Page 30 of Scandalous Heiress
Ada bit her lip.Victor Cole had struck the proper blow to his brother.He was a good man, unafraid to compete ethically.That was more than she could say for his older brother.
“Where have you been?”Ezzie rose from herchaise longuein her sitting room to greet Ada.In her dark rose dressing gown, her chocolate brown hair flowing in shining waves over her shoulders, she was loveliesten dishabille.Only the concern lining her brow marred her beauty.“I’ve been frantic waiting to talk to you.”
“I went walking along the river.An entire horde of us, I must say.”
“Poor Ade.I know how you hate crowds.”Ezzie gave a little giggle.“Richard went too, I understand?My maid had it from the butler.”
“He did.”I wish he’d stayed home to greet you properly.Ada pushed up the sleeves of her white linen blouse and brushed her hands down her new robin’s egg blue skirt.She’d bathed and changed for luncheon, hungry for food…and to see Victor again.“He did.”
Ezzie nibbled on her lower lip.“When did he arrive?”
“Early.Very early.Eight o’clock.”
“Odd for him to be up like that.When we were at the Isleys’ house party in November, when I met him, he never rose until noon or after.”
Ada sank into the overstuffed chair opposite her.“This is his party to make it official with you.So he’s eager to get on with it.”Although he doesn’t behave like a man ready to make the final commitment.
“Did he ask about me?”
Not a word.“Oh, he must’ve known you were abed.”
“How is he?Do you like him?Did he ask you how you and I met?Or if his mother likes me any better than she did at the Isleys’ or…”
Ada reached over and grabbed her fingers.“Darling.Don’t.You’ll make yourself a wreck.When you come down for luncheon, you and he will see each other and you can ask him all this yourself.All will be well.”I hope it will.
Ezzie flounced onto the green settee in a swish of rose organza and frustration.“I had a letter from my mother in the morning’s post.”
From the bleakness in her sweet brown eyes, this news was not good.
“How is her health?Better, I do hope.”
“No.Nor is Daddy coming.Can you imagine?My mother says I am to conclude my own dowry arrangements!Whodoes that?”
Fathers.Solicitors.Estate managers.Never the bride.
“What am I do, Ade?This looks so awful.No parents.As if I am a foundling or illegitimate.A bastard daughter, whom they cannot wait to get rid of.And here is Richard, one day soon to be a duke.For Christ’s sake, what a mess.”She rubbed her forehead.“What am I to do?”
“You will tell him that your mother is ill and your father mired in business.It happens.”Although I’ve never heard of such, we cannot drag the two of them here.“You and I will put a good face on it and march onward.Richard will propose, you will accept and as your mother instructs, you will set the details.”
“Oh!I could never never do that.”
Ada scrounged for hope, facts.“Yes, you can.”
“How?”
How?What would Papa do?Or Pierce?My step-mother Olivia?Or…or Lily or Marianne if either of them were widowed.“With witnesses.Me…and…and Chaumont.And the butler Fawkes.We need a man.”
“You are crazy.Who would call that legal?”
Ada stared at her friend, determined.“I will.You will.Chaumont will.”
“Oh, it will never work.”
“Not if we don’t try, Ezzie.”We will.You must.
Ezzie waved her off.“What if he doesn’t ask?”
He must.“He’s come this far.”
