Page 103 of When a Marquis Chooses a Bride
A chill ran up Elizabeth’s spine. Her voice was much fainter than she’d meant it to be. “Merton?”
Her cousin removed her bonnet, sitting next to her on the chaise. “Yes. I would give it a few months, but he will be happy to marry a lady as steady as you.”
Anger replacing astonishment, Elizabeth pushed her tambour aside. “Lavvie, what have you done?”
“I have just made sure Miss Stern would not be able to attend the wedding.” When Elizabeth started to rise, Lavvie continued. “I’ve done nothing to harm her. I merely put it around that at the end of the day, marrying a marquis was too much for a country squire’s daughter, and she ran home to her mother.”
“Lavvie, have you lost your mind?”
Her cousin’s eyes widened. “Miss Stern will be fine. She is housed not too far from Town, and in two days she will be released and provided a coach for her journey home. Naturally, she’ll not want to show her face in Town again, at least not for a Season or two.”
Elizabeth stared at her cousin, unable to understand how Lavvie could be so proud of essentially ruining another lady. This was undoubtedly the stupidest thing she could have done.
Elizabeth rose and struggled to keep from shouting. “She will never be able to show her face anywhere. After jilting Merton, what man would want her? And what will happen when it gets out that you orchestrated Miss Stern’s disappearance?”
Lavvie paled just a little. “Oh, you’ve no need to worry about that. Fotherby was the one who actually abducted Miss Stern.”
For a moment Elizabeth thought she would faint. “Why? Why did you do it?”
“To save you. If you do not marry Merton, who knows who your father will select next? He could be like . . .”
Her cousin fell silent.
“Manners? Is that what you were about to say? Lavvie, has he hurt you?”
Her voice was tight as she avoided Elizabeth’s gaze. “He doesn’t beat me.”
She pulled her cousin into a hug. “Oh my dear. Papa would never make me marry someone I did not wish to.”
Lavvie sobbed. “That’s what I thought about my father as well.”
Elizabeth thought back and realized she had not seen her cousin in private since that night Merton and Miss Stern became engaged. It was possible Lavvie didn’t know Papa had lied. “I must tell you, we are not broke. It was all a hum. Papa told me that so I would marry Merton.”
“Not broke?”
Elizabeth shook her head. “No, and I wouldn’t marry him anyway. He is in love with Miss Stern.” Elizabeth walked to the door to the terrace and back again, stopping in front of her cousin. She took Lavvie’s hand. “As I have no need to marry for money, I want to marry for love. We need to tell Merton. When he finds her gone, he will be frantic with worry.”
“It’s too late.” Tears filled Lavvie’s eyes. “I received the message from Fotherby. She was taken this morning.”
“Surely you know where.”
“Well, sort of. Fotherby has a house near Richmond, but I don’t know its exact location.”
Elizabeth tugged the bell pull and a footman opened the door. “I need my bonnet, gloves, spencer, and my maid.”
“Elizabeth!” Lavvie shrieked once the door closed. “What are you planning to do?”
“Tell Merton. He might know where Fotherby’s house is.” Lavvie’s face lost all its color. “I will try not to mention your name, but is there a relative you can visit for a few weeks? You won’t like missing the rest of the Season, but there will be less talk if you are not here.”
She nodded. “I have already made plans to visit an aunt in the north, but why is it so important? I am sure Fotherby will not tell anyone.”
Doing her best not to shout at her cousin, Elizabeth pressed her lips together. “You have picked the wrong country miss to play with. Her grandmother is the Duchess of Bristol. The betrothal ball is this evening.”
For a few moments, Lavvie seemed frozen in place. Then she collapsed onto a chair. “Oh no. What have I done?”
Elizabeth donned her spencer and bonnet, which had arrived. It was time her cousin learned to cease meddling. “Add to that, her parents are in Town, and she has moved to Merton House.”
Lavvie’s already-pale complexion whitened even further. When she finally spoke, her voice was little more than a whisper. “How could I have been so stupid? I only meant to help you, and I’ve made such a mess of things.”
