Page 36 of Long Live the Baron
“We should tell her from across the hall, then, so we have a head start.”
“I think we wait at the foot of the stairs and as soon as she appears at the top, we inform her where we are going. That will give us more of a head start.”
Lily nodded. “We must go to a modiste. Mama’s mantua-maker makes gowns for matrons. I need something … alluring. Mr. Ridley is a handsome man, and I do not want to be viewed as … less. Society must believe that our so-called tryst was inspired by great passion.”
“I made an appointment with Signora Ricci for this morning.”
“You knew?”
“Of course I knew. No self-respecting woman wants her mother to choose her wedding gown for her. Especially not …” Sophia bobbed her head at Lily’s bodice, which was adorned with tiny bows. Lily looked down and thought about how similar she looked to one of those elaborate Twelfth Night cakes confectioners displayed in their windows during Christmastide. She was veritably … festive.
But not alluring.
She needed to make Mr. Ridley’s pulse race. He should be ecstatic with his choice of bride, rather than reminiscing about his former paramour when he bedded her for the first time.
“There is not much time. Papa insisted we wed soon to abate the scandal. Mr. Ridley has already applied for a Common License.”
“Signora Ricci will work it out. Now that the nuptials are proceeding, it is imperative we attract Mr. Ridley to you as a woman. You deserve more than a marriage of friendship.”
Lily inhaled deeply, then blew out a shaky breath. “Mama will descend shortly. We should be waiting if we wish to catch her on the steps.”
Sophia grinned broadly. “I do enjoy a good caper!”
Straightening up, Lily gathered the courage to ask the question that had been bothering her. “How bad is it?”
Sophia twisted her lips, looking away. “The gossip?”
Lily cleared her throat in affirmation.
“Let us say … it is a good thing you are to wed soon.”
* * *
“You needto apply to the Home Secretary for a writ of summons.” The duke’s announcement halted Brendan’s pacing.
He had secured Miss Abbott’s agreement to wed, thus assuaging his conscience. Now his thoughts had turned to protecting his bride when she entered his home. Briggs would brief him later today about his interviews with the servants. The only positive was if the runner had found anything, it was not dire enough to rush into the library to inform Brendan of his imminent death.
“For what?” His response was not a denial. He simply could not think what Halmesbury was talking about.
“To take a seat in the House of Lords.” The duke responded in a pragmatic tone, his gray eyes on Brendan, who tried to absorb this declaration.
“I do not think this is the time for politics!”
Richard snorted from the window. “Dunderhead! It is not about politics. At this moment, there are hundreds of tenants and servants who have no landlord. Not to mention thousands of constituents with no representation. There is more than yourself to think of. You are a leader of men now … or at least you will be once the Committee for Priviliges confirms you as the new baron. Funds must be authorized, documents must be signed, people must be managed. Even funds for your household are affected, or do you think your late … benefactor … will release funds from beyond the grave?”
The pressure at his temples increased once more. Brendan slumped into an ancient sofa to stare at the dingy crown moldings framing the ceiling. “Lawks! We only just buried the baron!”
The duke’s lips pinched, and he drummed his long fingers against the arm of his chair. “Annabel wished to attend, but …”
“But women do not attend funerals.”
Halmesbury nodded, and Brendan realized he had been so absorbed by his own troubles, he had barely noticed the strain his brother-in-law was under. The duke’s face was grim when he finally continued. “I told her I did not care about conventions. She should attend if she wished to, but she awoke feeling poorly this morning. The distress has not been good for her, and she is so far along … she opted to rest rather than brave the reactions of the other men in attendance. I wanted her to have the opportunity to say goodbye, but she said her health and the health of our babe must come first.”
Brendan felt guilt flickering to life once more. He had been so consumed that he had not thought about how his sister was holding up. “I should pay her a visit.”
Richard moved from the window to take a seat. “Perhaps we can all have dinner together. We could talk, and perhaps reminisce about the baron to provide an opportunity for her to close that chapter.”
Halmesbury cocked his head, thinking about what his cousin had proposed. “I would like that. The five of us, then? You and the countess, plus Brendan?”
