For in her experience with the ladies she’d met in the ton over the years, most of them were frustrated beyond measure at the limited roles they’d been given.
Most of them didn’t aspire to speak about lace or bonnets or the weather. But they weren’t allowed to speak about anything else. Or pursue anything but the running of their households and the raising of their children.
They were reduced to speaking absolute drivel as they were forced to pursue husbands.
“You truly are going to put Catharine on the market,” she whispered, her heart pounding.
“Tomorrow,” he replied easily. “The Season has begun. We shall launch her with great aplomb. She’ll be far more triumphant than you, my darling. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was married within a week. And your wedding shall of course bolster our reputation. The Duke of Chase is a very influential fellow.”
“He is a rake, Papa!”
“His reputation might be a bit bizarre,” he allowed. “But his father was an incredibly powerful man. He is also an incredibly powerful man. And so your son will be an incredibly powerful man. What more could a woman want?”
What more could a woman want, indeed.
Except perhaps to murder all men of the ton. Of course, such a thing was a thing of fantasy. She’d have to think of something else to solve this mess.
“Now, my dear, I find arranging your future has proved exhausting.” He leveled her with an unyielding stare. “I’ve allowed you to prevaricate far too long, digging about in the dirt. I criticize myself, of course. It is not your fault. It is mine. I should have guided you better. You will honor my bet. You’ll marry Chase. And if he won’t have you because you show yourself unwilling, Craven doesn’t have such scruples. Now, good night.”
With that, he left her gaping in the hallway.
Ferber, too, was gaping, she realized.
They gaped together.
Damn and blast!What an awful situation. She and the butler both seemed absolutely astonished.
“Ferber,” she said, “can you call me a carriage?”
He blinked. “I really shouldn’t, my lady.”
“I think we are beyond shouldn’ts, don’t you, Ferber?”
He nodded slowly. “My lady, I really shouldn’t say anything…”
“As I said.” She sighed. “We’re beyond shouldn’ts, Ferber. So go ahead and speak your mind.”
He swung his gaze to where her father had vanished upstairs then back to her. “I can’t believe that his lordship has done such a thing. And that Duke of Chase, he… Well, what a powerful man he is. I think you should go to him at once, My lady. I think that you should ask him for help.”
She blew out a harsh breath and folded her arms beneath her breasts. “What sort of help will I get except a reaffirmation that I am to marry him?”
Ferber’s hands twisted together. “But at least you could marry him and not be put into the position of having to marry some”—Ferber swallowed—“sot. Your father seems most determined.”
She nodded, letting the truth of those words take root. “Very good advice, Ferber, as always. I must rely upon you in this. After all, you know a great deal about these people. Far more than most.”
Ferber gave a modest nod. “And the truth is, my lady, that the Duke of Chase, while a rake, does have a rather good reputation among servants. He’s never treated anyone ill as far as we know. But that Lord Craven…” Ferber flinched. “Well, he’s gotten at least three serving wenches with child, if you must know. And he doesn’t always pay everyone on time. That news has gotten around a bit. So, if I were you, my lady, I’d make a very careful choice.”
“Thank you, Ferber,” she said, resignation taking hold. “I will.”
What a terrible coil all of this was.
A thought struck her then, which chilled her straight to the bone.
What if her father made an awful choice for her sister? Catharine was such an intelligent young lady. The idea that her sister would be foisted away on some fool of a man to be guided? It was not to be borne.
Both of them could guide themselves quite well, thank you very much.
They did not need the machinations of some man who held authority because of what was between their legs.
Except…they did.
Neither of them had a penny without their father, at least not until they’d reached their majority. They could do virtually nothing without the support of a man.
She let out a curse.
Chase had told her to come and find him if she needed help. It was galling to realize that she did. She needed his help very much.
At least, until she could sort this entire thing out, as any lady of capability could.