Page 33 of Snapdragons
“We’re going to do more than see you survive this,” Aldric continued. “We’re going to see to it that you are one of those fortunate ones.”
“One-hundred-fifty-pounds fortunate?” Niles asked doubtfully.
With a look of overdone pondering, Digby asked, “How do you feel about seedy gambling dens?”
That set the Gents laughing.
“And how do you feel about a courting counterstrategy?” Aldric asked.Hislook of pondering appeared entirely sincere.
“Counterstrategy?” Niles eyed the others, wondering if they had already sorted out what Aldric was hinting at.
“Miss Seymour is attempting to snatch up a Puppy,” Aldric said. “And there’s every chance Violet is already part of the schemes.” He glanced at Kes, who nodded. “Which means Nicolette will not remain uninvolved for long.”
“I would say her participation is a foregone conclusion,” Henri confirmed.
Aldric met Niles’s eye.
“Thus, the need for counterstrategy,” Niles acknowledged the realization as he had it.
“Do you want us to tell Miss Seymour that Niles is a horrible person?” Lucas asked. “Maybe suggest that he has no table manners or that he has a tendency to toss insults at the vicar during sermons?”
“That won’t be necessary.” Aldric stood tall and confident. “Just stay close to our Puppy and be our usual obnoxious selves. That should prevent this courting scheme of hers from becominga true entanglement.”
“What if Miss Seymour proves more determined than that?” Digby asked.
“Or the ladies prove better strategists than our General?” Lucas added.
“Take care with the blasphemy.” Henri stifled a laugh. The others didn’t bother with the stifling.
Though they hadn’t any true answers to his current difficulties, Niles felt better. He was in over his head, yes, but he wasn’t alone.
Chapter Twelve
Penelope had borne too closea resemblance to a drowned rat upon returning to the house. Gracie, her lady’s maid, had put her to rights as much as possible with Penelope’s bones frozen and her nose red from the chill. She thought that reason enough to remain in her room for the afternoon, tucked under a blanket, watching the rain fall, and pondering how her attempt at wooing hadn’t seemed to stoke the slightest interest in Niles.
Ought she to change tactics, or was persistence the more appropriate approach? She didn’t wish to make a nuisance of herself, but without her effort, Niles wouldn’t come to know her at all, and then there would be no chance of convincing him to choose her. And she wanted him to.
Buthedoesn’t wantme. That had been the conclusion she’d come to after the shrugging and confusion and suggestion that she ought to take her romantic drive around the estate with Violet. But Penelope had since decided not to believe that yet.
A knock at the door preceded Liam poking his head into the room. “I have remembered something encouraging.” He stepped inside and closed the door behind him.
Penelope rubbed at her weary face. “What have you remembered?”
“Why Mr. Layton and I did not attend the same schools and why the one time I participated in the London social whirl, we hardly moved in the same circles.” He seemed excited about whatever it was he had suddenly recalled. “Even before I met him, I heard whispers regarding his parents.”
“I do not care to participate in gossip,” Penelope said. “And I’ve not known you to do so either.”
“Ordinarily, I wouldn’t. But this is more than empty tittle-tattle. And it is helpful in our current predicament.”
“I find that difficult to believe.” The situation was complicated but not in a way that involved her runaway groom’s friend’s family.
“Hear me out, Penelope.” To his credit, Liam didn’t appear to be relishing Mr. Layton’s unfortunate position as the focus of gossip. “He has his own estate, one that produces a very comfortable income,” Liam said.
“Yes, he does.”
“So he would not need his wife to have a dowry, which you do not have, other than Fairfield.” Liam spoke quickly, something he did when particularly excited. “But Mr. Layton would not need Fairfield because he already has this estate, which would make him less inclined to object to your retaining ownership of it. That would make him an excellent choice for you.”
Penelope shook her head. “I have already told you that I do not think he would cross his friend that way. And further, he would want to livehere.I want to live at Fairfield. That is not an ‘excellent choice’ for me.”
