Page 40 of Fortune Favors the Frivolous (Matchmaking Mischief Makers #2)

C aroline arrived at Mrs. Pike’s townhouse via the scullery, but the urgency of the situation overrode social niceties. The housemaid who admitted her and her maid sent a worried look up the corridor before pointing her directly to Venetia’s bedchamber.

She found her friend sitting motionless at her dressing table, staring blankly at her reflection. Venetia’s face brightened momentarily upon seeing Caroline, before misery reasserted itself.

“You shouldn’t have come,” Venetia whispered, glancing nervously at the door. “Aunt Pike has forbidden all visitors… especially you. I’m surprised Lottie let you in.”

“Oh, Venetia, surely you know how cunning I can be. And don’t worry, I shall be quick,” Caroline replied, taking Venetia’s cold hands in her own before sitting on the edge of the bed. “I had to see you before this evening’s event.”

“I shan’t be attending.” Venetia’s voice was flat. “I’ve told Aunt Pike I’m unwell.” She sighed. “Not that Aunt Pike took any account of that. I fear she will drag me there.”

“But you must attend!” Caroline squeezed her friend’s hands urgently. “But first of all, listen to me, Venetia. Whatever your aunt has threatened, whatever you fear about your parents, you mustn’t throw Henry over publicly today.”

Venetia’s eyes filled with tears. “You don’t understand. If I don’t end the engagement, Aunt Pike will reveal everything about my birth. Henry will be humiliated, his family disgraced by association.”

“Listen, Venetia! I have information that changes everything!” Caroline insisted. “I know you’re frightened—”

“Terrified,” Venetia corrected. “She means to force me away with Windermere, just as she did at the masquerade. Only this time, there will be no escape.” A shudder ran through her slender frame.

“Can you imagine being trapped in a balloon basket with that man? Hundreds of feet above the ground with no possibility of escape?” She sighed, and it was as if she deflated.

“Well, I’m not going, so at least I won’t be trapped in the basket of a hot-air balloon. That’s one small mercy.”

Caroline leaned closer to put her cheek against her friend’s. “That won’t happen, whether you go or not, I promise you. Your aunt has not done well by you, Venetia. She has been—” Caroline hesitated. Should she reveal the information divulged by Mr. Rothbury?

No, far better that the fine young gentleman who had admired Venetia from afar do it himself; that way, he’d paint himself in the light of Venetia’s savior.

So she simply said, “Henry and I have made arrangements.”

Hope flickered briefly in Venetia’s eyes. “What sort of arrangements?”

“The fewer details you know, the better. But trust me when I say that you will not be eloping with Lord Windermere today.” Caroline straightened, adopting a more casual tone.

“Tell me, what do you think of Mr. Rothbury?” Now would be the time to ascertain if, perhaps, Venetia secretly harbored some kind of tendre for the kind, handsome gentleman.

Venetia blinked at the sudden change of subject. “Mr. Rothbury? I believe I might have been introduced. It is possible I may have danced with the gentleman. I do not remember.”

This was deflating, thought Caroline, her spirits momentarily dampened.

But, injecting enthusiasm into her tone, she went on, “Truly? How extraordinary because—” Caroline rose, adjusting a ribbon on Venetia’s dressing gown, keeping her expression neutral as she went on, “he’s often at the same gatherings as ourselves.

A tall gentleman with rather serious brown eyes and a kind expression.

Surely you must remember him? He knows you for his father was financial steward to the Playford estates for many years, I believe. ”

“Heavens! Are you talking about Edward Rothbury?” Suddenly animated, Venetia smiled. “I last saw him when he was fourteen. Before he went to sea.”

“Well, he’s back in London and quite the young man. I can’t believe you did not recognize him.”

Venetia’s brow furrowed before she blinked in surprise. “Yes, now I remember! After we were introduced, I believe I we performed the same quadrille. But he did not illuminate me. How was I to know this was the youth I’d followed about when I was only eight years old?”

“You did?”

“Yes, I thought him quite wonderful. For some reason, he had some tin soldiers and when our parents were engaged in some business, my dolls and his tin soldiers went into battle.” Venetia paused, as she appeared to recall the details before she gave a delighted little laugh.

“I remember telling him my doll, Bertha, was very timid, and that she wasn’t sure she was brave enough to go into battle. ”

“What did he say?” Caroline prompted, for it seemed Venetia had drifted off into her own thoughts.

“He said that if the battle was worth fighting, then Bertha would find the courage.” Venetia nibbled at her thumbnail. “He said that even the most timid can exhibit the greatest courage if the goal is important enough. And if the goal is freedom…”

Caroline gripped her friend’s hands. “Oh Venetia, he really said that? How prophetic! And to think that his words are coming back to you now after all these years. And that they’re so true. Yes! You have to fight for it, Venetia. You have to fight for your freedom.”

“You mean… not allow my aunt to coerce me into marrying Lord Windermere—?”

“Yes!”

“So I really must marry Henry instead—?”

“No!” Caroline shook her head fiercely, dropping Venetia’s hands as she began to pace. “No, no, you do not love Henry, do you?”

Venetia shook her head. “But what else can I do but marry Henry… if I don’t marry Lord Windermere, that is?”

Caroline tried to temper her disordered feelings, running her hands over her face in distraction as she said, “Marry someone who loves you. I mean, who truly loves you. Henry holds you in high regard, but he does not love you.”

She had to say it. And she had to say it gently. She was afraid Venetia would take issue, but her friend merely looked sad.

“That is the worst of it.” Venetia fiddled with her hairbrush and sighed. “If I knew Henry loved another, I could not bear to go through with it. But he says he doesn’t—”

“What!? When did he say that?”

“When he was pressured by the Gascoynes to do the honorable thing and I asked him the question.”

“Really? What were his exact words, Venetia?” Caroline tried not to sound as anxious and invested in the answer as she knew she did. But Venetia seemed not to notice.

“He just shook his head. And then we didn’t really talk about it anymore. But—” Venetia looked up at Caroline, her expression appealing, “He would have said something if he loved another, would he not? He surely would not be so noble as to marry me if his heart was engaged to another?”

Caroline stilled. How could she answer this? If she confessed, right now, that she and Henry loved each other more than anyone else in the world, then Venetia would simply crumple before passively allowing herself to be married off to Windermere.

“You must marry the man who really does love you,” she said again.

Venetia looked perplexed. “But there is no one, Caroline. And I am penniless. I have very few choices, you know.”

“Then you must make the best of what choices you do have,” Caroline said stoutly as she prepared to leave.

“You simply must attend Lady Townsend’s Comet Viewing Gala.

Please promise? Tell your aunt that Lady Townsend, who is organizing the event, has specifically requested it.

I’m sure it will not be as dreadful as you imagine. ”