focus away from Emily during the procession. And then there were the two girls coming for tea, Mathilda and Alyssa. They would love to be bridesmaids , Emily thought. Both would look just a trifle washed out in yellow . She smiled cruelly.
“Miss Mason and Miss Alexander are here, Miss Emily,” Cartwright articulated in a perfectly docile tone from the entrance of the salon.
“Send them in, Cartwright.”
A moment later, two young ladies entered. After they all exchanged pleasantries and Emily had tea served for them, Mathilda, a petite brunette said, “I understand you are going to Paris for a few weeks?”
Emily nodded. “I am. I will be staying with my favorite aunt for a spell. My parents are allowing me a full French wardrobe for the Season this year.”
Alyssa’s blue eyes twinkled inquisitively. “Are you leaving soon?”
Emily smiled and shrugged. “Soon enough.”
Mathilda and Alyssa exchanged looks. “What does that mean?” Alyssa asked.
Emily took a deep breath and then decided she had to confide in someone, and it might as well be her two closest friends.
“I believe I will leave after my betrothal to the Earl of Stanton is arranged,” Emily said simply. She tried not to smile, but an errant grin crossed her face. She was like a cat that had just eaten an entire bowl of cream and had gone back for seconds.
“The Earl of Stanton? Truly ?” Mathilda cried out, knowing Emily had her heart set on becoming titled.
Emily nodded. “He was here visiting my father this morning.”
“He must be on the verge of offering for you,” Alyssa agreed.
“Can you imagine? Emily, you are going to be the next Countess of Stanton!” Mathilda said, trying in vain to hide her jealously and obviously doing a poor job of it.
Emily could no longer keep from boasting. Her hazel eyes danced merrily as she blurted, “He has been here to see Father numerous times in the past month!”
Mathilda reached over and grabbed Emily’s hand. “Have you thought about your wedding?”
Emily attempted to rein in her satisfaction, but it was difficult. The Earl of Stanton was one of the most eligible bachelors of the year. He had eluded the clutches of numerous young women and their matchmaking mothers, and now Emily was on the verge of becoming his fiancée. I will have everything I have ever desired, she thought gleefully.
She would become the Countess of Stanton.
It was all but settled.
***
Cyrus Corbin Archibald, the fifth Earl of Stanton, waited for his solicitor to take a seat across the massive oak desk. Nathan Crosby was barely over five feet tall, yet he managed to convey a formidable presence when he wished. He maintained that rare ability when imparting bad news. Usually admiring of Nathan’s talent, at the moment Cy abhorred it, since he was about to be subjected to it directly.
“You cannot continue paying the debt this way, My Lord. If you go on much longer, you will have to sell everything you own. The interest alone is a small fortune,” Nathan said, shuffling papers and laying a few on the desk in front of the Earl.
Cy did not even glance at them; he already knew what they said. Looking at them would just annoy him further. “I am aware,” Cy voiced blandly, adjusting his long legs in the plush leather chair. He sighed resolutely. “I have no choice but to marry for wealth.” The idea made his throat tighten, and his stomach burn.
Nathan Crosby had been the Earl’s solicitor since Cy had come of age. Though the title was hundreds of years old and full of prestige, Stanton heirs never seemed to possess any sort of business acumen, including Cy’s father. After inheriting the family title, Cy quickly realized that he had the elusive talent for business, and more importantly, he actually enjoyed it.
Unfortunately, Cy did not have the chance to double a stout inheritance. He barely had two pence to scratch together, not to mention the matter of repaying the debt his father had left him,
“Miss Mason and Miss Alexander are here, Miss Emily,” Cartwright articulated in a perfectly docile tone from the entrance of the salon.
“Send them in, Cartwright.”
A moment later, two young ladies entered. After they all exchanged pleasantries and Emily had tea served for them, Mathilda, a petite brunette said, “I understand you are going to Paris for a few weeks?”
Emily nodded. “I am. I will be staying with my favorite aunt for a spell. My parents are allowing me a full French wardrobe for the Season this year.”
Alyssa’s blue eyes twinkled inquisitively. “Are you leaving soon?”
Emily smiled and shrugged. “Soon enough.”
Mathilda and Alyssa exchanged looks. “What does that mean?” Alyssa asked.
Emily took a deep breath and then decided she had to confide in someone, and it might as well be her two closest friends.
“I believe I will leave after my betrothal to the Earl of Stanton is arranged,” Emily said simply. She tried not to smile, but an errant grin crossed her face. She was like a cat that had just eaten an entire bowl of cream and had gone back for seconds.
“The Earl of Stanton? Truly ?” Mathilda cried out, knowing Emily had her heart set on becoming titled.
Emily nodded. “He was here visiting my father this morning.”
“He must be on the verge of offering for you,” Alyssa agreed.
“Can you imagine? Emily, you are going to be the next Countess of Stanton!” Mathilda said, trying in vain to hide her jealously and obviously doing a poor job of it.
Emily could no longer keep from boasting. Her hazel eyes danced merrily as she blurted, “He has been here to see Father numerous times in the past month!”
Mathilda reached over and grabbed Emily’s hand. “Have you thought about your wedding?”
Emily attempted to rein in her satisfaction, but it was difficult. The Earl of Stanton was one of the most eligible bachelors of the year. He had eluded the clutches of numerous young women and their matchmaking mothers, and now Emily was on the verge of becoming his fiancée. I will have everything I have ever desired, she thought gleefully.
She would become the Countess of Stanton.
It was all but settled.
***
Cyrus Corbin Archibald, the fifth Earl of Stanton, waited for his solicitor to take a seat across the massive oak desk. Nathan Crosby was barely over five feet tall, yet he managed to convey a formidable presence when he wished. He maintained that rare ability when imparting bad news. Usually admiring of Nathan’s talent, at the moment Cy abhorred it, since he was about to be subjected to it directly.
“You cannot continue paying the debt this way, My Lord. If you go on much longer, you will have to sell everything you own. The interest alone is a small fortune,” Nathan said, shuffling papers and laying a few on the desk in front of the Earl.
Cy did not even glance at them; he already knew what they said. Looking at them would just annoy him further. “I am aware,” Cy voiced blandly, adjusting his long legs in the plush leather chair. He sighed resolutely. “I have no choice but to marry for wealth.” The idea made his throat tighten, and his stomach burn.
Nathan Crosby had been the Earl’s solicitor since Cy had come of age. Though the title was hundreds of years old and full of prestige, Stanton heirs never seemed to possess any sort of business acumen, including Cy’s father. After inheriting the family title, Cy quickly realized that he had the elusive talent for business, and more importantly, he actually enjoyed it.
Unfortunately, Cy did not have the chance to double a stout inheritance. He barely had two pence to scratch together, not to mention the matter of repaying the debt his father had left him,
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