Page 12 of Bookshop Cinderella

The implication that he would even think about cheating only served to heighten Max’s determination to prove Freddie wrong about the girl. “You have my word not to stack the deck in my own favor,” he said dryly. “But if this wager is to proceed, I must insist upon certain conditions.”

Freddie laughed. “Lobbying for a bigger prize, eh?”

“Sod the money,” Max said. “One hundred pounds, or two, or five, it makes no difference to me.”

“Then what are these conditions you speak of?”

“As I said, the girl’s unknown. Even the most beautiful woman in the world couldn’t fill her dance card for an entire ball if no one knows who she is.”

“Fair enough,” Freddie replied and considered a moment. “Your cousin Delia knows everyone. In the fortnight leading up to the ball, have her take the girl to a few parties and introduce her about.”

He considered the sort of men suitable for Miss Harlow. No peers, of course, but he and Delia between them could surely scrounge up plenty of well-off, respectable men to introduce to her. Many bankers, barristers, army officers, and young MPs would happily purchase a ball voucher for the chance to meet an attractive girl with connections to a duke’s family.

“A couple weeks should do the trick,” Freddie said, breaking into his speculations. “As long as your cousin agrees, like you, not to bribe anyone to dance with the girl, I don’t see a problem. She just has to dance every dance.”

Satisfied, Max moved on to his second, equally important consideration. “It must be understood that discretion is called for. No discussing this wager with your friends, now or at any point in the future. I won’t have Miss Harlow embarrassed or her good name tarnished by gossip. And since we’ve talked of stacking the deck, I want it made clear that none of you are allowed to do that either. No trying to turn anyone against her by negative comments or gossip. I want your word of honor on that point, gentlemen.”

“We’d never do that,” Thomas said with dignity.

“Of course we wouldn’t,” Timothy agreed.

“We all promise to play fair, and mum’s the word,” Freddie assured him and glanced around. “Are we agreed, then?”

“Steady on,” Thomas interjected before Max could reply. “There is still one problem none of you seem to have thought of. Timothy, Freddie, and I are stone broke at present. After we got sent down from Oxford, our fathers reduced our quarterly incomes to a pittance. How would we pay the duke his winnings if we lose?”

“We won’t lose,” Freddie said.

“I’m not sure I want to risk it. I’m in enough debt as it is.”

“As am I,” his brother added. “As are you, Freddie.”

Exhilarated by the idea of transforming Miss Harlow into a beauty that would stop these three in their tracks and save her from a worthless swine who was clearly unworthy of her, Max was not about to let them back out now. “I shall be content to take a note for my winnings,” he said. “You can pay it back whenever opportunity allows, however long that takes.”

“Which, speaking for Tommy and myself, might be forever,” Timothy grumbled. “Our father is of no mind to soften.”

“Nor mine,” Freddie added, looking suddenly gloomy. “It’s a devil of a mess. But,” he added, brightening, “there is a way to resolve that tiresome little problem, if Westbourne agrees.”

Max braced himself. “I’m listening.”

“You’re a duke. You have a great deal of influence, especially with the admissions board at Oxford. If you wrote them a letter, asking them to reverse our expulsion—”

“We’d be back in our fathers’ good graces!” Timothy cried. “With our full allowances reinstated. Freddie, old chap, you’re a genius.”

Max could imagine where this was going. He could see them, money back in their pockets, gambling, drinking, being indiscreet, endangering not only Miss Harlow’s reputation, which was unthinkable enough, but also making his promise to Helen all the more difficult to fulfill. At once, he tried to dissuade them. “Oh, I doubt the admissions board would listen to me.”

“Oxford named a college after you,” Thomas reminded him.

“Exactly,” Freddie added. “They could hardly deny such a simple request to the man who endows Westbourne College.”

Max considered, trying to think clearly enough to walk the fine line he found himself on. “Very well,” he said at last, “I can’t guarantee the results, of course, but I am happy to write a letter to Oxford and urge the admissions board to reconsider your expulsion. If,” he added as the other three gave whoops of joy, “you three promise to behave yourselves until the season is out.”

Their joy faded away into uncomprehending silence, making it clear that circumspection and self-awareness were traits these pups did not yet possess.

It was Freddie who finally broke the silence. “My dear Duke, what on earth do you mean?”

“I mean exactly what I say. Until the season is over, your behavior is to be beyond reproach. If you can do that, thereby demonstrating that you are worthy of Oxford’s reconsideration, I will write the letter asking for your reinstatement.”

“But—” Freddie broke off, frowning with obvious displeasure. “What do you care how we behave?”

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