“Now, I cannot say where or how they came by their information,” Breksby commented. “Nor, of course, can I venture a guess as to its reliability. But I did wish to inform you, Miss Jerningham. Because in my view—only in my view—it would be far better for the English government to discover Mr. Kasi Rao Holkar than it would for representatives of the East India Company to do so.”

Quill waited.

Gabby gave Lord Breksby a sad little smile. “I most certainly agree with you, sir. I fear that representatives of the East India Company wish to find Kasi for their own nefarious purposes.”

“No question about that,” Breksby replied promptly. “They love the idea of putting a half-witted ruler in the Holkars. Give them a handle into the whole Marathas region, no doubt about it.”

“Couldn’t you stop them?” Gabby pleaded.

A rare look of chagrin flitted across Breksby’s face. “The company has been one of the few failures of my tenure,” he admitted. “We managed to pass the India Bill in ‘84, but it has been a dismal failure in terms of curbing their territorial greed.”

Gabby seemed to have made up her mind. “I certainly wish I could help you, Lord Breksby,” she cooed, tilting her head to the side.

Quill watched cynically from the other side of the room as Breksby melted in front of his eyes. At least he wasn’t alone in being bowled over by Miss Gabrielle Jerningham. Although he rather thought he, Quill, hadn’t been lied to yet. If so, he reminded himself, it was only a matter of time.

Lady Sylvia turned about the moment the door clicked shut behind Lord Breksby and shot Quill a steely glance. “I don’t know what you think you’re playing at, Erskine, but I won’t have you handing yer brother damaged goods. It isn’t the work of a gentleman.”

Hot color rushed up Gabby’s neck. “Oh, Lady Sylvia, I…Quill …” She faltered.

“You may be the first to congratulate us,” Quill said calmly. “This morning Miss Jerningham agreed to be my wife.”

Lady Sylvia gave him another scathing look. “Well, then, I won’t have you trotting damaged goods up to yer own altar either.”

Quill met her eyes steadily. “You need have no fear of that, Lady Sylvia. I should prefer, however, that you do not impugn the honor of my betrothed.”

“Oh?” She gave Gabby a monstrous frown. “Miss Jerningham, I clearly instructed you not to spend time alone with a man, any man. Yer gown is crumpled in the back, and there are hairpins all over the hearth rug. If you two haven’t been tumbling about on the floor, then I’m a monkey’s uncle!”

Gabby thought it wasn’t possible for a person to feel so embarrassed. But Quill spoke before she could try to defend herself.