be quite fine, Your Grace,” she told Eleanor. “Were you successful?” The duchess held up her despised reticule, and Jenna heard the unmistakable clink of coins. “Very.” Across from her, Worth was doing a spectacular job of appearing relaxed. “And just what are you going to do with that money, Mother?” he asked. The duchess shrugged happily. “I haven’t decided.” She allowed Luke to hand her up into the carriage, and settled herself next to her son. “Thank you for not being a pest, darling.” “I

pretty sure it was already too late for that. Chapter 8 Will spent the remainder of the morning perusing his mother’s stock, his emotions swinging wildly from disbelief to disgruntlement to elation and back again. It wasn’t a stretch to see how he might have missed it. There were less than a half dozen thoroughbreds destined for the turf, and they weren’t kept indoors, blanketed and isolated in stalls. Instead they had been turned out in pastures and enclosures, hidden in plain sight among the

me keep an eye on Viola?” the earl asked. “She has embraced her newfound status and is determined to improve upon it. But she is impulsive and reckless and a little immature. I’m afraid, if she is given enough rope, she just might hang herself. And I just can’t deal with another scandal right now.” “Ah. So no vicars’ sons for Viola.” “No.” Heath sounded unhappy. “She swears nothing less than a marquess. A duke would be acceptable, and a prince would be even better.” Heath sighed wearily. “You

inside his head. “No, Mother,” he said with perfect politeness. “But I should like to return home now.” “Of course,” the duchess murmured. “I shall call for our carriage.” She turned to Julia. “We will see you home first. I do hope your sister is feeling better tomorrow.” “I am quite certain she’ll be fine,” Will growled before he could stop himself, and his mother looked at him sharply. He wasn’t so certain about himself. Will remained silent for the entire ride back to the lodge.

great deal of money over the years,” Jenna protested mildly. “It is hardly her fault there are others who do not fare as well.” “I prefer to think of it as a method of precise debt collection, Your Grace.” George smiled a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “And yes, one must beware of pitfalls when it comes to wagering. Sometimes things are not as they seem.” “No, they are not,” Will agreed quietly. “Which is why I want to help.” “And what, exactly, is it you believe you can do, Your Grace?”