Heiress in Red Silk, Hunter, Madeline [good beach reads TXT] 📗

off, whatever it is, and inform Miss Jameson that you were not thinking with the head on your shoulders, but with another further down.”

“Aunt Agnes!” Nicholas said.

“She always had a bawdy streak in her,” his father said to Nicholas.

“Oh, tosh. We all know what happened. She seduced him, and he thinks he has to do right by her now. Well, you don’t. Not with such as she.” Agnes took a deep breath and exhaled, as if to indicate that was that, and all was settled.

Kevin gazed around his own little star chamber. “You have that wrong, Aunt Agnes. I seduced her, and she refused my first proposal. However, she is honest, and good, and I could do much worse. Uncle liked her; otherwise he would not have left her that legacy, and his judgment of people far surpassed yours. So if she will have me, after the theatrics end, I will be marrying her.”

“She’ll not live in this house,” his father exclaimed. “I’ll not have her here.”

“I would never subject a woman to this house, so that is of no account.”

“I’ll disown you!”

“You can’t. Your estate is entailed.”

“Not all of it.”

“You mean if I marry her, I won’t inherit your automatons? Well, damn, that is a bother. I’ll have to rethink everything now.”

Nicholas bit back a smile. Aunt Agnes noticed.

“Hollinburgh, it is up to you. Tell him this is unacceptable and you don’t approve. Tell him he risks his place in the family.”

“I will tell him nothing of the kind.”

“You must do something,” Aunt Dolores cried.

“I must indeed.” Nicholas stood. “Taking my leave seems an excellent something to do. Uncle, the next time you send me a message that reads ‘Disaster has struck and Kevin’s life is at risk,’ please have it be about a matter of significance.”

“I demand that you accept your duty in this,” Aunt Agnes said, her voice now close to a screech. “If he does this, he deserves no better than Philip. Tell him that and he will come to his senses.”

“I have no intention of threatening Kevin with losing my friendship over this. He wants to marry a woman. It is a simple thing, and an honorable one. Now, good day to you.”

With that, Nicholas strode forth and left the library. Kevin wasted no time in following in his wake, ignoring his aunt’s call that he stay with them until all was sorted out.

Outside in the street, Nicholas waited impatiently for his horse to be brought around. He kept glancing over his shoulder, as if he expected the harpies to come flying out to grab him.

“Hell of a thing,” he muttered. “You could have warned me.”

“I only returned yesterday evening.”

“I will not issue threats or talk sense to you. I will say, however, that I would feel better if I believed this was about more than her share of your business.” Nicholas sent him a sidelong, quizzical look. “I would also be more at ease if I had any idea how that mind of yours worked, and that you could separate good sense from enthusiastic impulse. Since I don’t begin to understand how you think, other than that it is not like normal men, I’ll merely wish you well.”

The horse arrived and Nicholas mounted. He looked at the house. “Living here will be hell now. You are welcome to chambers in Whiteford House if you want some peace.”

“I’ll see if my father resorts to silent disapproval or hounds me through the halls.”

“If he called for a high council meeting, he may throw you out. I know you probably only stayed here for his sake, but you will be leaving when you wed, so you may as well depart now.”

“I’ll consider it.”

“Chase is coming for dinner tonight. Why don’t you join us and tell him about this, lest he hear from someone else?”

Kevin agreed to do that. He needed to talk to Chase on another matter anyway. Aunt Agnes had actually said something of interest amid all her indignation. Something that piqued his curiosity in ways it should have been jabbed weeks ago.

* * *

Mr. Sanders pondered the problem Rosamund had laid before him. His fingers formed a little steeple on his desk while he frowned and considered. She waited for his judgment. She had begged for an audience in a letter sent early that morning and arrived mid-afternoon when he wrote back that he could see her.

She had spent the entire journey back from France considering this marriage she had all but agreed to. Before this went any further, she wanted to make sure that she could actually have the agreement she had demanded of Kevin.

“Marriage is a contract,” Mr. Sanders finally said. “However, there are traditions and there are laws that come into play. A married woman loses much of her independence and personhood, so to speak. You cannot make a contract after you are wed, for example. Your debts are in reality your husband’s debts. That sort of thing.”

“So I can’t do this.”

“Anything can in theory be done. One contract can affect another. Are you very sure you do not want to tell me the name of this gentleman? I confess that I am concerned. You only recently inherited, and there are those who might—”

“I would rather not at this time. I just want to know if I can reserve my inheritance to myself, no matter what traditions and laws say.”

“You can have a contract with him that does that. However, should he not honor it, and you go to court to enforce it, I can’t promise the courts will support you.”

That was not good news.

“If this gentleman is honorable, he will abide by anything he agrees to.” Mr. Sanders tried a little smile. “Is he, to your belief, honorable.”

“Yes. I believe he is.”

“Then perhaps all will be well.”

It all came down to trust. She wondered if her thoughts about that could be trusted in turn. After all, she had begun reconsidering this proposal after entering into a liaison with Kevin. Their conversation