It was a pity Chase had not found such a bride. Of course, since Brandon had tricked Chase into accepting the infamous St. John talisman ring, chances were high that Chase might find his own true love. Or he would if he didn’t leave Harry Annesley kicking his heels all over town, hinting to whoever would listen that Chase St. John had not honored a debt.

Such a thing had been known to ruin a man. To his surprise, Devon won yet another hand. He tossed his cards onto the table and called for his coat and horse.

Damn it all, where the hell is Chase? And why did he leave town after signing a note to Annesley?

Chapter 9

Starch makes the man.

The rather decrepit Lord Kilturn to his valet, Hobart, while standing before the mirror adjusting his cravat the evening of the Brookstone soirée

Harriet could only stare at Mr. Gower. Surely the man didn’t mean to suggest that—he couldn’t possibly mean to say that he and she could—that they would one day—“You must be jesting!”

Mr. Gower’s smile never wavered, but his eyes narrowed unpleasantly. “I meant every word. I have carefully considered all the available choices, and I have decided that you would be the most beneficial bride for a man in my position. Your connections could be just the thing to help my career.”

Harriet couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “I don’t wish to—”

“Please. Don’t answer yet. I can see that I have startled you. But once you think about it, I believe you’ll agree that a marriage between us would be beneficial.”

“Mr. Gower, I do not wish to marry!”

Mr. Gower raised his brows. “No? What about the supposed Captain Frakenham?”

Oh piffle! Harriet’d let her astonishment freeze her brain into a block of useless ice. “I meant to say that I don’t wish to marry you,” she qualified. “Captain Frakenham is another matter altogether. Of course I wish to marry him; I’m engaged to him.”

“Indeed.”

It was one word, but the disbelief Gower managed to impart with that one word made Harriet pause. Oh dear no. If Mr. Gower suspected that there was no Captain Frakenham, everything was lost. For all that Harriet deplored Mother’s invention of a suitor, the thought of losing Garrett Park just before the last payment was too galling for words.

Harriet smoothed her skirts nervously. “Speaking of Captain Frakenham, did I mention that he sent some silk to Mother?”

Mr. Gower lifted his brows. “Did he? How nice for your mother.”

“A very nice length of it. He sent me some pearls and two strands of shells for Sophia and Ophelia, as well.”

“Hmmm. I would love to see these items. Could you fetch them?”

Blast it, what was she to do now? She hadn’t expected him to be so rude, but something seemed to have come over Mr. Gower.

Harriet managed a shaky laugh. “Of course you may see them! I’m not sure where Mother put the silk, and the pearls are safely locked away. Perhaps when you come to visit another time, I will have them all out for your perusal and—”