Page 46 of A Wicked Business

“Well?” she asked him.

“I’ll arrange the common licence first thing in the morning, but how do I silence the vicar? I can promise him a new roof or the like, but I don’t want to offend the fellow,” Felix said, frowning.

“Take your mother,” Ashburton said, smiling. “I know for a fact the vicar admires her and I very much doubt Lord Keston has ingratiated himself to the man. If she can get him onside, you’ll need no bribe to convince him.”

“Well, you are certainly full of good advice today,” Felix said with a laugh. “That likely would work, except it means I must confess all to Mama.”

Belinda considered his rueful expression. “You don’t wish to?” she asked, feeling another stab of uncertainty.

Felix took her hand and shook his head. “It’s not that, it’s just that she’ll get herself all excited. I promise you she’ll have planned out the wedding before she’s even met you. Especially when she discovers you’ve bought that blasted print shop and are responsible for His Grace and Disfavour. She thinks it’s marvellous.”

“She might not think it marvellous when she discovers her potential daughter-in-law published it. Likely she’ll disapprove,” Belinda said in despair, wondering just how his father would take the news. It was hardly a secret that Gabriel Knight despised the Earl of Keston as much as the earl reciprocated.

“Wait,” Ashburton said, gazing at them. “You published that?”

Belinda returned a sheepish smile. “Perhaps you’ve had a lucky escape, Ashburton. I’m afraid your parents will certainly think so, Felix… and wish you to escape too.”

“Nonsense.” Felix shook his head.

“I don’t think it nonsensical!”

Her new fiancé only shrugged. “Well, then perhaps it’s time we found out and faced the truth.”

Belinda swallowed anxiously, feeling suddenly unsuitable when she had always been the catch of the season.

“When?” she asked, a knot forming in her belly and making her wish she’d kept her mouth shut.

“Well, there’s no time like the present.”