“Don’t muck this up, Ralston.”
“I won’t. She’s never been able to resist me, and I’ll wear her down.”
“I will fervidly hope that turns out to still be true.”
“My goodness!”
Caroline peered over at Libby, her expression shocked and bewildered. They were in Caroline’s bedchamber in Lord Barrett’s home, and Libby had just brought a letter upstairs for her.
“Don’t tell me it’s bad news,” Libby said. “With my wedding so close, I refuse to allow anything negative to occur.”
“I can’t decide if it’s bad news or not. My cousin, Janet, has married Blake Ralston.”
“Wasn’t he mortally opposed to matrimony?”
“She was mortally opposed. She might be increasing though, so she had to set aside a few of her convictions.”
“It sounds as if another scoundrel has been ensnared.”
“He’s definitely a scoundrel, so that’s why I’m debating whether I’m glad for her or not. I imagine she’ll have an exasperating life with him.”
“Some women claim scoundrels end up being the best husbands.”
“Who are the women claiming that? I’d like to learn how they arrived at such a ludicrous notion.”
“Luke is an example.”
“He is not. According to both of you, he was boring and normal until he met you. He had to develop wild habits so you’d assume he was intriguing.”
Libby smirked. “You could be right about that.”
“When you’ve been so gracious, it’s rude of me to suggest it, but could Janet visit me? Blake is posted to the Mediterranean, and he’s already left. She’s going next week too, on a ship for navy wives, and she’d like to see me before she sails.”
“She’s going out onto the ocean—on a ship?” Libby asked.
“Yes.”
They shuddered, their fear of ships and water deeply ingrained. They still had nightmares about the shipwreck, and they shared a hefty belief that humans should keep their feet firmly planted on dry ground.
“Perhaps you should warn her to reconsider,” Libby said.
“She’s young and in love. I could never persuade her to stay in England. Not with her being a newlywed.”
“Probably not,” Libby agreed, “and of course she can visit you.”
“Are you sure? The manor is incredibly hectic, and I shouldn’t be a burden.”
“You’re not a burden, and besides, I am not busy. I’m not organizing the wedding; I wouldn’t have the faintest idea how. You must write to your cousin and have her come immediately.”
“I will. Thank you.”
“Now that we have that out of the way,” Libby said, “your presence is requested downstairs.”
“Why?”
“I have a surprise for you.”
“I hate surprises.”
“No one hates surprises.”
“Well, in my experience, there are fun ones and awful ones. I’ve only ever suffered the awful kind.”
“I declare that—with our crossing paths again—you shall just suffer the fun ones in the future.” Libby started out, tossing over her shoulder, “Let’s get this over with.”
Caroline scowled and followed her out. “Your comment doesn’t exactly fill me with excitement.”
“You will be excited. Eventually. I hope. This is Luke’s mischief, so if it blows up into a huge morass, I’ll simply blame him.”
“He’s back?”
“Yes, he just rode in, and he’s anxious to talk to you.”
They reached the front foyer, and Mr. Periwinkle was there and dressed for traveling. Since he’d conveyed Caroline to Barrett, he’d been loafing in the house and ingratiating himself. Caroline suspected he was scribbling furtive notes and would earn a fortune penning articles about Libby’s nuptial celebrations. Was Caroline the only one who’d realized that fact?
“Are you leaving us, Mr. Periwinkle?” Libby asked.
He tugged off his cap and bowed to her. “With your permission, Miss Carstairs, I thought I’d confer with Joanna James and escort her to Barrett. Or would you rather I wait until after the wedding? It’s so chaotic here. Would it be too much?”
Libby asked Caroline, “What’s your opinion, Caro?”
“I’d like it to be right away. She and I can sit together at the church.”
“It will be quite the ending for the three of us.” Libby peered at Mr. Periwinkle and said, “Bring a competent artist with you too, so there’s a good drawing of us for your newspaper. I don’t want a sketch where we look old and haggard.”
Mr. Periwinkle was Libby’s biggest admirer, and he gushed, “There’s no chance of that, Miss Carstairs.”
Caroline extended her hands, and he clasped hold.
“I’ll see you soon,” she said to him, “and when I do, I will expect Joanna to be with you.”
“I vow to you that I will not return without her.”
He pulled away, bowed to Libby again, and walked out. They observed until the door was shut behind him, and Caroline said, “That poor man is madly in love with you.”
“Every man I’ve ever met is in love with me.”
“How will Luke stand to be your husband? He’ll constantly wander around in a jealous haze.”
Libby grinned. “It will keep him on his toes. He’ll always be afraid—if he’s not careful—some other rogue will step in to take his place.”
“You are horrid.”
“And he doesn’t mind that I am.”
They went down the hall toward the earl’s library. Luke was hovering and impatiently watching for them.
“I didn’t think you two would ever arrive,” he said.
“You know me,” Libby replied. “I’m never in a hurry.”
“It’s just one of your many quirks that drives me insane.” He shifted his focus to Caroline. “Did Libby inform you of what’s happening?”
“No. She merely told me it was a surprise.”
“I intend that this situation will be swiftly resolved, so don’t dawdle or quarrel. I’m locking you in, and I won’t let you out until I receive the answer I insist on having.”
Libby sniffed with offense. “You can be so exhausting.” Then she said to Caroline, “I’ll be outside. If you grow too aggravated, call to me, and I will let you out.”
Luke glowered at Libby. “Barrett is my home, so it’s my castle. You’re in residence now, so will I ever be in charge?”
“No, not ever,” Libby cheekily retorted.
She shoved Caroline into the room, and before Caroline could protest the move,
