He was as fair as Rook and Aiden were dark. Taking her gloved hand, he pressed a light kiss to her fingers. “I do hope you’ll honor me with a dance.”
“Of course.” She offered him the card that she’d yet to secure to her wrist. After he’d signed his name, he handed it back to her.
“I look forward to our waltz.” Appearing slightly uncomfortable, he nodded at Aiden. “I’ll speak with you later.”
After he walked off, Mama pinched her arm. “You could have been a bit more enthusiastic. He’s in want of a wife.”
“But I’m not in want of a husband.” She turned to Aiden. “Do forgive our petty squabble held in front of you. It’s so very unbecoming.”
“I suspect, Miss Garrison, that any gentleman would forgive anything of you. If you ladies will excuse me, I’ve been too long gone from my wife.” With a dip of his head, he also departed, leaving her within easy reach of another pinch, which came quickly and with a bit more force.
“That man is going to let Camberley know that you don’t want marriage, undoing all of my hard work.”
Which, no doubt, had simply involved talking with a gentleman and leading him like a horse to water, only in this instance the water didn’t wish to be drunk. “Mama, perhaps you could be a bit more subtle with your goals.”
“That won’t work when you’re not doing anything to help me reach them. Besides, Sam has been open about why he is here, what he wants to accomplish, and tonight we are guests of honor. We could have men lining up to ask for your hand.”
“Once we get investors, I’ll return to New York to assist Sam with all the changes required at the factory and the challenges that will arise. What husband—especially one from the nobility who has to remain here because he sits in the House of Lords—is going to be happy about that?”
Mama rolled her eyes. “It would be more helpful for you to assist Sam by marrying so funding for the continuation of the factory will be a foregone conclusion. Sam’s business will flourish, and he’ll achieve success.”
Sam’s business.Because in his will, their father had left it to his son. It wasn’t fair when Leonora had worked beside her father for so many years, when she knew the ins and outs of the business, when she found satisfaction in ensuring all ran smoothly.
“Why can’t Sam marry? A woman comes with a dowry.”
“Because no matter whom Sam marries, unless it’s one of Queen Victoria’s daughters, who could see that her mother bestowed upon him at least a knighthood, she isn’t going to get me into the Astor ballroom. It has to be you. I’m depending upon you to elevate my standing.”
With as little effort as possible. “But at what cost, Mama?”
“At a cost you should be willing to pay.”
“Shouldn’t we marry for love?”
“We marry for survival. In a good marriage you depend upon each other for that very survival.”
They weren’t talking about her survival, however. They were discussing the survival of a company. She would find a way to make that happen without getting married.
Rook had considered not attending the Rosemont ball, but then word had filtered through his club that the Garrisons would be in attendance, and those who had yet to make their acquaintance were hoping to. Although some were skeptical but taking an interest in learning more about what was being offered. After all, if the Chessmen hadn’t already jumped on it, then a bit of caution was no doubt warranted.
It was well-known that the Chessmen seldom invested in an enterprise that didn’t pay off. While they never outright stated with whom they were investing, male gossips being what they were—decidedly worse than women—often someone in need of additional financial backing might let it be known they had the Chessmen’s support.
He hadn’t arrived early, but it appeared most had, no doubt hoping something new or exciting about the investment opportunity might be revealed before too many were about to hear. Yet, in spite of the crowd, still he spotted her, waltzing with the Earl of Camberley of all people. He was surprised by the jolt of seething temper that rushed through him with the power of a lightning bolt. He wondered how Aiden might take it if Rook murdered his wife’s brother. Then he wondered how Miss Garrison would react because she certainlyhadn’t come here expecting to sit in the corner like a wallflower. In spite of what she’d revealed about the gents she’d encountered in New York, he couldn’t imagine her experiencing the same here, of being ignored or a fellow walking by her without extending his hand in invitation to dance or take a turn about the garden.
“I was beginning to think you weren’t coming.”
At the familiar voice, he curled up a corner of his mouth, turned, and faced his brother. “I didn’t want to appear overly eager to hear what Sam Garrison might have to say this evening. Best not to show too much interest until you’ve gained the upper hand in negotiations.”
“Maybe I should have you give Camberley lessons in investing. I’m striving to help him get his estate in order and profitable again, but it’s slow going. An infusion of capital would be nice, and your expertise appreciated. Although based on the hard set of your features only a few minutes ago, I suspect you’d rather murder him than help. He’s dancing with your woman.”
Rook was aware of a muscle in his jaw ticking. “Have I ever mentioned how damned irritating you are?”
Aiden had the audacity to laugh. “On many an occasion, but then all my brothers do.”
“How many do you know?”
His broad smile diminished. “I was referring to my Trewlove brothers, not the ones our father sired.”
Rook nodded. While he certainly didn’t wish to carry the burden of being born out of wedlock, he did envy Aiden the close bond he had with the siblings of his heart, even if they weren’t all of his blood. In his youth, Rook had often wished for someone with whom to share his troubles. Still, better late than never. “And she’s not my woman.”
