“In that case, we’ve got to come up with something else – some other way in which to extricate Miss Russell from this hold Mr. Cooper has on her. In case her plan doesnae work.”
“Just give me the word and I’ll have him picked up,” Guthrie said.
Blayne knit his brow. “Mr. Cooper isnae so different from ye, Guthrie. He made a bargain, that’s all. Threatening him or worse wouldnae be right.”
“Then what do you propose?”
“I’m nae sure. It would help if I knew how much Lord Elkins was hoping to make from this wretched agreement.” Blayne looked at Daisy. “Any idea?”
Daisy gave a small nod. “Miss Russell mentioned two thousand pounds.”
Blayne puffed out a breath. He’d feared as much. A hopeless laugh almost escaped him. “If I recall, Charlotte has two sisters, both of whom are married to wealthy men. Surely they can offer assistance.”
“She has written to them both.”
“As for acquiring a new fiancée for Mr. Cooper,” Blayne went on, “there must be a woman of noble birth who would leap at the chance to marry a man as wealthy as he.”
“Anything’s possible,” Guthrie said.
“I suggest we start with yer wife,” Blayne said.
“What?” Guthrie sputtered.
Ignoring him for a moment, Blayne gave his attention to Claus. “Can ye please make sure Daisy gets back to Russell House safely?”
“It would be my pleasure,” Claus said. He placed his arm around Daisy’s shoulders and steered her out of the room.
The door closed and Guthrie crossed to the side table where he proceeded to pour a large glass of brandy. He took a deep swallow. “Now then. Why don’t you tell me what your plan is and how Regina fits into it.”
Blayne arched a brow. “She’s connected socially, is she not?”
“She was before her father was hanged for murder and she decided to marry me.”
“Does she not socialize with the other duchesses?”
“Occasionally,” Guthrie confessed.
“Well, then. There you are.”
“I don’t quite follow.”
Blayne let a smile slide into place. “I’m sure these ladies can find a fifth daughter of a Lord Somethingorother who would be happy to secure her future by marrying a rich American.”
“I’ll be sure to put Regina to the task as soon as I get home,” Guthrie said. He grabbed his burgundy velvet top hat off a nearby table and donned it with a flourish. “We’ll save Miss Russell. No doubt about that.”
Blayne answered with a stiff nod. In spite of the odds against them, he had to believe success was possible.
12
Five days later, Charlotte still hadn’t solved her dilemma. And time to do so was swiftly running out. She sighed as she went to meet her parents for dinner. The last thing she felt like right now was being sociable, but neither did she want them to think she was sulking upstairs in her bedchamber. Having written her sisters, she’d hoped they might have been able to come to her aid financially, but she’d not yet heard back from either. As for finding a suitable candidate willing to marry Mr. Cooper on short notice, she was no closer to coming up with a viable option now than she had been when she’d made her bargain with him. And with only two days left, she was starting to see the hopelessness of her situation.
“I thought we might visit the modiste together tomorrow,” Mama said when Charlotte met her parents in the parlor. “Mr. Cooper did suggest that he means to propose to you soon, and when it comes to ordering wedding gowns, there really is no time to waste.”
“I’ve had a word with my secretary this afternoon,” Papa said. “He will make sure invitations are prepared so they can be sent out as soon as you and Mr. Cooper settle on a date.”
“Your father and I both agree that St. George’s would be the best venue,” Mama said.
“It’s where anyone of consequence gets married,” Papa said. “I’ll meet with the vicar and find out which date suits best so I’m able to offer advice.”
“Hopefully, before you send out invitations,” Charlotte told him dryly.
“What?” Her father looked momentarily startled. And then he relaxed. “Oh yes. Right you are.”
“Naturally, the wedding breakfast will be hosted here,” her mother continued. “If the weather is good we can have a small reception outside in the garden. The flowers are lovely this time of year. It would be quite romantic.”
“Indeed,” Charlotte said. “Provided there will be a wedding.”
Her mother frowned while squeezing her lips together in what looked like severe disgruntlement.
“Of course there will,” Papa said. All agreeability had vanished from his face. “Mr. Cooper merely desires to give you time to recover from the MacNeil incident before taking over the role of your fiancé, which is mighty considerate of him.”
“I agree,” Charlotte said without bothering to hide her displeasure. “Which is why I am so overjoyed.”
“There’s no need for sarcasm,” Mama chastised. “Rather, I would expect a bit more gratitude on your part.”
Unwilling to argue, Charlotte kept quiet and did her best not to scream in frustration.
“Now,” her father continued, “I was going to keep this a surprise, but maybe this is a good time to let you know that your mother and I plan to visit you in New York for Christmas. So it shan’t be too long before you see us again – just a few months.”
As things stood right now, Charlotte wouldn’t mind never having to be in the same room with either of them ever again. She sighed and hoped dinner would be ready soon so she could drown herself in a large glass of wine.
A knock sounded and Everet entered. “Mr. Cooper is here.”
What now? Charlotte wondered.
“Do show him in,” Papa said. “It will be a pleasure to have him join us. We’ve much to discuss.”
“I already made the suggestion, sir, but it would appear he wishes to speak with Miss Russell in private.”
Charlotte blinked.
“Well don’t keep the man waiting,” Mama hissed. “I’m sure there’s something very important he wants to ask you.”
Charlotte sent her a glare, but got up and moved to the door. This couldn’t be happening. Surely Mr. Cooper did not mean to deny her the last two days he’d promised. Apprehensive, she followed Everet to her father’s study where Mr. Cooper stood waiting.
“Miss Russell.” He dipped his head in greeting. “I thought it correct to speak with you first.”
“About what?” she asked while her stomach proceeded to turn itself inside out.
“Apparently, I underestimated you.”
“No more than I underestimated you, I’m sure,” she said, more clueless than ever.
He grinned. “I should thank you though.”
“Thank me?”
“For informing the Earl of Dervaine of my interest in finding a bride. His youngest daughter will suit me very well.”
Charlotte stared at him while trying to grapple with what he was saying and what it meant. This was what she’d wanted, what she’d prayed for, but the chance of it actually happening had been so slim. In fact, it had been so thoroughly unlikely, it might as well have been totally impossible.