Hardly a Husband (Free Fellows League 3)

"Is that why you refused her offer?" Lady Dunbridge demanded.

"No."

"Good." She nodded. "Now, if you would be so kind as to tell me where you heard about Sarah's alleged betrothal."

"I heard it from the horse's mouth, so to speak. I had coffee and conversation with Lord Dunbridge this morning."

"Sharing coffee and conversation with Reggie must have been a trial," Lady Dunbridge sympathized. "You poor man."

Jarrod gave a graceful shrug of his shoulder. "Actually, he had coffee. I spent the majority of my time trying to persuade him to relinquish the Helford Green living."

"Were you successful?"

Jarrod shook his head. "He wouldn't hear of parting with it. In fact, your nephew by marriage appears to hear only what he chooses to hear."

Lady Dunbridge widened her eyes in a show of surprise. "Then you understand our dilemma. Sarah is not Reggie's betrothed. She flatly refused his suit, as did I." She rolled her eyes. "Not that he asked me. But…"

"He's a reasonably attractive, wealthy viscount," Jarrod commented, "with a country house in Somerset and a fashionable address in London. I'm sure there are ladies who would be thrilled to become the next Lady Dunbridge."

"I'm sure you're correct, Lord Shepherdston, but

Sarah isn't one of them." She pinned him with a look. "You met Reggie. Would you want him as husband for my niece?"

Jarrod grimaced. "I can't recommend him for his fashion sense or his veracity, but I suppose she could do worse."

"You didn't answer the question," Lady Dunbridge pointed out.

Jarrod gave her a mysterious half-smile. "No, I didn't."

"Why not?" She took a sip from her teacup and nibbled on another biscuit.

"I think you know the answer to that," he replied.

"Suppose I want to hear you say it aloud."

"No, Lady Dunbridge, I have no wish to see your niece marry a liar who prides himself on his nightmare of a wardrobe and the fact that he's forced her hand by evicting her from her home."

"If you understand that about Reggie Blanchard, then you understand that he's the sort of man who pulls the wings off butterflies for amusement. He would be the death of a girl like Sarah."

"I did what I could, ma'am," Jarrod said. "I spoke to him about the Helford Green living. He refuses to sell it, lease it, or rent it to me for any price. He confessed to enjoying owning the rectory because it kept me from owning everything in the village. I did everything in my power to persuade him to change his mind, including telling him that I was in the process of purchasing it from the Church." He stared at the tablecloth once again.

"Are you?"

"Not yet. But I'll be requesting an audience at Lambeth Palace first thing in the morning."

Lady Dunbridge nodded. "Thank you for trying, Lord Shepherdston. I don't know that seeking an audience with the archbishop of Canterbury will do any good, but I appreciate your attempt at persuading him."

"You don't have to thank me, Lady Dunbridge," he told her. "I promised Sarah I would speak to Dunbridge about the living and I've kept my word. Unless the archbishop grants my request, I've done all I can do."

"No, you haven't…"

Jarrod knew what she was going to say and held up his hands as if to ward her off. "I'm not interested in marrying any woman or in making her my marchioness."

"I'm not asking you to marry her," Lady Dunbridge protested, playing her trump card, "or make her your marchioness. I'm asking you to smooth the way so that someone else might marry her."

"Why do you need me for that?"

Lady Dunbridge sighed heavily once again, as if she despaired of Jarrod's understanding of the unwritten rules of society and the ton. "I need you to do something about Reggie's lies. No one is going to pay court to Sarah if they believe she's already betrothed to Reggie."