Page 54 of Leap of Faith
“There were several bets as you would imagine, but the usual fare—which sister will be offered for first, will all of them be fired off in one Season, who is most likely to succumb to the parson’s mousetrap, et cetera, et cetera.”
“Dare I hope our names are not on the list?” Dominic asked.
“No. The stakes are highest if you fall first, I am afraid.”
Dominic cursed. Would that be the least of his worries, however.
“He can only be offering high stakes for ruining them,” Rotham said. “Nothing else would require secrecy.”
“I agree.”
“However, who would be willing to ruin them and face your wrath?”
“Someone with a desire to die, to be sure.”
“Precisely. So is the payout for compromising them into matrimony or worse?”
They all contemplated that over sips of brandy.
“What can we do but continue to guard them?”
“Nothing, but I am afraid it will frighten away real suitors when we are sitting in their pockets.”
They finished their drinks, then moved on to the next club, which revealed more of the same. They ended their evening at Dom’s house, where his brother was waiting for them in the study.
“Ashley! What brings you here at this hour?”
“I’ve been here for quite some time. I was about to give up.”
“I gather you’ve heard something?”
“Rumour only, but it is much as you suspected. The wager involves seeing who can ruin the sisters, but without marriage.”
“Good God! An exorbitant sum must be involved. Whoever did such a thing would never be able to show their face in Town again,” Montford said.
“It must be personal, for what has Sir Julian against the sisters? He cannot have been acquainted with them, or Lady Halbury buried in the country,” Rotham added.
“You know good and well there is little that set would not do for a lark,” Carew said with disgust. “But harming innocents is a new level of depravity.”
“We are going to need more help,” Dominic admitted. “Is there anyone you can trust, Ashley?”
“One or two of my fellow officers I would trust with my life. I may need to speak with my commander if this will take much time away from our guard duties, however.”
“I am happy to send word to him if needed. I consider this a serious matter.”
Ashley nodded. “It cannot hurt my cause.”
Dominic stood and went to his desk, where he penned a note to Ashley’s colonel.
“What is their itinerary for the next few days?” Rotham asked.
“I promised Joy that I would take her to Astley’s tomorrow,” Freddy said.
All of them swung their heads around.
“What? I like Astley’s.”
“I suppose that is a safe enough venture,” Dominic reflected.
