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“Stick?”
“Manage until the wedding.”
“Oh.” Marjorie nodded. “Of course it is. But I’m sure you understand about family matters. You have to help out when asked.”
“Even when you’re treated like servants yourself?”
Marjorie blinked.
“What makes you think we’re being treated like we’re household staff? That’s a bit presumptuous, don’t you think?”
“I’ve heard stories about the current Viscount Dunley and what he wants from you with regards to a certain debt left by your husband.” Galliston moved to sit on the window seat. “Something about it’s not his debt, so not his business?”
Marjorie felt her face getting warm. He knew about that. She tried not to shuffle from foot to foot.
“I was hoping we could keep that quiet and that our financial situation would not be made public.”
“Lady Dunley, Society finds out anything they want. Don’t you read the scandal sheets?”
“I tend to keep away from them. I don’t want to see who else has made a mistake, no matter how innocent.”
Marjorie hadn’t liked them when they first came out when she was starting her first Season. They just made her even more nervous, and she had been a very awkward child. Knowing that people were watching her closely was bad enough, but she didn’t want to open up the scandal sheets and see that she had made it there for all the wrong reasons. It was no wonder people were nervous when going out.
“Well, while your financial status isn’t in those, you can be sure that people know about it.” Galliston arched an eyebrow. “I can’t be sure, but I have a feeling that your cousin is the source of the rumours.”
“What?” Marjorie stared. “Did you just say that Lady Blythcourt spoke about it?”
“I believe so. If she didn’t do it, friends of the current viscount and his wife would be saying something.”
Marjorie could very well believe that Lavinia had said something. The woman liked to be at the centre of attention, and she would make sure everyone was aware she was taking her poor cousins under her wing. Anything to make people talk about how charitable she was.
But Marjorie didn’t think her cousin would do it to make herself and Isabel look worse off than they actually were.
She was beginning to regret letting Lavinia help them out. Then again, Lavinia would have started complaining, and then everyone would know that she had ungrateful relations. They had been stuck either way.
“And …” Marjorie gulped. “What do you think? You don’t care that you’re marrying someone who’s carrying a lot of debt?”
“Did I say I was breaking the engagement off? I want to marry Isabel, and I’m more than willing to help out with your debts.” Galliston smiled. “I’m not a complete cad, Lady Dunley. Nor am I that shallow.”
Marjorie wasn’t sure about that, but it was hard to concentrate when he smiled like that. It seemed to reach his eyes, and they warmed. Especially when he looked at her.
Why are you thinking like that? He’s your future son-in-law, not a potential suitor. Don’t look at him as if you’re preparing to court him.
If I had someone like him come along and offer me something, I would be on my knees thanking God for my good fortune.
“Anyway, is Isabel around?” Galliston asked. “I wanted to see her and be sure that she’s still certain about our engagement. Even with a note, you have to wonder, and I didn’t come all the way to Devon not to see her.”
“Oh, of course.” Marjorie regained her composure. He was here for her daughter. She needed to remember that. “One of the footmen has gone to fetch her. She’s probably got her nose in a book.”
“Isabel likes to read?”
“Of course she does. I thought she told you.”
Galliston frowned.
“I’ve never heard her express a desire in books. She says she reads, but she never elaborated.”
Majorie could understand that. The last time Isabel had done that, she had spoken about the book for two hours. And her companion had been very, very bored. They had learned the hard way to be careful about what she said when it came to her passions.
