They sat in silence, the weight of their futures hanging in the air.
“Have you told Rose we’re working together?” Alex asked, not meeting her eyes.
Fern shifted on her feet. “I haven’t.”
“Are you at all bothered by keeping…this,“ he said, gesturing vaguely at the space between them, “away from your sister? Don’t you tell her everything?”
Fern’s jaw set as she blinked hard. “No, it doesn’t affect her. We are merely helping each other, after all. I will present my work to Sylvester, and you will win Rose. We both get what we want, and she will be none the wiser. As long as we do our work and keep this to ourselves, nothing could possibly go wrong.”
Chapter 15
Howcananyonedrinkthis swill? Fern touched the delicate edge of her teacup to her lip, allowing the slightest amount of tea to reach her mouth before setting it down again. Her mother had decided it was too childish for Fern to drink chocolate and warm milk at tea time, but Fern dumped spoonfuls of sugar into her cup until it reached syrup-like proportions and became palatable. Fern gave the sugar bowl, placed slightly beyond her mother’s elbow, a longing look before taking another biscuit from the tray.
“Mr. Pendleton called today,” Lady Redborne informed her husband. The viscount enjoyed taking afternoon tea with his family, an anomaly among his peers but a habit the girls appreciated. “And Lord Flannery.”
He raised his bushy eyebrows in appreciation. “Pendleton is the son of a marquess,” he noted.
“A second son,” his wife said with disdain. “But Flannery has been quite successful in the markets lately.”
“But his teeth…” Her father winced.
“Rose always did like horses,” Fern muttered.
“Fern!” Violet hissed, trying unsuccessfully to smother her giggle.
Lady Redborne heaved a sigh. “Only a half-dozen gentlemen have shown an interest, and I’m growing concerned. Rose, did anything unusual happen at the ball?”
Fern’s sister stiffened and shot her gaze toward her twin. “Mama,” Fern said, “I don’t think Rose really liked any of those men.”
Rose nodded gratefully. It wasn’t unusual for the sisters to speak for each other, although typically it was Fern who remained mute. “She’s right, Mama.” She took a deep, steadying breath. “What about Mr. Carroway?”
Fern’s stomach dropped.This is what I wanted, this means my plan is working.
Lady Redborne’s nose twitched. “Which one is he again? The nervous one?”
“He’s not nervous, simply shy,” Rose replied. “He’s the one studying maths. He’s going to be a doctor soon, you know.”
Lord Redborne sat back in his chair. “He must be one of Whitehurst’s students. I haven’t spoken to him in ages.” He chuckled. “Remember when we got those cows over Magdalen Bridge, and—”
“Now is not the time, Benedict,” Lady Redborne interrupted. Her daughters secretly delighted in hearing tales of their father’s collegiate exploits, and while his wife always appeared embarrassed by them, they suspected she enjoyed them as well.
Rose redirected her appeals. “Mr. Carroway is brilliant and extremely mannerly towards me.”
“Is he of the Sussex Carroways?” Lady Redborne asked.
“No, they only have girls,” Violet interjected.
“He’s from Birmingham,” Rose said firmly. The table went silent as her mother cast her father a concerned look. “He is not from a family of means, but he works hard.” She shot her father with a determined look. “Isn’t that what you want for me? A man who will work hard and appreciate me?”
Lord Redborne shifted. “But would he be able to provide for you?”
Fern felt a strange flash of hope. No, Alex was unlikely to provide the lifestyle to which Rose was accustomed. Perhaps the courtship would end there, perhaps…
Perhaps there would be room in Alex’s life forher.
Violet spoke up. “Rose should be able to marry someone who will make her happy, right, Papa?”
Lady Redborne sipped her tea and sniffed audibly. Her husband took her hand and squeezed it in reassurance. “I’ll reach out to Whitehurst,” he said, “learn more about this Carroway fellow.” He gave Rose a kind smile. “I need to know if he’s worthy of you before I let him pursue you.”
