Jenny’s cancellation had caused some consternation in the Duke’s kitchen. Cook needed to rework her schedule and rearrange the assignments of her staff to accommodate for the loss of Jenny’s pastries.

“What is going on, Thomas?” Grandmamma asked at lunch after she had visited with cook in the kitchen. “Mrs. Stokes is fussing and cautions that there may not be enough time to get everything ready for the dinner.”

Thomas sighed. “Mrs. Stokes loves to fuss. Everything will be just fine for the ball. There was a little upset. But it is all in hand.”

Grandmamma poked at her Dover sole. “Well, I certainly hope so. We have received a great many RSVP’s, and we are going to have a full house.” She looked up to gauge how Thomas might take her next statement. “I know you would rather not discuss this, but I have been scheduling your dances for the evening. I want you to dance with all the lovely young ladies who will be lining up to dance with you.”

“As you like, Grandmamma.”

She was surprised he was so compliant, so she pushed a little harder. “You know Miss Cynthia the daughter of Lord and Lady Livingston from Winchester…”

Thomas stopped her. “I am sorry. I do not have time for this right now. I have a most important meeting shortly with George and Mr. Edgerton. I am afraid my mind is not on the ball just now. You must excuse me, Grandmamma.”

Now she was the one to fuss. “Well, I am so sorry to disturb you. After all, this is all being done for your benefit. But if you are too busy to care…”

Thomas reached across the table and took his grandmother’s hand. “I do care, and I want this to be a successful ball for your sake. But my future—our future depends on George and me being successful with our program.”

“And I believe your future also depends on the success of the ball. The perfect woman at your side will bring you peace of mind, a family, and a much-needed infusion of money into the family.”

“I know your motivation. But, as I have said many times before, I am not to marry a woman I do not care for. And right now, my most important task is to get our project successfully funded, and I am off to see about that right now,” Thomas said, standing and dropping his napkin on the luncheon table.

Earlier that morning, Thomas had received a note from George explaining that he had finally managed to get his father to come to a decision about investing in their project, and could he please be at their house at two o’clock. But the note said nothing about what that decision might be. But the fact that George did not know the answer did not bode well for a positive outcome.

As Thomas rode over to the Edgerton’s, his mind drifted to his meeting with Miss Barnett from the night before. At first, he had been shocked by her need to withdraw from making the pastries for the ball, but as she sat before him with the firelight playing across her face, he was once again taken up by her beauty—her honest simplicity and how much he found himself admiring her. There was no doubt he was going to miss having her at Pemberton this week.

But he had arrived at George’s house and was eager to find out what Mr. Edgerton’s thoughts were about investing in their project.

George came out of the house even before Thomas had dismounted.

“George, I was pleased to get your note, but it said nothing about what your father’s decision was.”

“And that is because he has not told me. He wanted to tell us together.”

“Oh, that does not sound promising,” Thomas said.

“I fear you might be right,” George said, escorting Thomas inside. “When he is tight-lipped it usually means he is dissatisfied with something. And in this case, it is most likely our proposal.”

“Then we shall accept his decision gracefully and move on.”

Silas Edgerton was waiting for them in his study. He was standing behind his desk looking over the proposal they had given him to review. He looked up when they came in.

“Your Grace, thank you for coming.”

“It is my pleasure. And I hope you have some good news for us.”

Silas looked away for a moment, then said, “First a libation. I would be a poor host indeed if I did not offer my distinguished guest some refreshment. What shall it be?”

Thomas was not happy with the evasion, but said, “It is a bit early in the day for me, but please, do not let me stop you.”

“Father,” George spoke up, “please can you just let us know your decision. If you are not interested in our proposal, then tell us so. Otherwise, let us know what you wish to invest.”

Silas seemed taken aback by his son’s bluntness. “Ah… yes… well… Let me see…” He picked up the proposal again and leafed through it.

“If you have any questions or concerns ask us so we might answer to your satisfaction,” Thomas said, trying to move this along.

Looking up, Silas said, “I assume you have run everything through your bankers and solicitors?”

Thomas took the lead. “As of now, we have not, as we are in the early stages of this project. But I will be doing both on my next trip to London. We wanted to sound out our potential investors first to see what their concerns might be so that we could address any of their thoughts before we created legal documents. It is always best to get it right before you have to go back and make changes.”

“I understand,” Silas said before studying their proposal again. “As you might already understand, I am a cautious man, Your Grace. I do not jump into a new project easily—especially when it concerns a great deal of money.”

“I would expect no less,” Thomas assured him.

George stepped forward and put his hands on the edge of his father’s desk, and said with some urgency, “Then tell us, please, what do you want to do?”

“Very well…” Silas said, looking up, “Yes, I should like to be an investor. And I am willing to invest up to twenty percent of your total. If you are agreeable to that?”

George and Thomas looked at each other and smiled. Neither one actually expected him to be interested or willing to invest anything.

“However, I shall need to liquidate some assets before I can make the funds available.”

