Page 23 of The Misfortunate Miss Farthington
Richard grinned. “Because you’ve known me since our school days and you know when I’m up to something.”
“Just like I know that whatever you’re planning, you’d better let me in on it.” Luke crossed his arms, his jaw set stubbornly.
“Of course.” As Richard spoke, a plan began to form. “The finishing school where she’s headmistress…”
“The School of Charm? What about it?”
“Who owns the school?” he asked.
“Why, I believe the Earl of Charmian started the school for his wife. Hence the name. You’ll recall some refer to him as the Earl of Charm and rumor had it he was so smitten with his fiancée that he started a school just for her as some sort of grand gesture.”
Richard nodded. Some of this did sound familiar. “Do you know this earl, by any chance?”
“We’ve met on occasion,” Luke said. “Why?”
“Do you think you could arrange for me to meet with him?”
“Done,” Luke said, his lips starting to curve up into a smile. “But what shall I tell him this meeting is about.”
“A proposition,” Richard said. “And if that doesn’t work then tell him from one foolishly in love man to another, I’d very much like to beg a favor.”
Luke laughed. “Very well. I’ll set that up. Anything else?”
“Yes,” he said. “But for the next favor, I may require your fiancée’s assistance.”
Luke grinned. “You’ll be happy to know that my soon-to-be wife is terribly fond of scheming. I’m certain she’d be happy to help.”
“Good.” For the first time since Richard had walked out of that drawing room, he began to feel a flicker of hope.
He couldn’t bear to remember the sadness in her eyes. Worse, the betrayal.
“I was an idiot, Luke,” he said to his longtime friend.
His friend chuckled.
“Laughter? Really?” he deadpanned.
Luke came over and clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Even the brightest among us turn to fools in the face of love.” He lowered his voice as if letting him in on a secret. “Lydia taught me that.”
“Yes, well, Lydia also gave you a second chance to make things right,” Richard pointed out.
“And your Miss Farthington will too,” Luke reassured him. “Although a grand gesture couldn’t hurt.”
Richard grudgingly laughed along with his friend as he pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’m supposed to be older and wiser. And yet my fair, young, lovely Tessa had the right of it all along. It’s not about what her parents want for her, or even what I want for her. It’s about what she wants.”
“And?” Luke prompted.
Richard let his hand drop, determination replacing his earlier despair. “And I mean to give it to her. Everything she wants. And I’ll do whatever it takes to get it.”
One day later, Richard realized whatever it took wasn’t going to be all that difficult. The Earl of Charmian was just as charming as his moniker implied.
The man was charming…and amused.
Very,veryamused. “And so you wish to become an investor,” the earl said slowly. “So that you can impress our headmistress.”
“Er…something like that,” he admitted. “But mostly I want to be able to teach there alongside her. I can give you references—”
“Unnecessary, I assure you.” The earl held up a hand to stop him, a friendly smile still lingering on his lips. “Your reputation precedes you. And I imagine your good name will help to bring in students from all over the country, if not the continent as well. The School of Charm was already gaining in popularity thanks to the success of our students, but just think if we can add a world-renowned scholar as an investor and regular lecturer.”
