

Distracted by the arrival of the tea, he finally said, when the maid had deposited the tray upon the table and Amelia was pouring, “These letters that… Miss Playford discovered that were written by Mr. Playford to Mrs. Pike,” he finally said. “Have you seen them yourself?”

Caroline, disappointed that Mr. Rothbury had not magically produced evidence of either Venetia’s parents’ marriage, or her birth, shook her head.

“No, only Venetia has. They were in her father’s hand, and she was dismayed to find that they really were letters from her father conveying affection towards her aunt prior to his marriage to Venetia’s mother, who was Mrs. Pike’s younger sister. ”

“So you have seen no other letters to either prove or disprove what Mrs. Pike says?” asked Mr. Rothbury. He reddened, then added, “Regarding the circumstances of her birth.”

Caroline shook her head. Suddenly, she felt deflated. How could there be a solution to the conundrum which faced not just Venetia, but Henry and herself, before it was too late?

“I see.” Mr. Rothbury rose and moved to the window, his back to Caroline as he gazed out at the garden. “And you believe Mrs. Pike would follow through on such a threat?”

How strange to be talking on such intimate terms, regarding such revealing matters, about Venetia, Caroline thought suddenly.

And how deeply invested in her situation he appeared to be.

“Without hesitation. She is utterly determined to see Venetia married to Windermere,” said Caroline. “In fact, Mrs. Pike sent her off in a carriage with him, against her will.”

“Against her will?” Mr. Rothbury turned, frowning, while Amelia blushed fiercely, murmuring, “Caroline, that should, perhaps, not be made public.”

“No, it’s a scandal!” Caroline cried, clenching her hands together to hold back the tears as she recalled her own horrors.

She closed her eyes, refraining from mentioning the full extent of her own involvement as she said, “I prevailed upon Henry to go after her and stop him. Windermere threatened Henry with a pistol, but he managed to rescue her, and it was when they were at an inn that Mr. and Mrs. Gascoyne discovered them and insisted that Henry was honor bound to marry Venetia.” Caroline put her face in her hands.

“Oh, Caroline,” whispered Amelia, putting her hand on her shoulder.

“I am sorry if Frederick and I did not offer the support that was needed at the time. I had no idea of the extent of Windermere’s villainy.

” She hesitated. “For I think you were perhaps too close to the drama to relay it in all its awfulness.”

“It is indeed awful,” said Mr. Rothbury grimly. “Lord Windermere is not recognized for his kindness and charity, but I had no idea he represented such a threat.”

“But what can be done, Mr. Rothbury?” Caroline entreated.

His look was pained. “You came here to ask what I knew of Miss Playford’s father and his affairs.

I’ve told you what I know: That the late Mr. Playford was a man of integrity, despite certain…

indiscretions in his youth. Yes, I have to include that, although, from what I can tell, his marriage to Miss Playford’s mother reformed him.

” He raked a hand through his hair in a gesture of frustration.

“As for the current situation, surely Miss Playford, if she is soon to marry Mr. Ashworth, will be quite safe from the threat Lord Windermere poses?”

Frustrated, Caroline leaned back. “Her aunt threatens that if Venetia does not break off her betrothal to Mr. Ashworth, then she will reveal the truth of…”

She trailed off, and Mr. Rothbury sent her a sympathetic look. “I do not believe there is any truth to the woman’s threats. So your friend, I therefore believe, is in no danger.”

Amelia, who had been thoughtful for a while, interjected. “So you believe Mrs. Pike may have… embezzled funds that were set aside for her niece? Including her dowry?”

It did not escape Caroline’s notice that Mr. Rothbury seemed to redden considerably at this.

But his tone was calm when he said, “I do believe that to be the case and when Miss Playford is safely married and her husband, Mr. Ashworth, can investigate the matter, I shall do whatever I can to provide evidence to support Miss Playford’s claim. ”

Caroline felt the blood fizzing in her veins, and she tried her best to remain unaffected.

But not only Venetia’s future hung precariously in the balance, so did Caroline’s.

Unable to hold back, she cried out, “I…I don’t believe Venetia wants to marry Mr. Ashworth.

I don’t believe he can save her, either.

Please, Mr. Rothbury, she needs your help.

Can’t you offer for her? I know you admire her greatly.

I’ve seen you all these weeks watching her—”

“Caroline! Enough!” Shocked, Amelia put her hand on Caroline’s knee. “What can you be thinking? I do apologize, Mr. Rothbury.” She rose. “We have detained you long enough, and you certainly did not expect a morning full of such disclosures and—” she fixed Caroline with a hard stare “—hysteria.”

But Caroline was not to be deflected so easily, and she remained uncontrite. Her entire future rested on Venetia finding someone to wed who was not Henry or Lord Windermere. “Are you not looking for a wife, Mr. Rothbury? I heard it was so.”

The corners of Mr. Rothbury’s mouth tugged slightly, but his smile was rueful. “You heard correctly—”

“Then is Miss Playford not the ideal candidate? She is bright and quite lovely—”

“Caroline!” Amelia cried, trying to draw her away.

“She is all those things, I agree,” said Mr. Rothbury, “but she is also betrothed to another man.”

“But if she weren’t, would you ask her?”

“Caroline!” Amelia gripped her sister-in-law’s arm and tried to drag her towards the door and, although Caroline followed reluctantly, she stared over her shoulder for an answer.

Mr. Rothbury’s expression was surprisingly conflicted.

“I would be honor-bound not to do so,” he said.

“Even if she were unattached?”

“Even if she were unattached,” he confirmed.

Caroline gasped. “Then it’s true, after all, what her aunt said? About her parents not being married when she was born.”

Mr. Rothbury shook his head, his eyes flaring with distress as he replied, “No, indeed, that would not be my reason! I very much doubt anyone would find evidence to bear up Mrs. Pike’s scurrilous allegations surrounding the legitimacy of her niece.

So, Venetia’s aunt has no grounds on which to make her break her attachment to Mr. Ashworth. You can rely upon that, Miss Weston.”

“But of course, if you have no feeling for her—”

“That is not true, either, Miss Weston.”

“Then why?”

He shook his head, and there was sadness in his eyes. “That,” he said, “I am honor bound not to tell you.”