It didn’t take much thinking for Suzette to realize what she had to do. They were in the same position they had been in the last time their father gambled, just a year ago. They had only saved themselves then by Chrissy marrying, claiming her dower, and paying off the debt. It seemed obvious that was what had to happen again. Only this time it was Suzette who would have to marry, claim her dower and pay off the debt. The thought had barely struck her when the front door opened and the Madison footmen appeared, carrying their chests.

“Wait,” she said, hurrying to block their path. “You need to put those back on the carriage. We are not staying here.”

“We aren’t?” Lisa asked with surprise, moving to her side as the men began to back out of the door with their burden. “Where are we going?”

“To Christiana and Dicky’s,” Suzette said firmly, catching Lisa’s hand and pulling her along as she followed the men out of the house. “I shall have to marry like Chrissy did to take care of matters,” she whispered the last word, not wishing to be overheard by the servants. Though they probably already knew, she supposed on a sigh, and continued, “Father spends all his time in the country, but Christiana and Dicky are here in town with invitations to balls and such. They can introduce us to society, which is imperative if I am to find a husband.”

“Oh Suzette,” Lisa said and sounded almost pitying. She then suggested, “Perhaps Dicky would be willing to pay again.”

Suzette smiled wryly at the doubt in Lisa’s voice. Apparently she didn’t really think it likely, and Suzette understood that fully. Dicky had already paid a huge sum the first time around. Though he’d gained it back via the dower, it wasn’t really reasonable to expect him to pay again . . . especially if he was now treating Christiana badly. If that was true, it suggested to her that he hadn’t really been in love with their sister at all as he’d claimed, which left only the dower to bring about the proposal. If that was the case, he’d hardly want to give up any more of it, but she merely said, “Nay. Christiana paid for Father’s first little adventure in the gaming hells in London. Dicky would be very angry to be expected to pay again and rightly so. Besides, she shouldn’t have to pay again. ’Tis my turn.”

They had reached the carriage by then and Suzette moved to the driver to tell him where they were going next. She then urged Lisa back into the carriage they had so recently escaped. It was a lot roomier with just the two of them and Suzette wasn’t surprised when Lisa said, “What about our maids?”