Page 26 of The Icy Duke Claims a Bride

“It can wait, Edwin,” Lady Georgina insisted sweetly. “It doesn’t need to be discussed today, surely. You can see how tiredCatherine is, and it’s not so very urgent. I won’t have things ruined by importunity.”

“I’d like to get things sorted,” Edwin maintained, “since I’m here. I will need to make a deposit to enroll Andrew at the prep school, and it would be imprudent to do so without consulting Hugh.”

His wife threw up her hands in the air, her expression now cross for the first time.

At that moment, the maid returned with another tea tray, put it down on the table, and then hurriedly left.

“That sounds like something we can sort out quickly,” Hugh agreed, sitting down and picking up his teacup. “What do you need from me?”

“Nothing, Hugh. Edwin is just being overcautious,” Lady Georgina said, casting an irritated glance at her husband.

“I am a younger son, Georgina. I do not have the stability of a great estate behind me. My income is dependent on my business, and my business is subject to the usual economic vagaries. If we are to send Andrew to St. Leonard’s prep school and then to Eton and Oxford, I must ask Hugh to stand as guarantor in case my business should ever fail.”

“Your business won’t fail, Edwin. It never has once since you met me, has it?” Lady Georgina pointed out. “Your investments are always sound, and those who cross you are very unlucky men.”

“My dear, it’s true that you and your advice have brought me great luck, and I’ve enjoyed great success since we married. However, I am a pragmatic man, and when Jonathan was alive, he always told me that he would see to it that my children’s schooling would be taken care of.”

“I would obviously honor my father’s promise,” Hugh cut in. “In fact, I would be happy to pay the fees. Just ask the school to send me the bill. That way, there will never be any cause for either of you to worry about Andrew’s education.”

“That is too much,” Edwin said. “A simple guarantee would suffice. That was what your father and I agreed on.”

“It is too much,” Lady Georgina agreed through gritted teeth, seeming extremely irritated that her husband had induced Hugh to make such a generous offer.

“Not at all.” Hugh waved his hand dismissively. “Until I have a son of my own, Edwin and Andrew are heirs to this estate. I insist on paying the school fees from Redbridge’s income.”

That silenced them both.

“Very well,” Edwin relented. “But let us revisit this arrangement when your first son is born. I do not wish us to take advantage of your generosity.”

Now, Lady Georgina had had enough. “Indeed, Edwin,” she said sharply, standing up and putting on her gloves. “You are too generous, Hugh, but we thank you, and now we must take our leave.”

Hugh nodded politely.

Catherine guessed that Andrew’s school fees were merely a pittance compared to the income the estate generates. Hugh would notice and care as little about the payment as he did about her lack of dowry.

Lady Georgina seemed to propel Edwin from his chair with a glance, and in a matter of minutes, their coach was rolling down the drive.

“Do you intend to tell me what that was all that about?” Hugh asked Catherine as they stood by the library window and watched the departing coach.

“I think your aunt was embarrassed by your uncle asking for your help with the school fees. She would have preferred that they personally covered the costs, regardless of future risks. I can see both sides of that argument, really, but I imagine they will have cross words on their way home.”

“I meant your antics with the glass,” Hugh said, raising an eyebrow.

Something clicked in Catherine’s head, and she knew where she had smelled that strong bitter scent before.

“I couldn’t let anyone drink that drink,” she told him, her voice sounding far more calm than she felt.

“Why not?” he queried, his eyebrow rising even higher above his black silk mask.

“It was poisoned…”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

“Poisoned?!” Hugh repeated incredulously, both of his dark eyebrows now approaching his hairline.

“Unless you add a strong almond oil to your drink, yes, I believe so. Didn’t you smell anything wrong?”

“I don’t even like almonds,” Hugh stated, nonplussed. “Why would I add almond oil?”

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