“Except Squire Nevins,” Susan murmured, flipping through the pages.
Elizabeth swallowed down a little dash of bile. The thought of Squire Nevins touching her, kissing her…it made her skin turn to ice. But if he was the only way she could save her family…
She squeezed her eyes shut. There had to be something in that book that would teach her how to find a husband. Anything!
“This is really quite interesting,” Susan said, plopping down on the carpet next to Elizabeth. “Listen to this: ‘Edict Number One—’”
“Edict?” Elizabeth echoed. “There are edicts?”
“Apparently so. I say, this business of catching a husband is more complicated than I’d thought.”
“Just tell me what the edict is.”
Susan blinked and looked back down. “‘Be unique. But not too unique.’”
“What the devil does that mean?” Elizabeth exploded. “If that isn’t the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. I’m putting that book back tomorrow. Who is this Mrs. Seeton, anyway? Not a marchioness, so I don’t see why I should listen—”
“No, no,” Susan said, waving her arm at her sister without looking at her. “That’s just the title of the edict. She goes on to explain.”
“I’m not certain I want to hear this,” Elizabeth grumbled.
“It’s actually quite interesting.”
“Give me that.” Elizabeth snatched the book back from her sister and read silently:
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT YOU BE A WOMAN WHO IS WHOLLY UNIQUE. THE MAGIC THAT IS YOU MUST ENTRANCE YOUR LORD UNTIL HE CANNOT SEE THE ROOM BEYOND YOUR FACE.
Elizabeth snorted. “‘The magic that is you’? ‘See the room beyond your face’? Where did this woman learn how to write? A perfumery?”
“I think the bit about the room and your face is rather romantic,” Susan said with a shrug.
Elizabeth ignored her. “Where is the bit about not being too unique? Ah, here it is.”
YOU MUST STRIVE TO CONTAIN YOUR UNIQUENESS SO THAT ONLY HE MAY SEE IT. YOU MUST PROVE TO HIM THAT YOU WILL BE AN ASSET AS HIS WIFE. NO LORD OF THE REALM WISHES TO BE SHACKLED TO EMBARRASSMENT AND SCANDAL.
“Did you get to the part about the shackles yet?” Susan asked.
Elizabeth ignored her and kept on reading.
IN OTHER WORDS, YOU MUST STAND OUT IN A CROWD, BUT ONLY IN HIS CROWD. FOR HE IS THE ONLY ONE WHO MATTERS.
Elizabeth looked up. “There is a problem here.”
“There is?”
“Yes.” She tapped her finger against her forehead, as was her habit whenever she was thinking hard on a subject. “All of this presupposes that I have set my sights on a single male.”
Susan’s eyes bugged out. “You certainly cannot set your sights on a married man!”
“I meant one particular man,” Elizabeth retorted, swatting her sister on the shoulder.
“
I see. Well, Mrs. Seeton does have a point. You cannot marry two.”
Elizabeth pulled a face. “Of course not. But I should think I must indicate my interest in more than one if I am to secure a proposal. Didn’t Mother always say we must not place all of our eggs in one basket?”
“Hmmm,” Susan mused, “you have a point. I shall research the matter this evening.”