How to Marry an Earl (A Cinderella Society 1)

“This is what happens when you have dealings with a traitor, Miss Carter,” Priya said. “People get hurt.”

“I never!”

Persephone did not have time for this. Conall did not have time for this. And she was fairly certain Priya was only seconds from tossing Holly to the ground and pummelling her. Which might only send Holly into histrionics and delay this longer.

“If you don’t tell us immediately who you have been helping, you will be implicated in the death of an earl. Do you know what they do to murderesses, Miss Carter?” Persephone said. “Furthermore, since you very nearly killed me, I believe I am entitled to answers. Now.”

Holly lifted her chin as though she meant to fight back and then promptly burst into tears. “He said it was a harmless prank!” she wailed.

“Who did?”

“He told me to go up to the roof and wait for his signal. That he would tell me when it was safe to push the urn. No one was supposed to get hurt.”

“Who, Holly?”

“L-lord Fairweather,” she sobbed.

“Lord Fairweather,” Priya repeated in the tones of a woman with enough secrets to ruin half of the Ton. “Is that so?”

“He said it was a prank,” Holly repeated.

“What kind prank of involves pushing things off a roof onto people? He is a grown man, not a child.”

“I don’t know,” she mumbled. “He was very…forceful. He spilled jam on my dress so I would not get into trouble. I thought he was being solicitous, in his way.”

Persephone didn’t wait to absorb the impact of the confession. She knew his intentions, even if Holly didn’t. He had begun to worry she knew more about his transgressions than she had; that she might know his identity even. And now he had Conall. She turned toward the door.

“Wait,” Priya stopped her.

“No.”

“We need more information.”

“We have enough. You take Holly to the duke for a full confession, and I shall go to Lord Fairweather and keep him distracted until the others come. If I have to follow him, I will try and leave a trail.”

“Give me a moment,” she insisted. “Let me see if I can remember anything useful about Fairweather. We need any advantage we can get.”

Persephone felt as though she were vibrating with impatience. As if her blood had turned to lightning inside her body.

“He has a mistress, of course.” Priya began.

“Two,” Holly put in. Priya raised her eyebrows. “My mother hoped he would make an offer for me. She didn’t want me to be shocked and put him off over it. She was insistent that I do whatever it took to marry him.”

“I see. He has atrocious debts.”

“So does my father,” Holly said glumly.

“Fairweather also has one of the most impressive collections of Egyptian artifacts in Britain,” Persephone added. “None of which he deigned to add to the festival exhibits, by the way.”

“He does not like to share attention,” Priya guessed. “He’s arrogant, and obviously selfish. Those are weaknesses.” She snapped her fingers. “And he cannot see well out of his left eye. He lost peripheral vision in a hunting accident. Not many people know that since he is sensitive about it.”

“How do you know about it?”

“It’s my business to know,” she sniffed. “He once tried a rather backhanded business deal with my husband.” She bared her teeth in a smile that was more wolf than maiden. “It did not go well.” She hugged Persephone. “I know you won’t wait, even if I make you promise. I’ll send Tamsin and Meg to you as soon as possible. And then I’ll take Holly to the duke.”

“Thank you.”

“Be careful, Percy. Fairweather has everything to lose.”