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“So, you are the young woman,” Mrs. Burghley-Harrison mused with a strange smile.

“I beg your pardon?” Was it possible she hadn’t known?

“Now I will tell you something you don’t know. Your fiancé is my great nephew.”

Everyone but Regina and her parents turned to Albert who shook his head almost violently. “Not me. My cousin Edward.”

“Yes, that’s right,” Mrs. Burghley-Harrison said.

Regina stared at her in disbelief. The coincidence was incredible but also comforting. This crochety old woman was one person Regina wouldn’t mind inheriting with her marriage. With her as the matriarch perhaps Regina would be able to keep some autonomy.

“It’s a small circle, Mr. Kingston,” Lord Melbroke said, “these kinds of coincidences can be rather common I’m afraid.”

Regina glanced up at Mr. Kingston who was staring at her visibly stunned, saying nothing. Even the viscount had noticed apparently. She couldn’t understand what he was thinking. Was he upset? He’d known she was engaged, after all, why would this name mean so much to him?

Mrs. Burghley-Harrison continued speaking, “His mother was prattling on about her dear Edward inheriting the title, and she mentioned a marriage contract, but she hadn’t been more forthcoming.

I had a mind to miss the wedding altogether.

I can’t stand that woman, but now I know you are the chosen one.

I think I shall stick around a little longer. ”

“You are very kind, ma’am,” Regina said, trying to ignore Mr. Kingston’s intense stare.

“Not at all, my dear. At my age, kindness is a waste of time. Patience and tact are for you young bloods.”

She glanced at Mr. Kingston again wondering what on earth he could be thinking. His face had gone slack at the announcement, as if he were in shock but now he was simply staring at his plate.

“So, Miss Mason’s betrothed is Mr.…?” Mr. Thornfield asked.

“Edward Harrison,” her father replied, his tone betraying none of his true feelings.

That got Mr. Kingston’s attention again, but his expression seemed to have shifted even more. He was disturbed by the idea of Mr. Harrison as her fiancé.

“You look as though you are acquainted with my nephew, Mr. Kingston.” Mrs. Burghley-Harrison seemed almost smug, as if she knew something she wouldn’t tell anyone else.

His head shot up and he blinked rapidly before nodding. “Yes, ma’am, we both served in India.”

“What is he like?” Elodia asked.

“He was a lieutenant last I heard,” he replied, not meeting anyone’s eyes.

“Ah, how dashing. I do love a man in uniform.”

“Easy, Euphemia,” the Viscount Sterling joked, and more laughter ensued as she swatted the air dismissively.

The conversation continued with the guests joking but Regina couldn’t take her eyes off Mr. Kingston, or her mind off his words.

They had been polite enough and non-committal, but Regina couldn’t help noticing he hadn’t answered the question, which only meant one thing, he didn’t like him, and he didn’t want to offend anyone.

If a man like Leo Kingston didn’t like her fiancé it only confirmed what she had already suspected; he was a brute.

A hard cold knot formed in her stomach at the realization.

There was no way to wiggle out of the reality of her circumstances.

What on earth had that man done? Was he only racist and selfish or was he also violent and cruel?

The first two were bad enough but expected.

It was something she at least knew how to navigate.

But what would her life look like if he was violent?

If he intended to harm her? How was she meant to survive? What would it mean for her family?

“I will host a small gathering soon to welcome you and your parents to our branch of the family, my dear.”

“That is very kind of you,” Mrs. Mason replied.

“Nonsense, as the matriarch it is my duty to ensure such things go as they should.”

Mr. Kingston fixed a look on the elderly woman that struck Regina as almost unreasonably hostile, but it was the woman’s response that caught her attention.

She smirked defiantly and toasted him with her wine glass while Mr. Thornfield coughed lightly into his fist and seemed almost amused.

What on earth was going on between those three?

She couldn’t imagine what Mr. Thornfield could find amusing, or what Mrs. Burghley-Harrison could have to be smug about, but one thing was undeniable, whatever it was, it involved her, and Mr. Kingston was not remotely amused.

*

“How long have you known?” Leo growled under his breath at Richard as they watched Miss Hawthorne play the piano. Leo wasted no time pulling Richard aside after dinner, lingering near a wall covered in cream and gold silk.

“What? That you are technically Regina Mason’s fiancé?” Richard murmured, keeping his eyes fixed on their hostess as she exhibited her mastery of the instrument before her.

“Yes.”

“Guess.”

The whole fucking time. The asshole had probably known since he’d asked him the question over a week ago.

He shouldn’t have started this discussion now.

He should have waited until they were in the carriage…

or a boxing ring. As it was, he couldn’t help but be keenly aware of the curious eyes glancing in their direction. “How did you know who her fiancé was?”

Richard gave him a slightly pitying look. “I think you know the answer to that.”

Leo closed his eyes momentarily as the obvious answer made itself known. Ada. Of course. She was best friends with the girl, of course he would fucking know. “Unbelievable, and you didn’t think to mention this earlier.”

“It didn’t seem to be a particularly salient point until the opera,” Richard replied, clapping along with the other guests as Miss Hawthorne finished her piece.

“The opera?”

“Yes. That was when I first began to suspect you had an interest in the young lady.”

“You don’t have enough to do. That’s the problem.”

“Not really. I’m lobbying parliament, overseeing the renovations of two properties to say nothing of my own family business. I just found it so very interesting that the same peculiar run of bad luck that put off her marriage was what delivered a title to you.”

“I hate it when you are smug,” Leo grumbled as Miss Mason took her friend’s place at the piano and began to play.

“I know. It is a flaw but to be fair to myself it is only one of a rather short list.”

“I beg to differ.”

“When will you tell her?” he asked after a moment.

“What?” Leo glanced at him.

“That you are taking the title.” Richard stared at him as if the answer was obvious.

“I’m not taking the title,” Leo replied.

Nothing good could possibly come of him putting himself in the ring for that.

Miss Mason had enough to deal with. If he came forward and took her as his wife the scandal would be unimaginable.

The ton could just about handle the reality of an Indian baroness, how intolerable would it be to have an African baron thrown into the mix?

“Are you some special type of jackass?” Richard asked, something like true annoyance alighting in his eyes.

“I don’t even know if Miss Mason would have me as her husband.” Leo replied. It was the height of vanity to assume she would even be interested in him as an alternative.

“She’ll take you over that idiot. I assure you.”

“That’s not the point. She wouldn’t want me any more than him.

” He would only be another fiancé she was forced to make do with.

She wanted social advancement, not more trouble by marrying a man that the ton would never accept any more than they would her.

Harrison was a monster, but he was white.

There would be no denying his worthiness on that basis alone.

“So, what are you going to do?”

Unless…

She smiled softly as she played, a goddess of fire and earth. What if she did care for him? What if he wasn’t the only one trapped in this torturous situation? What if she was his wife and he was her husband? There would always be those against them but if they had each other…

She glanced up and caught his eye and, at that moment his heart began thumping madly. What if he didn’t have to sneak glances at her anymore? What if that brave, loyal, passionate loving, beautiful young woman could accept him? If she wanted him, if she loved him. Wouldn’t that be different?

“I… I need to know if she would be interested in being my wife first.”

“I think she is,” Richard replied.

“You don’t know that, and until I do, I am not altering my life beyond recognition.”

Richard rolled his eyes and shook his head before joining the rest in applause as Regina finished her piece and stood up from the piano. She smiled at her audience, and her eyes lingered once again on him. What did it mean?