Page 5 of War of the Wedding Wagers
“I wagered that nothing could be more of a sure thing than Sir Frederick walking down the aisle with a tiny, golden-haired nymph before the season is ended,” he said, pointing. “And, having just overheard the happy pair over yonder speak of marriage, I knew when a wager was a sure thing.”
“No, Edward!”
“Yes, indeed.” Edward remained unruffled by his sister’s alarm. “I told you, I overheard the happy couple speak of marriage with my very own ears. And if Sir Frederick is a happy man right now for ensuring his future, I am even happier because I’ve been able to secureyourfuture, Amelia. That small inheritance of yours which would only allow you to live modestly? Why, I’ve doubled it. In a few short weeks—”
Amelia’s horror culminated with an enraged gasp. “You’ve wagered myinheritance?” She began to tremble. “On the fact Sir Frederick will marry in six weeks—?”
“Exactly.A golden-haired siren, I believe, was the term since it was based on the description of the young lady to whom I overheard him speak of marriage.”
“But Edward—”
“Calm down, sis. It’s a sure bet, I tell you, and in fact I’m very sorry to hear that you think I’ve lost your inheritance when in fact I’ve ensured—”
“You haven’t! And my inheritance was yours to hold intrustuntil my twenty-fifty birthday, Edward! And that’s only six weeks away. Please don’t tell me you’ve wagered itallon a bet you are about tolose.”
Edward patted her shoulder with that same fond, frighteningly inebriated smile upon his face and said, reassuringly, “I’ve just returned from writing it up in White’s Betting Book—”
“No, Edward!”
“Indeed, I have. You see, it’s like legal insider trading. I saw with my own eyes Sir Frederick disappear into a dark corner with that engaging little blonde chit—just the kind I’ve heard he’s partial to—and when I followed them, I heard him very distinctly, speak of marriage—”
“But Edward—”
“My dear Amelia, when Sir Frederick announces his betrothal to a golden-haired maiden within days—though I’ve been cautious and allowed six weeks—Roger Morley will have to hand over twice the size of your inheritance. And, just so you can buy as many books as you like, and to prove how fond a brother I am, I shall give itallto you. In six weeks, when Sir Frederick walks down the aisle with his diverting blonde, you will be able to retire to the country a rich woman.”
“No, Edward!” Amelia clapped her hands to her mouth. “I can’t believe what you’re saying!” She pointed to the couple her brother had indicated. “There is Sir Frederick, but if that is the blonde young lady to whom you heard him speak of marriage, then Hell will freeze over before he weds her!”
“Amelia!” He was shocked. “It is unlike you to blaspheme and certainly not in public. How can you possibly know—”
“Because she’s hissister!”
There was no satisfaction in seeing the dismay on her brother’s face. Amelia knew Edward had acted with the best of intentions. It’s what made matters worse.
“But, sis, I really thought—I mean, I was so sure I was doing you a favor—”
“Yes, Edward, I know—”
“Sir Frederick has only been back in the country a couple of months and there’s been no mention of a sister.”
“Yes, Edward, I know all that. Sir Frederick has been gallivanting on the Continent, no doubt up to his usual antics, for I remember what a swaggering braggart he was during myfirst season out, though he certainly fooled my fellow debutantes at the time.” Assailed by memories, Amelia had to steady herself with a hand upon the back of a chair as she went on, “And his sister is very young to be out. Only seventeen, and still in the schoolroom several months ago. However, their mama is ailing, and Caroline is very headstrong, so it was decided to launch her early in order to secure her future to the old man’s satisfaction. In fact, she’s so lively and easily-led, I heard it whispered Sir Frederick was afraid she’d climb out of her bedroom window and elope with a fortune hunter, so I don’t wonder you’ve never heard of her. And with a reputation for being so headstrong, it’s little surprise her brother, Sir Frederick, has found some reason to take her to task tonight. No doubt you heard the word marriage because Sir Frederick was cautioning her on itsdangers.”
Edward’s mouth dropped open. “How do you know all this, Amelia? I thought you took no interest in these things.” He waved his arm about to encompass the room as his gaze narrowed and he added, suspiciously, “In fact, I thought you had no interest in anyone here tonight, and certainly not Sir Frederick.”
“Lord, Edward, what do you take me for? I’d marry a goldfish before I married a swaggering lothario like Sir Frederick!”
Amelia brought her hand to her mouth a second time, for that gentleman was in fact passing them by that very moment and, at the sound of his name, he frowned. But he continued with a polite incline of his head, albeit a slight flaring of his nostrils.
Amelia’s cheeks flamed. “Lord, Edward, what if he heard me?” she whispered. “But worse! What if he learns of your wager? Oh, do go and strike it out this very minute!”
Edward bit his lip. “I might succeed in getting it removed frompublicview, but the fact is that Morley ain’t going to release me from it.”
“So, he was the only one who saw you write up the wager?”
Edward nodded.
“Then do what you can to erase it from White’s Betting Book. Or at least from making it appear publicly. As for Roger Morley, you’ll have to deal with him when the time comes.” Amelia’s shoulders sagged. But no, she could not show her distress in public. She prided herself on her stoicism. After brave, beloved Thomas had died a hero’s death, society had expected her to weep and wail like a lovelorn snowdrop. But she’d proved she was as different from her mother as it was possible to be. The battle had been hard won, but she’d fought her grief and presented to the world the face of a woman who could survive any pain or disappointment life threw at her. She’d not allowed emotion to fell her then, and she’d not do so now.
Tears and self pity were not her recourse.
