Page 6

A melia paced the generously proportioned drawing room of their too-expensive townhouse as she tried to think.

Edward and their mother looked on gravely.

“Edward!” she said, looking up suddenly. “I need you to make me a list of every even half-eligible petite blonde damsel you know and can think of. Now!”

“Really, Amelia, I hardly think Edward would be able to come up with six names off the top of his head,” their mother remonstrated.

She disliked it when her daughter adopted what she called her “fierce, masculine tone.” “Edward is far more discerning than that. And I’m not sure he even wants to narrow his list of prospectives to simply blonde young ladies. Why would he?”

“Where’s paper and pencil?” Edward responded, ignoring their mother and immediately scrawling an impressive dozen names which had Mrs. Townsend blinking in surprise.

Amelia too.

“Are there really that many eligible young ladies swanning around ballrooms… that are blonde?” Mrs. Fairchild asked. “Blonde ones? What an admirable eye for detail you do have, Edward.”

“Next thing is introductions,” Amelia went on, ignoring their mother.

“Discounting Miss Mannerly, please tick three to begin with. Your top three picks, if you please. Naturally, that’s barring any whose acquaintance you wish to further.

Remember, the object of this exercise is to find Sir Frederick’s perfect match. ”

Mrs. Townsend gave a loud exclamation of wonder before letting out a beatific sigh.

“Didn’t I give birth to such a thoughtful pair?

You have your own futures to worry about and yet, out of the goodness of your hearts, you are trying to match make for Sir Frederick.

Where did you get such an idea? Has his sister petitioned you?

Perhaps she knows you are not a participant in the marriage mart, though I do wish you’d reconsider, Amelia.

Are you really so set on this idea of quiet independence and living alone in some cottage by the sea?

What people will think, I don’t know, though you have finally made me understand there can never be another contender for your heart now that poor Thomas is gone, God rest his soul.

Yet, you’d do this for Sir Frederick or rather for his sister?

Ah dear, but it is not a secret that his poor ailing mama despairs of him ever finding a young lady who will keep his interest. As for her fears regarding Miss Caroline, well!

That tearaway miss is destined for trouble, just mark my words.

She must be kept right off that list and away from my Edward. ”

“I doubt if we can find a young lady to keep Sir Frederick’s interest, mama,” Amelia said snidely.

“I should think that almost impossible. But if we can ensure he’s not distracted by the next shiny new thing long enough to walk one of these young ladies down the aisle, then I can happily say our work is done. ”

“Miss Pickford, Miss Penny, and Miss Playford.” Edward, who’d been leaning over the occasional table by the window, put down his pencil loudly.

“Ah, the three Ps,” said Amelia. “Who do you suppose is the most winning out of the Miss P trio?”

“Well, Miss Penny has a pug she never stops gushing over. And Sir Frederick is sure to like animals. What say we start here?”

Amelia sent him a dubious look. “I’m not sure we can assume Sir Frederick likes animals when he is primarily interested in himself. But perhaps he’d find common ground as long as Miss Penny is comely, blonde, and eligible. We have to start somewhere.”

“And how do you propose to get them introduced, much less interested in one another?” asked Edward. “Oh, I know! Miss Penny is a friend of Sir Frederick’s sister. He may know her already yet not realize the diamond dangled in front of his nose. That’ll be our job.”

Mrs. Fairchild gave another sigh. “Ah, Edward, you are so good to those around you and to your sister. What would Amelia do without you?”

Amelia raised her head to spear her brother with a look. “I wouldn’t know where to begin, Mama,” she said in a tone that had the desired effect for Edward forbore to reply and simply reddened at the not-so veiled rebuke.