“You should listen to the lad, Claringdon. Care to join me for a drink?” He turned to Rafe. “I didn’t know you were a member here, Cavendish.”

Rafe flashed his own grin. “I’m not. Just taking advantage of my influential friend here.” He clapped Claringdon on the back.

“Welcome,” Garrett replied, gesturing to the seats near him.

The other two men sat while Garrett returned his attention to his brandy.

Claringdon relaxed against his seat and crossed one booted foot over the opposite knee. “There’s something I need to tell you, Upton. It involves Lucy and—”

Garrett groaned. Setting his drink on the table next to him, he dropped his forehead into his hands. “If it involves Lucy, it’s going to be messy, isn’t it?”

“A bit,” Claringdon replied, tugging at his cuff.

Rafe had busied himself ordering a drink of his own from a passing footman.

Garrett straightened up and took another swig. “Out with it then, Claringdon.”

“Lucy informed me last night that she and Cass were up to something at the house party,” Claringdon said.

Garrett waved away his words. “If this involves Mrs. Bunbury, I—”

Claringdon shook his head. “It’s not that. Apparently, Lucy and Cass thought it would be a good idea if they both”—Claringdon winced—“if they told you Jane was in love with you and told Jane you were in love with her.”

Rafe Cavendish whistled. “Now that is up to something.”

Garrett’s stomach dropped. He squeezed his glass. “What do you mean?”

Claringdon wiped a hand across his brow. “Did Cassandra tell you Jane was in love with you?”

Garrett’s throat went dry. “Yes.”

“Lucy told Jane you were in love with her,” Claringdon continued.

The room spun. Garrett clutched at the arm of his chair. “What in the devil are you talking about?”

“I’m deuced sorry to say it,” Claringdon continued, “but apparently, they became convinced you and Jane were perfect for each other and set about their plan in a misguided attempt at matchmaking.”

Garrett clenched his jaw. “My God. It was never true? Any of it?” he whispered.

“Afraid not.”

The footman returned with the brandies just then, and Rafe, good chap that he was, had the decency to remain silent and sip his drink.

Garrett’s mind raced. What did this mean? Not only did Jane not love him, but she had been under the mistaken impression he had been in love with her? If she’d been told around the same time he’d been told, that would have been before the picnic at the house party. What the hell had Lucy and Cass been thinking?

“Does Jane know?” Garrett swallowed the lump that had unexpectedly formed in his throat.

“Yes,” Claringdon said. “Lucy intends to tell her today. I doubt Jane will be pleased.”

“The feeling is mutual.” Garrett pressed the back of his hand against the throbbing pain in his head.