She shrugged. “I was told that there was an eligible earl, looking to marry. My father told me, and I jumped at the chance to do it of course. I mean, who wouldn’t? He never said that there was any opposition on your side.”
I waved her over, so she came to the sofa with me. “What did they tell you?”
“The Earl of Arden was looking for a wife. He lived in New York, but he was getting ready to settle down and he was going to be in London. It was mentioned that our families had a special connection… that was the debt I think you mentioned?” she asked.
“Must be.
“Well, then this is embarrassing. I suppose that isn’t true then?”
“It isn’t.”
“Very well,” she said, seeming to deflate slightly. “I overheard you and your father of course but I wanted to hear you say it to me while we were alone. I get the impression that you and your father aren’t on good terms.”
“We’re not and I don’t want you to think this has anything to do with you. You aren’t the problem here by any stretch. My father is completely out of line with his machinations. You seem like a perfectly decent woman.”
“Perfectly decent,” she said, scoffing. “That’s what every woman wants to hear.”
“No, no, I mean no offense,” I said. She was laughing.
“Don’t apologize. I like being perfectly decent,” she said, laughing. She was making fun of me. She wasn’t upset.
“In our limited time together, I have no complaints.”
“Then what is the problem?” she asked.
“You’re nice and I think you’re a fine lady. The issue is that I’m involved with another woman.”
“Ah,” she said, “the Baroness of Belshire?”
?
?How do you know that?” I asked.
“I had a feeling when we met that she was more to you than just a friend. You know, at the party? Anyone with eyes could tell,” she said.
“Lovely,” I said under my breath. Eddy drove me to madness, and it was apparent to anyone who wanted to know. “I’m sorry for that.”
“Don’t be. I suppose there’s trouble in paradise?”
“You wouldn’t know the half of it.”
“What does your father think of her?”
“He doesn’t know about her,” I said.
“Oh,” she said. A moment of silence passed between us. “He must know about her money troubles.”
I sat up. “Her what?”
“Her money troubles?” she repeated. I still didn’t get it. “The Baroness of Belshire is broke.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The Baron died recently, didn’t he? Well, he was a drunk and a gambler. He squandered their entire fortune and left her penniless when he died.”
“That can’t be,” I said out loud to myself. Eddy was broke?
“I thought your father knew and was cautious because he thought she wanted you for your money.”