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Tension crackled in the air as Mirabelle rose from her seat. “Miss Wentworth, this is my brother, Lord Smith.”
“Pleasure,” Rush said through barely moving lips as his gaze swept down Miss Wentworth.
“And you,” she whispered as a flush crept into her cheeks.
Mirabelle looked between the two of them, her own brows arching. “Miss Wentworth, you must tell me more.”
But the other woman gave her head a stiff shake. “You’re too kind. I can’t…” and then her gaze slid back to Rush.
The sound of footfalls echoing on the stairs alerted Mirabelle that Emily and Ace had arrived. Soon, Rush left with Ace, and Emily swept Miss Wentworth away, but Mirabelle had the feeling that something significant had just occurred.
She cocked her head as she tried to decide what that had been and how to proceed.
But she forgot her musings as the door opened once again, Ken striding into the foyer.
She jumped up from her seat, rushing to greet him as he opened his arms to her. “My love.” She stepped into his embrace as he pulled her close, brushing a kiss along her forehead. “I’ve obtained a special license,” he murmured close to her ear.
“What?” she gasped, holding on to his broad shoulders. “Really?”
“We’ll be married in just a few days and then we’ll leave for the country. We’ll be safer there.”
“Will Ace and Emily go with us?”
Ken grimaced. “I’ll have to speak with Ace. I’m not certain.”
She waved her hand. It didn’t matter. She was going to marry Ken. They would be together forever…
EPILOGUE
Two days later…
Mirabelle stoodin her corset and petticoats, hardly able to contain herself. Today she would marry Ken.
Anna sat at the end of her bed while Emily sat at the small desk in the corner. They’d been helping Mirabelle get ready for the garden ceremony when a letter from Miss Wentworth had arrived…
“Oh dear,” Emily said, her hand fluttering up to her chest.
“What does it say?” Anna asked, her gaze meeting Mirabelle’s. Mirabelle had told her sister all about Emily’s friend and the circumstances Miss Wentworth had found herself in.
Emily’s hand pressed to her lips as she read. When she looked up, her eyes were filled with concern. “Abby is in trouble.”
“Trouble how?” Mirabelle asked, moving closer to Emily.
“Her guardian is already insisting that Abby marry him.” Emily rose, her hand pressing to her stomach. “But I’m not sure what to do. We’re all leaving this afternoon.”
Mirabelle shook her head. It was true. While Ace and Emily, Ken, Anna, and herself were leaving the city as soon as the wedding was over, her brothers would still be here. “Anna,” she said, straightening her shoulders, “fetch Rush while I finish dressing. I need to speak to him.”
Anna’s gaze widened as she slid from the high bed and crossed the room to the door. Mirabelle’s maid had only just finished the row of tiny pearl buttons at the back for her pink silk frock when Rush entered the room. “What’s wrong?” he rumbled out, filling the doorway with his large frame.
“I need a favor,” she said, turning toward her brother.
He gave her a quick, sweeping gaze. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you,” she said, then looked at Emily, who left the note on the table and rose to leave the room, nodding to Rush as she left.
Mirabelle picked up the note and handed it to Rush.
He scanned the contents, grimacing as his gaze flicked up to his sister’s. “What does this have to do with me?”
