“Lady Melinda has been at it again, spreading rumors that she and I are an item.”
Robbie shook his head. “So?”
“Her father’s vote is crucial for the navy’s funding. If he believes those lies, he might express his displeasure by voting against our budget.”
Joshua groaned. “What does the Lord Admiral want you to do?”
“Squash the rumors by courting someone else. I’m useless to Lady Melinda if I’m no longer viewed as the carefree bachelor. For the next two weeks, I must be seen with the innocent and charming object of my affection...whoever she may be. Oh, and she has to be beautiful, clever, and from a good family. The duke has to believe I am wildly in love with this girl. I have until tomorrow morning to give him a name.”
Robbie sat up in his chair. “Och, dare I guess who ye’re going to choose?”
He ran a hand roughly through his hair. “It can only be Dahlia, of course. But I hesitate to ask her. She’s already been destroyed by Wainscott’s deceptions. How can I ask her to be complicit in this?”
“And yet,” Joshua said, “if you choose someone else, how will Dahlia ever believe you care for her? More important, how will she ever trust you when she sees you’ve dumped this supposed girl of your dreams after a fortnight? She’ll fear you will do the same to her.”
He nodded. “She may never trust me, no matter what I do.”
“But ye think ye have to take the risk and ask her to help out?” Robbie asked.
“I can easily pretend that I’m falling in love with her since I am doing exactly that.” He lolled his head back and groaned. “However, I’ll scare her off if I just come out and admit I love her now. The Wainscott incident is still too raw. So for now, I will just tell her it is all a pretense. Once the vote occurs, I’ll let her know how I truly feel.”
Robbie rose and gave him a companionable pat on the shoulder. “I thought my cousin Thad made a mess of his courtship. I dinna think anyone could mess it up worse. But I think ye’re about to do it, laddie. Good luck to ye. Ye’re going to need it.”
Joshua remained in his chair, saying nothing until Robbie left. “I think Stoke, Lady Melinda, and the Lord Admiral are the least of your problems.”
Ronan regarded his brother. “What do you mean?”
“You haven’t thought of Miranda. She has just learned that her baby boy is moving into his own house. Now suddenly, you’ll be courting Dahlia. I love that woman, but there is no telling what she will do to you if she finds out what is really going on. All she will see is that you haven’t been courting Dahlia so much as using her to advance your political goals.”
“Bloody hell. Josh, just keep her contained. I had better let Finn and Tynan in on this, too. Maybe she’ll listen if all four of her sons are on their knees, begging her not to get involved.”
Joshua rose and patted him on the back. “We don’t stand a chance against her. But good luck, Ronan. You’ll have your hands full these next few weeks.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
“Do you think Ronan will stop by today, Violet?” Dahlia peered out the entry hall window to stare at the front gate. “Where is he? What if he’s detained and cannot make it?”
Violet laughingly dragged her away from the window. “He would have sent word if he had to cancel. Come into the parlor and sit down. You can give me decorating ideas while we wait for him.”
Heather had already taken a seat in the parlor and was pouring herself a cup of hot cocoa. “Currant scones. My favorite. Thank you, Violet. This all looks delicious.” She stared at the platter of cakes set out on a side table for them.
“There’s tea in the other pot, if you prefer.” Violet sat in a chair beside Heather’s, the two of them purposely leaving an open seat beside Dahlia on the settee.
“Do you think he’ll be irritated with me for reading ahead? I ought to have waited for him before jumping to the next chapters, but yesterday’s meeting went well and left me in better spirits. I couldn’t wait. I’ll read them again with him, of course. Is this how you felt with Romulus?”
Violet blushed. “Well, our circumstances were a little different. We only had a week to figure out if we loved each other. But it was exciting to read the book with him and discover the sort of man he was. Obviously, I quickly realized he was splendid and wonderful, and I fell madly in love with him.”
“It won’t be the same for Ronan and me. He’s reading the book so he can find himself a duke’s daughter to marry. I’m reading it to learn more about men and know which ones will betray me.”
Heather winced. “Oh, Dahlia. That is so harsh. You must think of it as a means to find love. And who is to say Ronan will not fall in love with you? Then you can marry him, and everyone will be happy.”
“No, it won’t happen. He doesn’t think of me that way. He is only helping me because he is a Brayden, and this is what they do, protect the weak and vulnerable. This is what he thinks of me.”
Although he had been very kind in his description of her yesterday. She did not know how much of what he’d said was true. Even if he was greatly embellishing her virtues, it still meant a lot to her that he was taking the time to read the book with her and seemed to enjoy their time spent together. “Oh, where is he? Do you think he’s forgotten about me?”
“No,” the two of them answered together, and at the same time, their gazes shot to the doorway.
“Dahlia, how can I possibly forget you?”
She gasped and looked up to find Ronan standing there, big and dominant, and grinning softly at her. His arms were crossed over his chest, and he appeared every bit the magnificent warrior. “Sorry I’m late. Got held up in a meeting at the House of Lords.”
Dahlia groaned. “I hope you did not cut it short on my account.”
He strode forward and settled on the settee beside her, taking up most of it because his shoulders were broad. “No, it ended of its own accord. Although I might have purposely nudged it along by boring them to tears toward the end. I began to explain the science of steam combustion. Their eyes glazed over, and they all suddenly remembered having prior engagements. You’d think the devil was on their tail, they fled the hall so fast.”
“I think I would find it fascinating.” She smiled at him. “Our cousin, Lily, would understand it all. None of us would be surprised if she had a hand in designing your steam invention.”
Violet nodded. “She is brilliant. The Duke of Lotheil adores her. She married his grandson, Ewan. I think the duke was not quite so enamored of her at the start. She had a way of deflating his pomposity that he found quite irksome.”
Heather giggled as she motioned to the teapot. “Would you care for a cup?”
“Perhaps later.” He turned to face Dahlia. “What do you say we get started? We have a lot to get through this evening. Violet, do you mind?”
“Not at all. Heather and I have plenty to do to occupy ourselves.”
He led Dahlia into Romulus’s library and surprised her by shutting the door behind them. She cast him a puzzled glance. “Shouldn’t we leave it open?”