Page 17 of The Earl’s Inconvenient Nemesis

“As you wish, Miss Fairfax,” he replied with an exaggerated bow and a grin that made his blue eyes sparkle. He was clearly enjoying himself enormously. “Though I thought perhaps you might care to join me for a game of cards instead?”

“I am reading.”

“Just a little game. I shall even let you win my watch…”

Alice set the book aside with a sigh. “I do not want your watch, and I do not gamble, as you well know.”

“You are already taking a rather large gamble,” Anthony pointed out, settling into the chair opposite hers, “trying to secure a husband in a single, partial Season. What if no suitable proposal materialises? Or what if the gentleman who does propose hates cats? Or cannot abide horses? Will you return next year?”

Alice faltered. Of course, she knew there was a possibility that she might end the season without a fiancé - some might say a big possibility judging by her success so far. But all she could do was try her very best to be the type of woman at least one of the young men she met would want to marry. Ideally a young man she liked.

She would dress the right way, wear her hair the right way, and do her level best to steer clear of any conversations involving her day-to-day life at Fairfax Hall and how she spent far more time with the horses than practising her embroidery or piano playing. She would turn herself into the sort of woman a gentleman would want to marry. And hopefully that would be enough. It had to be enough because she had no other plan if she failed.

“I… I don’t know,” she admitted quietly.

Seemingly realising he had upset her, Anthony expression softened. He cleared his throat and said, “I am quite certain you will have men falling over themselves to propose…”

Alice sat up straighter. “Just one will be sufficient,”she replied, with as much confidence as she could muster.

“You know you do not have to do this,” said Anthony, gently.

Alice glanced away from him, stroking Duchess’ fur. “I want to help Henry and this is the only way I can. If I marry well, he will no longer need to support me and it will open up opportunities for my sisters. It is not fair that he takes the burden for all of us.”

“As your older brother and inheritor of your father’s estate, that is his responsibility, and it is one he is more than willing to bear.”

“I know he is. Henry takes his role as big brother and head of the household very seriously and would never want to let us down, but none of us ever anticipated that our family’s finances would be in such a bad state when he inherited them.”

Anthony leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Your family’s finances are strained, it is true… But Henry and I have been working on them and we have a plan in place. Things are improving and will continue to.”

“Forgive me, but your involvement does not exactly fill me with confidence,” Alice said dryly.

“Oh really,” said Anthony, his lip twitching.

“You have not concocted some irresponsible plan to bet my family’s remaining fortune on a horse race, have you?”

“A boxing match, actually. But it is a sure win.”

The look of horror on Alice’s face made him burst into laughter - a warm, rich sound that filled the drawing room and did strange things to her pulse.

“You are aware that I have been running my own family’s estate for three years now?” he asked once recovered. “That I was brought up learning how to do so by my father before he passed away? And my estate happens to be thriving.”

Alice considered this. She had never truly contemplated the idea of Anthony running a large estate. Her first thought was that it was a ludicrous idea, but, actually, having experienced a little of him in London society, she saw how he could lead and be quite… masterful, in the right situation. She supposed she had always assumed he had an estate manager who organised everything for him. Maybe he did and he was just trying to convince her that he was not going to be a terrible influence on her brother as he wrestled the family finances back into some sort of order.

Anthony’s face turned serious. “I hope you know how much your family means to me,” he said, carefully. “I would never do anything to jeopardise your future.”

Alice was taken aback by his tone, she could not recall Anthony ever being this earnest before and was unsure quite how to react. Her first assumption was that he was teasing her as usual, yet he sounded like he was being completely genuine.

“You and Henry have been friends for a long time…” she said.

“I am not referring just to my friendship with Henry. Your whole family has done a lot for me over the years. I have so many happy memories of being with you all at Fairfax Hall, especially as an only child myself. I am glad to be able to help in any way I can. That is why I offered to be here when Henry was not able to be.”

“I thought that was just to torment me,” Alice said, a reluctant smile tugging at her lips.

“That is merely an additional benefit,” he replied with a wink.

She shook her head, amused despite herself. “I knew it.”

Anthony shrugged, though his eyes lingered on her a moment longer than necessary. “I am here to help, Alice. In any way you will allow.”