They put their arms around her. "Thank you," they said in unison.

The marquess sat on a bench in the great hall and removed his muddy boots. The marble floor was a mess.

Margaret held her hands up as if beseeching a higher power. "I give up."

Late that night in bed, the marquess sighed. "You have never failed to make me a happy man, Margaret."

"You are a l.u.s.ty man," she said, laughing.

He kissed his wife gently. "I do love you, my dear."

"And I you." She sighed. "What do you make of Colin and Angeline?"

"What do you mean? They haven't killed each other. We're safe from violence." He chuckled.

"Chadwick, you know very well what I mean. He took her up on the horse to keep her safe. I find that very chivalrous."

"For a married woman, you are remarkably nave, my dear."

"What do you mean?" she said.

"Chivalry had nothing to do with his decision. No doubt my son was enjoying the close proximity of the lovely Angeline."

"I've seen the way he looks at her when he thinks no one is noticing," Margaret said.

"He's a man, Margaret. Put a curvaceous beauty in front of a male, he will look."

"Chadwick, you had better not look at any other woman or you will sleep in one of the guest rooms."

"But I have no reason to look elsewhere when I have my own beautiful, curvaceous wife close at hand."

"Good answer." Margaret sighed again. "The girls are so excited about their debut next spring. It is all they talk about. Even sweet Penny is enthused."

"I fear society is not prepared for our twins. No doubt they will create mayhem wherever they go as they're wont to do."

"Be serious, dear. I worry that our efforts to champion Angeline will not succeed."

"You have not said anything to the d.u.c.h.ess, have you?"

"No, dear, I would never presume to do so. If it does not work, it would be very hard on our girls as well as Penny. I know Angeline is worried on her sister's behalf."

"Margaret, we must leave this to Angeline and my son. If it is meant to be, it will be."

She snorted inelegantly. "I should have known better than to consult you. Do you think I will leave this up to Providence?"

"My dear, you are determined to play matchmaker, but I suspect Lady Angeline is far too practical to fall for our roguish son. Any woman with half a brain would avoid him."

"Chadwick, he is our son. You ought to be ashamed."

"I am, Margaret. Ashamed that I didn't curb him years ago. You know I could have done it by withholding his funds, but I didn't. Something must be done. I am taking care of it."

"Chadwick, please be kind to him. He is our only son."

He cupped his wife's cheek. "That is what I love about you, Margaret. You champion everyone, including our rakeh.e.l.l son."

"Underneath his rakish exterior, he is a good man. He only needs a good woman to help him see it."

"You are remarkably nave, Margaret, but I love you for it, and now will you let me love you again?"

She opened her arms to him, the way she'd done the first night of their marriage, and he knew that he was twice blessed.

Chapter Ten.

At breakfast the next morning, Angeline and the twins joined everyone else at breakfast.

"We plan to teach Hercules to sit," Bianca said to the marquess.

"One would think that would be a natural thing to do," the marquess said.

Angeline smiled at Colin and then addressed the marquess. "Hercules is learning to sit after getting a verbal command. He has done very well."

"He likes the treats he gets for obeying," Bernadette said.

"That is progress," Margaret said. "Thank you, Angeline. I know the girls are grateful as well."

The marquess snorted behind his paper.

Ames brought a sealed letter on a silver dish to the marquess. "It is marked urgent," Ames said.

Colin finished his meal and accepted another cup of tea.

The marquess opened the letter and scowled. "What in blazes is wrong with that man?" he demanded.

"Chadwick," Margaret said. "We do not shout at the table."

"I'll shout all I want. That fool Faraday probably takes all day to decide it's time to take a sh-"

The d.u.c.h.ess gasped.

"Father," Colin said. "Ladies are present, including my very impressionable sisters." From the gleaming expressions in the twins' eyes, Colin figured they had added some very colorful words to their vocabulary, probably from the stable boys when they had their riding lessons.

"I can't believe it," the marquess said. "Now he wants to bring his wife to have a look at the house. How many times must he see it? I tire of his foolishness. Colin, go meet the man. I'm liable to say something exceedingly impolite or throw him out on his ar-"

"Chadwick," Margaret said in shocked tones. "You forget yourself."

"I beg your pardon," he grumbled.

"If Mrs. Faraday sees the house and approves of it, she may be more likely to make a decision quickly," Margaret said. "Lady Angeline, you have a great deal of knowledge about design and architecture, perhaps you could speak to Mrs. Faraday."

