Page 24 of Finding Hope
“I will go first.” Patience leaned forward with a twinkle in her eyes. “My maid said one of the young ladies in attendance has found herself in an interesting condition, and must find someone to marry her before the house party ends.”
All three of the gentlemen stopped eating and looked up with pale faces.
“You must find out who it is,” Carew commanded in the harshest voice Hope had ever heard him speak.
“You do realize we are all eligible bachelors, and therefore targets?” Montford added.
“I had not thought about that.” Patience frowned.
“We must never be alone. Our rooms are next to each other’s, so we must go everywhere together,” Montford said, looking between the other gentlemen.
“As I assume this lady in an interesting condition is not any of you, I must agree. Perhaps your sister would not be so bad, Cunningham, but I rather prefer to choose my own wife and father my own child when the time comes,” Carew drawled.
“I cannot believe a lady would try to trick someone like that!” Grace said with all the righteous indignation of an innocent maiden.
“It happens quite often,” Freddy assured her. “Half thetonhave other people’s brats foisted upon them. However, I feel the need to point out that such a discussion is not a matter for the dinner table and I stand in great danger of being put off my soup.”
Hope shook her head as her sisters blushed and looked at their laps.
“It is too shocking to contemplate. Patience, you should be ashamed of yourself for repeating such tittle-tattle.”
Suitably chastened, they all turned their attentions to their soup.
“I do not like thinking the worst of people.” Hope frowned, unable to let the situation go. Unconsciously, they all turned their gazes towards the main table and the other possibilities.
“You must learn to overcome that,” Carew warned. He paused for a moment before adding, in a bracing tone, “Besides, you would not want some poor fellow trapped, would you now?”
“Poor fellow?” Montford mocked. “Though no one is deserving of that,” he added quickly.
“My money is on one of the Wilton chits,” Freddy said, forgetting his earlier objections.
“Why is that?” Patience added.
“Because, to be frank, I cannot imagine anyone…”
Carew coughed loudly.
“I cannot imagine my sister, either,” Montford agreed.
“Besides, they are always trying to entrap some unwary fool,” Freddy continued. “I cannot understand why Rotham invited them here.”
“Their father is a chum of the Duke,” Montford explained.
“I promise to rescue you if I see any of you alone,” Grace assured the gentlemen.
“You’re a good girl,” Carew said with a brotherly smile.
Oh, dear. That was not at all how Grace wanted him to look at her. Hope felt sad for her sister. “It could be just a malicious rumour,” Hope felt compelled to say.
“It could,” Montfort agreed. “Lesser rumours have been known to be spread by mamas hoping to give their own daughters an advantage.”
“I had no notion thetonwould be so ruthless,” Patience remarked.
“Oh, yes. Rotham’s worst enemy is his own mother. Remember when you and your sister found us at Westwood’s hunting box?” Freddy asked Hope.
“Yes, of course.”
“Rotham had been set up at a house party arranged by his mother. He barely escaped in time.”
