One Golden Ring. Cheryl Bolen

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СКАЧАТЬ style="font-size:15px;">      “Don’t be too relieved,” Adam said. “Nick’s incapable of turning his back on his business.”

      Nick wondered if Fiona’s comments meant she actually wished to spend time with him. Had she not married him solely to secure the money to free her brother? “I must assure you,” Nick said to his wife, “only half the things you hear about me are true.”

      “Do I believe the good half or the bad half ?” she asked with a little half laugh.

      “Oh, only the good.”

      A moment later, she asked, “How old is your sister?”

      “Nineteen.”

      “Is she out yet?”

      Did this wife of his not realize that the daughter of Jonathan Birmingham couldn’t just come out like women of Fiona’s class? Besides, like him, Verity straddled two worlds and wasn’t fit for either of them. He shrugged. “No, she hasn’t.”

      He looked into Fiona’s pale blue eyes and saw a flicker of dawning alight them. “I would be delighted to sponsor her,” Fiona said. “Actually, I’ve already promised to bring out Miss Rebecca Peabody, so the two can come out together. I should love it above all things.”

      “Who, pray tell, is Rebecca Peabody?” Nick asked.

      She stiffened. “The sister of the new Countess Warwick.”

      “They’re from the colonies,” Trevor added.

      Nick had a difficult time believing Fiona was friendly with the woman who had stolen Warwick from her. “I didn’t know you and Lady Warwick were friends.”

      “I haven’t spoken to her since . . .” She faced Nick and gave a hopeless shrug. “Well, I expect you know all about it. But I am rather attached to Miss Peabody, owing to the fact that she resided with me at Windmere Abbey for half of the last year.”

      “Pray, why did a colonial reside with you?” Nick asked.

      “Because she was mad to catalogue our library,” Fiona said.

      Trevor, who seemed to hang on Fiona’s every word, nodded. “The girl absolutely adores anything to do with books.”

      “So you’re close to the girl?” Nick asked his wife.

      She appeared to give the matter consideration. “Not really. I doubt anyone’s close to Miss Peabody. She’s entirely too enamored of books to be companionable.” Fiona gave a little laugh. “She doesn’t really wish to be presented, either, since she doesn’t think she’s interested in men.”

      Nick hiked a single brow. “And how old is Miss Peabody?”

      “Nineteen,” Fiona said.

      “She’d be quite lovely,” Trevor said, “if she didn’t persist in wearing those blasted spectacles.”

      Fiona nodded. “Her sister had hoped to present her last year, but Miss Peabody would have nothing to do with it.”

      How different the two sisters must be, Nick thought. Not only had the new countess been married once before she married Warwick, but it was said she had turned down a half a dozen marriage offers from men she had bewitched. “Why does her sister not present her?”

      “The countess is not well acquainted with the ton—because she’s a colonist and because she’s been breeding ever since she wed Warwick. In fact, I’ve heard that she’s breeding again.”

      Nick lowered his voice as he addressed his wife. “Will it not be difficult for you to present Miss Peabody since your relationship with her sister is somewhat strained?” He eyed his brothers who were courteously listening to Trevor rhapsodize about the sauce drizzled on the asparagus.

      “Actually, it would be very good for me to sponsor the countess’s sister. That—and being married to you—should convince everyone that I’ve forgotten all about Warwick.”

      Would that she had forgotten Warwick. Nick’s stomach dropped. Now he understood her other reason for marrying him. She wished to assure the ton she was no longer in love with the earl who had rejected her. Damn Warwick ! “About presenting my sister . . .”

      “What’s her name?” Fiona asked.

      “Verity.” He lowered his voice again. “How do you know Verity won’t be an embarrassment to you?”

      “No sister of yours could ever be an embarrassment, Mr.—” She caught herself and smiled. “Pardon me, Nick.”

      He was oddly pleased that she did not find him offensive.

      “Your brothers are perfect gentlemen, too,” she whispered.

      “The younger one will take the money to Portugal.”

      “You’ve got the money, then?”

      He nodded. “I await instructions.”

      “Are you not worried about your brother’s safety?”

      “He’s an old hand at this sort of thing.”

      “With ransom demands?” she asked incredulously.

      “With safely delivering large sums of money.”

      “I thrive upon danger,” William said, watching Fiona with dancing eyes.

      Her gaze met William’s. “I’m persuaded you must know how to defend yourself ?”

      William looked from one brother to the other, then addressed Fiona. “All of the Birmingham brothers have been schooled in fencing and pugilism.”

      “Though, thankfully, we’ve never had to defend ourselves,” Nick added.

      “How I admire you manly types,” Trevor lamented, his affectionate gaze leaping from one brother to the other.

      Nick’s brothers went deadly silent. “I daresay fencing is not a skill one needs in Mayfair,” Nick said, giving his wife’s friend a feeble smile.

      Champagne was served, and everyone toasted the bridal couple before the gathering broke up.

      “Where are we going?” she asked her husband as she settled into his luxurious carriage.

      He tucked the rug around her. It was beastly cold today. “To Piccadilly. To see our new house.”

      Our. How odd it seemed to be on the verge of sharing this stranger’s vast wealth. “I’ve admired it from the street,” she said, thinking of its Palladian elegance. “It seems rather . . . well, rather large for a bachelor.”

      “I knew I wasn’t always going to be a bachelor.”

      Her heart drummed. No, he wanted a family. Hadn’t he made that clear to her? “When will it be ready to move in?”

      “That’s hard СКАЧАТЬ