An Inadvisable Wager (The Curse of the Weatherby Ball Book 2) by Eliza Lloyd (the best novels to read txt) 📕

thieved your way into Carlow’s life. Your position is secure. I have nothing and nowhere to go.”

“You are always welcome at Grandy and Gigi’s. You know that.”

“Will I be when I am twenty-five? Or when I am thirty-five? Or when they are gone?”

“Perhaps you should look at the ministry, as Gigi suggested last year.”

“The ministry? Me? If there is anything Lady Fortenay taught me, it is that I shouldn’t take on the mantel of suffering for any cause.”

Nora tried to muffle her laugh. “Carlow will help.”

“Well, there is one thing he has to do and that is return Henbury Hall to me. I need to be the earl of something.”

“He has already said he would return it to me. We don’t need to muddy the waters with additional demands.”

“But I have to.”

“Have to? I’m sure that will persuade Carlow to action.”

“The Duke of Exeter approached me yesterday morning. He said there was no reason for me to be at Reading. That Cecily was acting without the family’s approval or direction in maintaining a correspondence with me. Good Lord, it was only for four weeks.”

“Exeter was there?”

“Well, yes. Lady Russell is Exeter’s daughter. Why wouldn’t he be there for such a grand country party?”

“And he made a point to speak with you? And no others?” There was every reason to be suspicious and even more reason to be cautious.

“The others are men of substance. Properties, wealth, titles that go back to William the Conqueror.”

“No title goes back that far.”

“Allow me some dramatic license. Or is that only for the women in our family?”

“It isn’t dramatic license when it happens to be true.”

“Well, thank you for reminding me of Lady Fortenay’s history lessons that do me no good now.”

“What are we talking about?”

Timothy started pacing the same track she had. “Exeter said something else. Something that upset me more than the family’s rejection of me.”

“What?”

“He said that it was too bad Carlow was selling such a derelict property as Henbury Hall. And that if I could persuade Lord Carlow, Exeter would be interested in buying, with a handsome stipend to me to make my own way in life.”

“He spoke to you about Henbury?”

“In some detail.” Timothy laughed lightly. “Can you imagine? I have no claim—no real claim—yet he thought I could do something.”

“Did you tell him Henbury isn’t for sale? That is our property, and it is part of my agreement with Carlow. He wouldn’t sell it having made…having made a promise to me.” She jumped to her feet.

“Where are you going?” Timothy asked.

“Why, I’m going to demand Carlow tell us the truth, that’s where I’m going!”

“He’ll make some excuse. It is what such men do.”

“I have the right to know if he lied to me.”

“Would you be surprised if he had? Your marriage is built on lies.”

“How dare you? Carlow knew exactly what he was getting when we stood before Reverend Wright.”

“If he is so true, why hasn’t he taken you to Henbury Hall yet? Is he trying to keep you away for some reason?”

“Why are you being so difficult? I know you are frustrated, but the plan is going as well as it possibly could, given the circumstances. You will have Henbury someday soon.” Nora’s stomach flopped uncomfortably. Every day she placed more and more trust in Carlow. She could not bear a betrayal now.

“He is going to sell it. Doesn’t that cause some doubt about Carlow’s trustworthiness and his intentions?”

“Of all the characters in this play, I trust Carlow the most. He has done nothing to make me doubt him,” she said. If she recounted all the kind and generous things he had done, she could squash the nagging worry that something was bound to go wrong.

“There was a time when you trusted me. Now that you are married, you’ve forgotten that it was the two of us against the world. This was our plan to get Papa’s properties back. You are letting me go it alone and I have no means,” Timothy said.

“That’s not true.”

“Then I want to ask Carlow what his real intentions are. He hasn’t taken you there. Will he take me, if I ask?” Timothy demanded.

“Listen well, brother. Exeter has his own motivation for causing trouble for the Blasingtons. And Carlow has not lied to me that I know of. I know who I trust. I think. We have more to discuss.”

“No, we don’t. I should have known you wouldn’t see the truth.”

“You are relying on Exeter’s word, a man you barely know, over the word of my husband.”

“A man you barely know.”

“I know things about Exeter that you don’t. Trust me when I tell you, he is the one who has ill intentions toward our family.”

“Of course, blame someone else besides your precious Carlow.”

“Enough! Now sit. You have had your say about Carlow. You will listen to me about what I know of Exeter and why we must have care.”

Timothy shoved his hands in his pockets and sprawled against the yellow sofa, in a state of agitation. Nora began the story as she knew it, revealing the secrets and common knowledge, that put together, painted Exeter in a very bad light.

“Fine. Exeter is dishonorable man. That has nothing to do with Cecily.”

“But everything to do with our past. Cecily may be a lovely young woman, but we can’t trust the—”

“Fine! Just ask Carlow! See if he tells you the truth.”

“I will when the time is right. Will you stay for dinner?” she asked, in an attempt to calm him.

“Where else do I have to be?” His shoulders dropped. “What am I going to do, Nora?”

“Enjoy some of Carlow’s food, for starters. And then see which person at the table squirms first. Andover