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“I am in deep, deep trouble,” Lavinia repeated quietly as she walked into the parlor room and plopped onto a settee.
“Oh, if that’s the case, then we shall need some tea. And perhaps brioches? They always put a smile on your face, and it seems like your day could use a bit of brightening,” Annalise said with a smile in her voice.
Lavinia covered her eyes with her palms. “I can’t think about brioches or tea or any other pastry. I can’t think about anything!”
“No pastries? The matter does sound dire.”
Annalise tried to lighten the mood. Lavinia understood that, but she didn’t have an ounce of humor left in her at that moment.
As soon as Annalise ordered the servants to bring them some tea, she sat across from Lavinia, and prompted gently, “Tell me.”
Lavinia lowered her hands to her lap and directed a pleading gaze toward Annalise. “I met my new guardian.”
“Oh.” Annalise grimaced. “Blake told me he’d heard rumors that he arrived. And by the look on your face, I can deduce that he is not a pleasant fellow?”
“No!” Lavinia stood and started pacing. “He is even a bigger monster than my father ever was. He pretends to be nice and caring, but he told Matilda that if Father doesn’t awaken, she should clear out her room and leave.”
“He said that?”
Lavinia paused and looked out the window, her gaze unfocused. “Not in so many words, but his implications were clear. And he dressed it up as though he had so much concern for her, as though he was being benevolent. He implied that my father was the monster for not leaving her a widow’s stipend—which is true, he is a monster—and that he was saying this only to give her time to collect her belongings. Because once my father passes, she will not have a home anymore.”
“Oh, no! Well, tell your stepmother—actually, I shall just tell her myself, so she’ll know she is not imposing—but she always has a home with us. Here.”
“Thank you, my dear friend. But it seems like she is not the only one who would have to impose upon your hospitality.”
“What are you talking about?”
Lavinia raised her eyes to her friend. “My guardian… He said that my father owes quite a lot of debt… And upon inheriting the title, Mr. Atwood would be taking on that debt, which could potentially land him in debtor’s prison. And that the only way to avoid that would be for me to marry the man my father owes the most!”
Annalise’s face whitened, and she seemed as if she was about to swoon. Lavinia hurried toward her friend and sat next to her. “Oh, please, Annalise. Do not swoon. I shall not let him send me off to an old, lecherous, and greedy man.”
Annalise placed her hands on her stomach and swallowed. “Of course not. We shall not allow that. And Blake will threaten your guardian if need be—”
Lavinia smiled and placed a hand over Annalise’s. “Let’s not make hasty decisions, shall we? I”—she grimaced—“I actually made enough mayhem on my own.”
Annalise blinked up at her. “How?”
“Well…” Lavinia inhaled a deep breath. “When Mr. Atwood told me about this… um… prospect. I… uh… Well, I told him that I was already betrothed.”
Annalise opened her mouth to say something, then shut it and smiled. “Quick thinking.”
Lavinia threw up her hands. “Too quick! My brain didn’t even process the thought before it was on my lips. What have I done?”
The maid entered at the moment with a tray of tea, sweetmeats, and pastries. She settled them on a small table, and Lavinia took this time to compose herself and sit across from Annalise. At the sight of brioches, her heart soared. She’d refused them a moment ago, but now that they were in front of her, her mouth watered.
The Birch house was always lacking pastries, because of her father’s frugality when it came to his daughter. That’s why Annalise made sure to supply Lavinia with treats every time she came to her house.
“And what did your guardian say to your statement?” Annalise asked as she poured them each a cup of tea.
Lavinia took a pastry in her hands and fiddled with it before putting it down on her plate. “He asked me who I am betrothed to, and I… Well, I panicked, and I told him the first name that came to my mind.” She bit her lip and grimaced.
Annalise leaned forward. “Whose name did you say? Don’t tell me you said Dane! Because bigamy is still a crime in England.”
“Of course, you’re right.” Lavinia folded her hands on her lap and looked down, unable to meet her friend’s gaze. “You are correct. Dane’s was the first name that came to my mind, but I resisted. I told him the second name that came to me…”
“Well?”
Lavinia licked her lips. “I said I am betrothed to Lord Roth.”
