Page 1 of Two Ruins Make a Right

“H ow do you do? My name is Mrs. Nellwyn Richardson. But you may call me Mrs . Nell Richardson .”

As if scolding her for disturbing its peace, the little gray squirrel in the tree above her chattered with a swish of its tail. With a final reprimand, it wrinkled its nose and escaped to a higher branch. No doubt to escape Nell’s happiness.

Nell tilted her head to the sky and laughed as the summer sun enveloped her in its warmth.

She was being completely ridiculous and enjoying every minute.

Yes, she was the only one on this path as she walked to her summer home, and yes, she was the only one chatting to a squirrel, but she had the best excuse in the entire world to act this way.

It wasn’t every day that the man you were in love with asked you to marry him.

She sighed as she skipped down the lane. She couldn’t help but feel jubilant. She’d been in love with James Richardson since she was thirteen. That was eight years ago, but their love still felt as fresh and vibrant as a new blooming rose.

Nell picked up her pace. The first thing she’d do when she arrived home was to find her father and inform him that James would call later in the day.

She had no hesitation whatsoever that her father would be pleased.

James wasn’t just a land steward to the Duke of Darnley.

Though James wasn’t part of the ton , he was the duke’s beloved nephew.

It was a good match for her, even if she was a viscount’s daughter.

Her parents would bless their union, and she and James could announce the banns starting this weekend in the village parish.

It was everything she’d ever wanted. They’d be married by the end of the summer.

As the house came into view, a strange cart and a sleek carriage were parked in her family’s circular drive.

Several men were in the cart, unloading items of furniture and trunks.

Strange, but her father hadn’t mentioned acquiring new furniture for their summer estate.

As she closed the distance to the house, the more frantic the scene appeared.

Her mother’s soulful sobs resonated through the air.

Something was wrong. Very wrong.

Fearful that a catastrophe had befallen one of her family members, Nell started to run.

As soon as she entered the circular drive, she drew to a halt.

The door to their home stood open, and a man exited carrying the pitcher and basin that had been in her room.

The family heirloom had been a gift from her grandmother when she was a young girl.

Nell’s gaze shot to the carriage where several men were loading the paintings from her father’s study.

“Where have you been? No doubt with that boy,” her father exclaimed as he rushed out the door to meet her.

Her handsome father’s face flushed bright red, and his brow glistened with beaded sweat.

When he reached her, he took her hands in his and squeezed.

“Never mind that. You’re finally here, thank heavens.

There are more important things to consider. ”

“What is happening?” She focused on another man as he threw her mother’s formal gowns into the cart. Her mother’s lady’s maid would be frantic if she saw how they treated the expensive garments. “Are we moving?”

Her father bowed his head and squeezed her hands harder.

“You’re scaring me,” Nell murmured.

“You might as well know the truth, especially since I’m going to ask you to save the family.” He lifted his teary-eyed gaze to hers.

When Nell saw the tears well, she gasped, “Papa?” She had never seen him cry before.

“Your mother is in a bit of a quandary. She played quite deep the last time we were in London.” He grimaced.

“Played what?” Nell asked.

“Card games.”

Nell’s eyes widened. “As in gambling?”

Her father nodded again.

This was the first she’d ever heard of her mother gambling. “I didn’t even know she knew how to play such games.”

Her father shrugged slightly.

“When you said ‘deep,’ what did you mean?” Nell asked as another man placed the sterling silver place settings in the cart.

“In Dun territory.”

Another of her mother’s screeches rent the air. “Not my jewelry!”

Nell bit her lip. At the assemblies she had attended, she had heard rumors of men who had risked and lost everything to gambling.

Newgate Prison didn’t care whether you were part of the ton or not; if you owed money and couldn’t pay it, you were vulnerable.

She swallowed the bile rising in her throat, but she had never heard of a woman facing such a future.

Nell’s head suddenly throbbed with a relentless beat as she realized the implications of her father’s admission.

Her family, including her sister and herself, was ruined.

No one of good standing would want anything to do with them.

How would she explain this to James? He might renege on his proposal. She smoothed her hand down her stomach, in an effort to keep a level head and scolded herself silently. He would never do that to her. “Are we ruined?”

