A Family Affair Read Free

do?”
    “It’s not so hard to figure out. She is of course aiming as high as she possibly can. With no unmarried royalty available, she wants to become a duchess. And the richest and most sought after unmarried duke is Devlin Ross, the new Duke of Hereford.”
    Fanny couldn’t stop the warmth of a blush that crept over her cheeks, and she cursed silently to herself. Why, after all these years, couldn’t she hear his name without turning red as a beet?
    Sin, bless his heart, didn’t notice his sister’s change of color; instead he continued to ponder the mystery of the unmarried Charmaine.
    “When Devlin returned from France at the end of last year’s social season, he quickly became the darling of the ton , with all the loving mamas fighting to have him at their little soirées, to introduce their daughters to him. Unfortunately for them, Devlin isn’t at all interested in marriage.”
    “How can you be so sure of his disinterest?” Fanny tried not to sound too interested.
    “He told Uncle Rake, who told me. Devlin is a true libertine. He prefers mistresses rather than a wife. He did notice Charmaine, though, as she is rather hard to miss, but anything more than an occasional flirt on the dance floor wasn’t in his mind.”
    “Of course, Charmaine thinks a little too much of herself to have any notion he might not want her for a wife.” Fanny giggled, and Sin chuckled along with her.
    As if she knew they were talking about her, Charmaine looked their way, and her eyes narrowed to vivid blue almonds. Fanny gave her archenemy a bright smile, which Charmaine answered with a sneer before she turned her back to them.
    “Devlin never plays with unmarried ladies,” Sin said as an afterthought. “And I have a feeling the poor fellow will be trapped into an engagement before the end of this season, one way or another. We all know Charmaine has no conscience, and I’m afraid she will probably make something up if he doesn’t propose to her. Many marriages have started with an innocent meeting on a balcony or in some other lonely place. All she has to do is make sure someone finds them alone, unchaperoned.”
    “I guess her parents gladly would volunteer,” Fanny mused, knowing most families in the ton would do even worse things if it meant they could have the Duke of Hereford as a son-in-law.
    It would put them on top of all lists, and put any creditors at ease, as the Ross family was one of the richest families in England and could cover any family’s debts with pocket money.
    Sin’s chuckle interrupted his sister’s thoughts. “You know, Uncle Rake told me Devlin didn’t find her attractive at all, when he met Charmaine for the first time last season. Apparently Devlin thought there was something cold and dead about her.”
    “Like a fish,” Fanny squealed, not able to hide how amusing she found Sin’s words. “We can call her Fishy!”
    “You should try to be more subtle,” Sin said.
    His sister ignored him, losing her mirth as she continued, “I feel bad for poor Penelope, though. Her awful parents have decided to spend all the money on Charmaine this year again, so Penelope has to wear her sister’s old gowns. One would think they should put their money on Penelope this year, since it’s her first season, but no, Charmaine must have all new dresses, because she can’t wear her old ones.”
    “I can’t imagine any lady doing something so dreadful as to wear the same dress twice.” Sin winked, but his sister didn’t take his bait this time. She was too occupied with thinking about her best friend’s situation.
    “How can you give one child everything and the other child nothing? It’s so unfair. Penelope is just as beautiful. And more importantly, she is a wonderfully nice person.”
    “I really don’t know,” Sin replied thoughtfully. “There is certainly nothing wrong with Penelope.”
    Just then Sebastian, the younger of Fanny’s two brothers, brought his little sister a refreshing