Again, as though she were a little girl being placated with the promise of a sweet treat. The words only added to her bad temper. In a half year. Those words felt as heavy and burdensome as a yoke about her neck. It would be too late by then. Sinclair would have written to Durham and the others. Her good name could very well be ruined even as far as their small shire.

Marian smiled at her in a cajoling manner, perfectly oblivious to Nora’s churning emotions.

The footman arrived at Nora’s side and she distractedly lifted the serving spoons to serve herself.

Her sister thought her offer perfectly generous. She had no notion of Sinclair’s threat to expose Nora’s machinations to the world. For some reason Nora did not want to reveal that piece of information, however much it guided her impulse to go after Sinclair. She was certain Marian would be appalled and Warrington would feel compelled to act on her behalf. He would likely leave Marian in her delicate condition and hie off after Sinclair. He’d think it was his duty as her eldest male relation. Her brother was still a lad in school, after all. The last time he’d visited during holiday his voice still cracked when he talked.

It was rather nice, she supposed, to have an older brother to care for her and look after her. She couldn’t drag him into her mess.

No, Nora could not have that. It would be just her luck that Marian would give birth whilst Warrington was gone. That was unacceptable. She could not risk that happening. She could not reveal Sinclair’s threat and potentially be the reason he missed the birth of his first child.

Her sister was perfectly kind and she had done so much for Nora, for all of them. She had made so very many sacrifices upon Papa’s death. Nora would handle this situation herself.

Nora forced a smile. “Perhaps to mark the New Year?” she suggested. “We can all go to Town.”

“Splendid,” Marian exclaimed. “Charlotte, Kingston and both babies can join us. We shall make an occasion of it. It will be a wonderful family affair. We shall shop and visit the museums and the theaters. You can meet this Duchess of Birchwood and assure yourself of her well-being.”

Nora nodded in seeming agreement.

The matter was settled then. At least in Marian’s mind it was.

They would travel to London in a half year and Nora would be a good and proper girl in the meantime, sitting on her backside, waiting for the moment her family snapped their fingers and allowed her out into the world.

The matter was settled for Nora, too.

She would be going to London on the first train out tomorrow.

Chapter 9