“No,” her father said, shaking his head so adamantly it was a wonder it didn’t fly off his head. “That is, we are not, if you help.”

Instantly wary of the look of desperation in her father’s eyes, Nell took a step back. “How can I help?”

Her father pointed to the black lacquer carriage with a matching set of four black horses that stood behind the cart. The crest was instantly recognizable. It belonged to the Marquess of Whitton, a wealthy and influential nobleman who lived about five miles away from them.

“The marquess is inside my study. Waiting for you.” Her father cleared his throat. “You should hear what he has to say.”

“I’ve only met him once or twice. Why would he want to have a conversation with me?” Her voice quivered, betraying her nervousness.

With a benevolent smile, her father patted her shoulder. “He wants to marry you. He doesn’t care that you don’t have a dowry.”

Her heart raced, and for a moment, she was certain she was going to cast up her accounts. “What do you mean there’s no dowry?”

“It’s gone to pay your mother’s debts.” Her father grimaced. “There was no other option.

Nell shook her head. This couldn’t be happening. Not to her. Not on the happiest days of her entire life. “I’m marrying James,” she murmured.

“Sweetheart, think of your mother. If not her, think of your sister. Christa will be utterly ruined before she attends her first Season.” When he swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbed.

“I’ll be thrown in prison. The family’s entire future depends upon you to do the right thing.

” His brow furrowed into neat lines as he gazed at the house.

“If you refuse, I suppose I could broach the subject to see if the marquess would be interested in Christa.”

“My sister is six years younger than I am. She is not old enough to marry,” Nell hissed.

“But you are. Your mother thinks this is a blessing.”

Nell wanted to roll her eyes. That wasn’t the whole truth. What she really wanted to do was shake her fist at the heavens and scream. She wanted to run to James and hide away from this nightmare.

Instead, her father took her arm and pulled her toward the house. “Just hear what he has to say.”

After her father quickly excused himself from the room, Nell found herself seated on the sofa in her father’s study. The Marquess of Whitton stood before the fireplace and rested one elbow on the mantle.

“Has your father explained why I’m here?

” The marquess’s deep voice reverberated around the room.

As he regarded her, she did the same to him.

He was an older gentleman, probably the same age as her father.

With black hair that glistened with silver at the temples, others would consider him handsome.

But nothing like her James.

“Only that you wanted to speak of matrimony.” Nell studied her hands clasped in her lap. “My lord, you should know that I’m going to marry James Richardson.”

“The Duke of Darnley’s nephew.” The marquess lowered his voice.

“I suspected as much.” Before Nell could ask more, he came forward and sat in the sofa opposite of her.

Like a lion surveying his kingdom, he rested his arm on the back of the sofa.

“Well, I won’t make this painful for either of us.

” He leaned forward and smiled. “Did you know that your mother has debts she cannot pay, and her creditors want their money today?”

Nell shook her head as humiliation licked her cheeks. “I just learned of that fact.”

“ Bloody hell ,” the marquess said under his breath. He exhaled and regarded her. “I apologize for my words. Your parents have left it up to me to explain everything.”

Nell forced herself to hold his gaze. “Nothing was ever mentioned about my mother gambling. Nor have I ever heard it discussed. Perhaps there’s been a mistake.” She could only pray that was the answer to the dilemma she found herself in.

The marquess smiled slightly. Sympathy cast his kind, brown eyes in a warm glow. “There’s been no mistake, Nellwyn. People in London know that your mother cannot turn away from a game table. The higher the stakes, the more she insists upon participating.”

Another wave of humiliation washed over Nell. How could her mother have been so reckless with the family’s money? She had to believe that it wouldn’t matter to James if she didn’t have a dowry.

“There’s no dowry,” she said softly.

“Nellwyn, look at me.”

Nell swallowed, then forced herself to meet his gaze.

“Your sister doesn’t have one either. If you marry me, I’ll ensure that you and she will be cared for.

” He waved his hand around the room. “I’ll ensure that all of this goes away.

I can pay your mother’s debt, and all the family’s belongings will be returned, including yours. All you have to do is say yes.”

Frozen, Nell couldn’t say more.

She couldn’t say no.

Nor could she say yes.