CHAPTER TWELVE: A DIFFERENT KIND OF COURTSHIP
William began visiting the Montley house once each week.
He never arrived with the theatrical gifts that Blanche had predicted.
Instead, he brought books for Selena to discuss with Clara and occasionally asked her advice about the child’s lessons.
Sir Lionel found these visits infuriating.
“The man must intend something,” he complained after William departed one afternoon.
“He intends to make sure his niece receives a good education,” Selena answered.
“That cannot be all.”
“Then you should ask him.”
Sir Lionel stared at her.
“You are becoming insolent.”
“I am becoming tired,” Selena replied.
“There is a difference.”
She escaped to the garden, where Verity was trimming dead leaves from a rosebush.
“Father wants the duke to propose,” Verity said without looking up.
“I know.”
“Blanche wants him to stop visiting.”
“I know that too.”
Verity set down her shears.
“What do you want?”
Selena considered the question longer than she expected.
“I want to know whether William likes me when I disagree with him.”
Verity laughed.
“You disagree with everyone.”
“Not always.”
“Only when they are wrong.”
Selena smiled, then grew serious.
“I also want Clara to grow up knowing that affection is not something she must earn by behaving perfectly.
”
Verity looked at her sister with an unfamiliar expression.
“You really care for that child.”
“Yes.”
“And for the duke?”
Selena looked toward the gate where William’s carriage had disappeared.
“I am beginning to,” she admitted.
Verity nodded slowly.
“Then be careful.”
“Why?”
“Because Father is not the only person who has begun making plans.”
CHAPTER TWELVE A: THE CARRIAGE AT THE GATE
The first sign of trouble came in the shape of a carriage that stopped outside the Montley house without delivering a visitor.
Selena saw it from the breakfast-room window while Blanche was complaining about the price of ribbons.
A man in a dark coat spoke to their footman, accepted a small parcel, and drove away before Sir Lionel emerged from his study.
Blanche abruptly lost interest in ribbons.
Selena noticed her sister’s hand tightening around a butter knife.
“Do you know that gentleman?” Selena asked.
“You are becoming remarkably curious about matters that do not concern you,” Blanche replied.
Verity looked from one sister to the other and set down her teacup.
“He came yesterday as well,” she said.
Blanche turned sharply.
“You were not supposed to be watching.”
“I was standing at the front door,” Verity answered.
“That is hardly spying.”
Sir Lionel entered before the argument could continue.
He looked toward the empty road, then demanded to know whether the carriage had departed.
The footman confirmed that it had.
Selena waited until their father sat down.
“Has something happened to the estate?” she asked.
“Nothing that a daughter needs to understand.”
“You said that when the east pasture was sold,” Selena replied.
Sir Lionel struck the table with two fingers.
“The east pasture was an entirely reasonable transaction.”
“Then you will have no difficulty explaining this one.”
Blanche gave a small, disbelieving laugh.
“Selena, must you turn every breakfast into an examination?”
Selena pushed back her chair.
“I am not asking for an examination.”
“I am asking whether we are expected to behave as though nothing is wrong while strangers arrive at the gate.”
Her father dismissed the servants and waited until the door closed.
“A gentleman has offered to advance the family money against the spring rents,” he said.
“That is a private arrangement.”
“How much money?” Verity asked unexpectedly.
Sir Lionel looked astonished that she had spoken.
“Enough to meet our immediate obligations.”
Blanche lowered her eyes.
Selena recognized the expression from childhood, when Blanche knew more about a broken vase than she intended to admit.
“And what does the gentleman expect in return?” Selena asked.
“He expects repayment,” their father snapped.
“There is no scandal in borrowing money.”
“There is often a difficulty in repaying it,” Selena answered.
She left the room without finishing her breakfast.
In the corridor she found the footman polishing the brass plate beside the front door.
“You need not tell me what the gentleman said,” she told him.
“I only wish to know whether he was rude to you.”
The footman glanced toward the breakfast room.
“He was very polite, miss.”
“That is reassuring.”
“He was polite in the way a man is polite when he knows he will return,
” the footman added.
Selena went upstairs with the uncomfortable sense that her father’s plans were moving faster than anyone admitted.
