Page 6 of The Reclusive Earl's Scandal
Rebecca knew she had to make every ball count. Shewouldfind her match.
As she poured her tea, she gazed out into the Avery gardens. She would find a husband, and he would help her save her family, and even if she did not tell him the whole situation, she could find a way to tell him enough to garner sympathy.
The Season would bring her luck.
She could bank her anger at her father for now. The best resolution was turning her focus and energy to what she could do, and Rebecca would stop at nothing.
Chapter Three
“Another book, brother?”
Elena’s voice came teasingly from the library doorway as she leaned in the frame. Her eyes landed on the cover of the book he held, trying to read it.
“Yes,” he answered. “I find reading a good use of my time.”
His sister laughed, entering the library properly to stand before him. “I am not judging the activity, but marveling at the frequency. I am certain that is the fourth book you have read since returning to London three days ago.”
Edward merely gave her a tight smile, shrugged, and returned to the page he was poring over. After a moment, he spoke again. “It is a collection of Roman myths. This particular one I am reading is regarding Summanus, the Roman God of Sleep.”
Elena frowned. “There is a God of Sleep?”
“In these myths, there is a god or goddess of everything.Foreverything. Elements, times of the day, items, celebrations. It is a vast universe.”
His sister actually looked quite interested, her head tilting as if trying to read the page to see better.
Edward felt a kindling of hope. Although the two had been close growing up, and not so far apart in age, he had distanced himself not just from thetonbut her too. In a way, she was a stranger, and before their father’s passing, they had still been close enough, but their social requirements had tugged them apart a little. Edward had been too busy learning to take over his earldom, and Elena had been prepared by tutors and their mother for her debut.
They had not found common ground in a very long time, and he wasn’t really prepared for how his heart rose at the thought of her being interested in his books.
“Is there a god of Love in there somewhere? One of suitable, well-matched marriages?” Her question was pointed, elegantly done, and he lifted a brow at her.
“Your tact is incredible, Elena.”
“I am merely saying.” She sniffed, feigning innocence. “If there is such a thing, you might want to read up on their advice about how to woo any of these ladies.” A piece of paper extended from her hand, pulled from her pocket with a devious flourish. Away from their mother, Elena was more foolish, lighter, and he found himself recalling their younger years of simply finding every way to laugh, and not worry about their futures.
Edward hesitated before taking the paper. On it were names, and he ran through them quickly. Names meant little to him, but he did give an appreciative glance over the titles. Some were ones he knew, others were friends of Elena’s, or daughters of his late father’s associates that Edward had been instructed to get to know.
He had met enough of these women to know this list was futile, but some names jumped out to him as new. Women who did not know him, women to whom he could hopefully be a blank slate for, a way to reinvent himself in conversation.
“Do you have a recommendation of who I should speak with?” He humored her.
Elena gave him a grin that made him think she had been waiting for that. “Lady Catherine Browning. She is the daughter of the Marquess of Barrickshire, very wealthy, very well-liked. It is her second Season.”
“How come she was not matched during her first?”
“She fell a little unwell at some balls,” Elena said. “Some say it was minor headaches, a reaction to the light. Other peoplegossiped a little nastier and said she was overwhelmed by the free wine offered and was ailed in such ways. I do not believe that, however. I veer towards the first one.”
“I see.” He glanced over the list again.
“I really do like Lady Catherine. I would like you to make an effort with her. After all, if I remain unmarried for some time then your wife will be someone, I will get to spend a great deal of time with. Therefore, it should be someone I can see as a sister as well as a friend.”
Edward looked up at her before nodding. “I will make the effort, then. I shall speak with her at…, who is hosting the Season’s first ball?”
Elena folded her arms impatiently. “Lady Montgomery. It is the same as every year. Truly, Edward, you should know this.”
He lifted his arms in surrender. “I will try to find someone you can see as a sister, but, honestly, Elena, if I am to do this then it is more important to me to find love, not a friend for you.”
Elena’s eyes narrowed at him. “Fine,” she muttered. “But at least give it a chance.”
