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“E ugenia, as someone whose ability to sniff out the nuances of delicate situations, I defer to you. Kindly tell me what skullduggery or scandals are afoot or about to be averted.”

Eugenia, who’d remained rooted to the spot as she watched Sir Frederick Weston and young Henry Ashworth head towards the library, turned at Lord Thornton’s urbane tones.

For a moment, she considered how truthful she could afford to be.

A great deal hung in the balance, and the least of it was how much she could use this opportunity to impress Lord Thornton.

Her whole life had centered on impressing Lord Thornton, but now she just said, “Please fetch me a lemonade while I order my thoughts and decide if—or how much—I can tell you all.”

When he returned, his curiosity clearly piqued, he said, “Sir Frederick is out of charity with Miss Fairchild. That I could not help but notice. And with his sister. What have they done?”

“What have they done?” Eugenia repeated.

“Must it always be concluded that the lady is to blame? Usually it is not, and in this case it certainly is not.” She took a sip of her drink and frowned.

“That disreputable rogue, Mr. Greene, is waiting to spirit Miss Caroline away, having thought she was ripe for abduction.”

“And she has run in seeking help?” He hesitated, then said, “With all due respect, the young lady certainly did signal her interest in Mr. Greene. I thought, however, that the fact she does not come into her inheritance for three years—and that her brother would certainly not sanction a match, so offer no dowry—would have watered down Mr. Greene’s interest.”

“Mr. Greene is desperate. You’ve heard the rumors. The creditors are baying at his heels. He needs money fast and is wagering that if he were successful in eloping with Miss Caroline, then Sir Frederick would relent and release her inheritance earlier in order to make her life easier.”

“And our lovely Miss Fairchild? Why, I grow more admiring of her by the day. I admired her intelligence but, dressed to compete with the other young ladies here, I see she is a beauty.” Lord Thornton’s eyes narrowed.

“But Sir Frederick is not rushing to make her his bride, is he? The Persephone hangs dangerously in the balance.”

Eugenia saw that his eyes were now twinkling. He really was charming with his salt and pepper side whiskers and his physique still trim and sprightly.

“Sir Frederick has other matters on his mind and was piqued that Miss Fairchild and Henry concocted a plan to rescue Caroline without telling him.”

“That is awfully underhand, not to mention quite praiseworthy. As is the fact you know so much. So, Sir Frederick does not like it when he is not the most important man in the room?”

“I don’t think it was that. He was worried about Caroline and possibly hurt she felt she couldn’t confide in him.”

“And so now the Greene threat has been neutralized?”

“Not at all. He’s still waiting in the carriage by the gates, I believe.

I daresay Sir Frederick will confront him.

” Eugenia nibbled at her lower lip. “Lord Thornton, there are several things I wish to say. The first is to apologize. I realize that I attributed to you a letter Miss Fairchild received—purportedly from Sir Frederick telling her that her dowdiness and love of learning were not ladylike attributes he sought in a future wife. Or, if not directly from you, that you prevailed upon Mrs. Perry to write it. But I suspect, now, the letter came directly from Mrs. Perry. The widow has, I believe, set her sights on Sir Frederick.”

The force of Lord Thornton’s outburst was far greater than Eugenia had expected.

“You truly thought I would stoop to such depths? I would never impugn a lady, much less one of such virtues and kindness as Miss Fairchild. And I certainly would never do such a thing to win a wager. You truly thought I could be so underhand?”

Eugenia shook her head. “I didn’t, really. But I was confused and out of sorts. And then there was the other troubling matter Miss Fairchild confided to me, which has been niggling at me ever since and which concerns Mr. Greene. You see, he does not pose a threat only to Miss Caroline.”

Lord Thornton raised his eyebrows in enquiry.

“No, Mr. Greene is not here for the sole purpose of enjoying a week in the country and eloping with a future heiress.”

“There’s more?”

Eugenia nodded. Perhaps it was unwise to reveal everything. She always had been too free with her disclosures.

But while Lord Thornton was someone she’d always sought to impress, he also had a wise head on his shoulders. It was one of the reasons, among so many—not least being his dashing salt and pepper side whiskers—that she admired him.

Glancing about her to ensure they were not overheard, she whispered, “You’ve heard Miss Fairchild’s claims that Lady Pernilla did not in fact die the night she supposedly fell to her death while attempting to elope with a lowly groom?”

Lord Thornton nodded.

“Apparently, Mr. Greene has proof that this is true. Not only that, but that Lady Pernilla had a family.” Eugenia took a sustaining breath for Miss Fairchild’s claims that there was more to Pernilla’s story than Lady Pendleton would allow, had begun to sound increasingly credible.

She looked Lord Thornton in the eye and said, “And Mr. Greene claims he is the last in that line. Meaning,” she added, “that he is the rightful Sir Pendleton.”

“And you clearly believe there is truth in that?”

Eugenia nodded.

“My dear Eugenia,” said Lord Thornton, “I have just thought of something.” He took her arm and began to lead her through the throng.

“Where are you taking me?” she asked.

“To the library,” he said. “There is something there that I’ve just thought of that might have some bearing on all of this.”