“You’re jesting,” Eliza said a fair bit louder than was necessary.
Mildred shrugged. “It was in my initial contract. I’m not going to break it.”
Isabella’s brow drew down. “Then why do you quit regularly?”
“You’re a lot to handle,” the other woman grumped back.
Abigail stamped her slippered foot on the thick carpet. “Can we get back to me, please?”
“Back to you?” Emily asked.
“Yes.” Abigail turned to look at her. “As I said. You were seen with your mystery man.”
“I know,” she answered. “As you said. But it doesn’t matter. At least not to me. Bash and Brandon are discussing the possibility of marriage, and Bash is convinced Brandon will be exonerated by the crown.”
“He offered!” Isabella broke into a large smile. “This is good news.”
Aunt Mildred clapped. “Do you think there is a bonus for a duke? I should look at my contract.”
Had he offered? Not exactly. That word…unfortunately…skittered through her mind. How silly she was. Bash might force the match, but she wouldn’t have been his first choice for a wife.
“The problem, however, is that whoever saw you thought that you were me or I was you or however that goes,” Abigail said. “In other words, you are not the one facing ruin. I am.”
Emily gasped and her hands came up to cover her mouth. “I’ll tell them that it was me. I’ll tell everyone.”
Tears filled Abigail’s eyes. “I know that you would. But…” She clasped her hands in front of her heart. “Everyone will assume you’re just trying to cover for me, and the scandal will follow me anyhow. In all likelihood, we’d both be ruined.” She plopped down in her chair, waving her hand. “We’ll be spinsters together, I suppose. We’ll live in the country with a house full of cats that smells like old carpet and herbs.”
Emily wrapped her arms about her sister, tears stinging her eyes. “Abigail. Do stop.” How could her feisty stunning sister be ruined before she’d barely begun? And for what? Nothing. She’d done absolutely nothing. “We have to find a way to make this right.”
“We will.” Isabella nodded.
“What can we do?” Avery asked coming up to join the sisters. She was their cousin, and being Uncle Malcolm’s daughter, the girls hadn’t always been close. But Emily pulled her into their group for a hug. Despite her parentage, Avery had a good heart. And she was family.
“We have shares…” Eliza said, tapping her chin. “Perhaps we can transfer some to Abigail. With a large enough dowry, almost any sin will be forgiven.”
“What sin?” Abigail huffed, her foot stomping again. “Sitting at home bored to tears for the last two months?”
Eliza reached for Emily’s hand, ignoring Abigail’s comment. “Your duke is already here talking with Bash. Do you think he’d be willing to settle for less shares in the marriage contract?”
Emily inwardly winced. Even her sister realized that if Brandon did come to an agreement with Bash, he’d be marrying her for the business gain and not because he held an affection for her.
Everyone knew she wasn’t enough on her own. And the worst part was that she cared for him so deeply she ached with it. Her heart beat wildly in her chest.
And then a new idea occurred to her. A very good one that made her insides twist in tight sickening knots. “We all have equal shares, correct?”
“Yes,” Isabella’s eyes narrowed. “Why?”
She nibbled at her lip as a new thought occurred to her. She ignored the heavy dread that pulled at her chest. “Well. Bash wanted him to marry me because he’d ruined me. Only he didn’t ruin me, inadvertently, he ruined Abigail and—”
“Emily,” Abigail huffed. “Are we going to get to the point?”
Emily dipped her head. She wanted to help save Abigail. She absolutely did and she did not wish for her sisters to see how much these next words hurt. She was infatuated with the man, had been for months. “You’re a good match for him too. The king took most of his wealth so double shares in the business will allow him to grow his fortune and return his status.”
“What?” Eliza huffed. “It doesn’t work like that. You’re the one who was alone with him. And he was the one who dragged you out onto a busy street.”
“We had to get away,” she said as her head snapped up. “And Bash suggested the match to save my reputation only…” Pain lanced through her chest. “Only it turns out I am not the one who needs saving.”
A hush fell over the room as the women realized what she meant.