Colin set his cup aside slowly. He hesitated a moment, knowing what he meant to do was dishonorable, but he couldn't let the opportunity pa.s.s or he would surely lose Sommerall.

"Wycoff," Colin said, "if you are amenable, I think it might help if Angeline attended. She could answer any questions Mrs. Faraday might have."

The marquess addressed his friend. "The other couple will be there, so there's no question about propriety. I'd be obliged if you will allow it. Your daughter probably knows more about the house than any of us."

"I can verify that," Colin said.

"I'll allow it," Wycoff said, "provided you return as soon as the business is concluded. I don't want there to be even a hint of impropriety."

Colin made himself meet Wycoff's eyes. He told himself that he could persuade Angeline to agree to the marriage through honorable means. She had certainly given serious thought to a marriage of convenience, but she had not given him a definitive answer. If she said no, he stood to lose Sommerall. Perhaps today, he could persuade her to make the engagement official.

Margaret rose and rang the bell. "I'll have cook prepare a hamper in the event the house inspection takes longer than expected. It occurs to me that Mr. and Mrs. Faraday may wish to see the grounds as well."

"Thank you, Margaret," Angeline said. "That is very thoughtful of you."

"You had better dress warmly and take an umbrella," Margaret said. "The clouds are rather gray, and the wind is blowing. You do not want to catch a chill."

"I don't think we're in any danger of that," Angeline said. "At any rate, a bit of rain won't hurt us."

"Can we come with you?" Bianca asked.

"Absolutely not," Colin said.

"Colin, please," Bianca said.

"The answer is no," Colin said. "You will only be in the way."

"Margaret," the marquess said, "do you know the going price for unmannerly fifteen-year-old girls? We might get a bit of extra coin if we sell the twins to Faraday along with the house. Their value has increased somewhat since they started speaking the King's English instead of twin gibberish. "

"There's the hamper," Margaret said to Angeline. "I hope your journey isn't too soggy."

"We should be off," Colin said. "I don't want to be late."

The marquess lifted his gaze from the newspaper. "I wouldn't be in any rush if I were you. Faraday is liable to keep you waiting for some time."

The carriage had just turned off the drive when the rain started in earnest. Angeline sat beside Colin and looked out the window. "I hope the rain doesn't keep Mr. and Mrs. Faraday away," she said.

"I have high hopes they won't show," Colin said.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Colin. I spoke heedlessly."

Don't feel sorry for me. "He's probably afraid to take her out in the rain."

"Well, it is damp and chilly," Angeline said. "You indicated she is in a delicate condition."

"We shall see what happens." If she balked at the idea of marrying him, he would have no choice but to take drastic measures. He would have to make it seem as if they'd gotten lost in pa.s.sion. G.o.d, he'd never done anything like this in his life. He'd never even contemplated it.

"I was surprised you agreed to meet Faraday," she said. "You have nothing to gain and everything to lose in this sale."

"You think so?" I'm praying Mrs. Faraday hates the house, because the thought of seducing you is killing me.

"What are you planning?" she said. "I can see something is on your mind."

"I was thinking I might point out all the work that must be done for the house to be in a proper state of order."

She stared at him. "You cannot be serious."

He removed his hat and set it beside him. "The thought might have crossed my mind." It is preferable to what I intend for you.

"Faraday has doubts enough that he's returning for the third time," she said. "I think his doubts are in your favor."

"He must be very interested or he would not bother to bring his wife," he said. "Frankly, I'm trying to think of ways to discourage him."

"You know I support your claim to the property, but you should not discourage him," she said.

"Even if it means I lose Sommerall and strangers tramp across my mother's resting place?"

"I understand your feelings," she said, "but you would not feel right about doing it."

You have no idea what I would do to keep Sommerall. "The truth is the house needs work-a great deal of work as you well know."

She set her gloved hand over his. "Colin, you surprise me. Honesty is always the best policy."

He narrowed his eyes. "Are you saying you would never use your wiles to get something you want very badly?"

"Not at someone else's expense."

His blood heated. He'd grown angry with her. She knew he was a rake. Why was she foolish enough to trust him? "Can you imagine using your wiles for someone else? Your sister, perhaps?"

Her face turned red at his words. "How dare you say such a thing? You know how much I worry about my sister."

"So the rules are different for you than for me?"

"Stop the carriage this instant," she said.

"Angeline, I apologize-"

"Stop the carriage. Take me back to Deerfield."

He'd muddled things up now. "Angeline, calm yourself."

"No, I will not. How can you be so cruel?"