“Thank you, Mr. Edgerton. I trust you will not be disappointed. As you know, we have a ball coming up soon and, right after that, we shall go to London and have all the paperwork prepared for your perusal and signature—if it meets with your approval.”

“Your Grace… George…” Silas said, offering his hand to seal the deal.

George and Thomas were standing in front of the Edgerton house chatting before Thomas headed back to Pemberton. They had been pleasantly surprised by Silas’s offer to invest. But Thomas had to remind them both that they still had a long way to go before they reached the full investment.

“Do you think we should go ahead and buy the two horses?” George asked somewhat tentatively.

“I should like to, but we do not have the money yet. I need to get the papers drawn up, and your father needs to liquidate the assets he needs to make the investment.”

“But might we run out of time and lose the opportunity?”

Thomas thought about that. “I think the owners will allow me to make a commitment and they will hold the horses for us until we can pay.”

“That would be most helpful,” George added. “And I have been talking to Barnstable about the training schedules for the new horses when we get them. I should like to be involved in the training. I do know a thing or two, and we might accelerate the program if we could get the training done sooner.”

“Very well,” Thomas agreed, as he untied his horse and was ready to mount.

But George stopped him. “Might I ask a favor of you, Thomas?”

“Of course.”

“Aunt Rosemary has gone to London for a week or so and Helena and I have no place to meet. Might I prevail upon you to stop by and see Helena on your way home? Ask her to tea at Pemberton for later this afternoon and then she and I can meet. We have so much planning to do for the wedding.”

“But does her father know about the marriage yet?”

George frowned. “Not yet. Neither of us has had the courage to tell him about Aunt Rosemary’s gift to Helena and our plans to marry. It is most awkward.”

Thomas could not help but laugh. “Oh George… the road to love is never straight and often cruel.”

“Please, will you do this for me? I should be so grateful.”

“Very well. I owe her a visit in any event. And I might just visit with Comerford and see if he will still consider investing with us or not. After all, we never followed up with him about our offer.”

“Good luck with that. I know he hates me and he cannot be feeling very kindly to you either after lying to him about your engagement.”

“Perhaps you are right. But I feel I must at least conclude our dealing with him.”

“As you wish.”

“I shall invite Helena for four o’clock if that is convenient for you?”

“Most suitable,” George answered.

Thomas was admitted to Springford Manor and directed to Miss Helena, who was reading in what was known as the ivy garden.

She looked up as Thomas approached and gave him a welcoming smile.

“I hope you have some news for me of Georgie?” she said closing her book.

“Well, that is a fine welcome. Not a word for me, but just concern for your lovelorn fiancé?”

“Oh, Thomas, how rude I am. Of course, I am glad to see you. But, as you know, Georgie and I are lost in the stars but restrained from meeting by my horridly wicked father.”

“Yes, I have heard all the sordid details.”

“What are we to do, Thomas? Advise us.”

“Well, to start, you are invited to tea at four at Pemberton, where there will be a certain honored guest…”

“Oh, you are a darling.” She stood and flung her arms around Thomas’s neck.

He took a step backward and removed her arms but took her hands in his. “I am really very happy for you, even though I know you have a rocky road ahead.”

“Thank you, dear friend.”

“I shall not stay. I also need to see your father, if he will have me. I will see you again at tea. Until then.”

He turned and left Helena in the garden, pressing a particularly lovely flower in her book.

Thomas found his way to Lord Comerford’s study and knocked.

“Yes?” a voice from inside answered.

“Thomas Haddington,” he responded.

There was a long silence. Thomas knocked again.

“One moment,” the inside voice called out.

Presently the door was opened by Lord Comerford, who stood scowling at Thomas.

“What are you doing here after you disgraced yourself by lying to me about your engagement?”

Thomas had been prepared for the Lord’s insult and said calmly, “Your daughter and I are good friends. There should be no need for disharmony between our families.”

“You should have thought about that before you put out that lie.”

“I was simply trying to help Helena.”

“And you accomplished just the opposite.”

Thomas was uncomfortable standing at the door and he asked, “Might I come in?”

His Lordship turned to his right as though he was seeking permission from someone else. “No. We have nothing to say to each other,” he finally responded.

“Certainly, we can be gentlemen about this,” Thomas said, as he pushed by Comerford and stepped into the room, only to be surprised by seeing his uncle standing with a drink in his hand at the back of the room, out of sight of the open door.

“Uncle? What are you doing here?”

It was obvious his uncle had been hiding from him.

“His Lordship and I are conducting some business,” Wilcox said stepping forward, seeming to be confident in his relationship with his Lordship.

Thomas first looked at Comerford, then back to his uncle. “I am sorry to interrupt. So, a quick question to you, Your Lordship—I assume you are no longer interested in my proposition to you.”

“That is quite correct,” he said. “And you may show yourself out.”

Thomas nodded, “Your Lordship.”

“Your Grace,” Comerford replied.

As Thomas left he shot a quick glance at his uncle. “I expect your mother has invited you to the ball?”

“She has.”

“Until then…” he said and left.