The Highlander Is All That (Untamed Highlanders #4)(56)

“Dear Aunt Hortense,” the duchess added.

“Dear thing,” the countess said mournfully.

“Dear sweet thing,” Victoria added.

Twiggenberry snorted rudely. “Whatever. I’ve heard. And I want you to know that I don’t give a fig about that. I have the special license. We shall be married tomorrow.”

Elizabeth gaped at him. Her stomach lurched. “I cannot possibly marry you tomorrow.”

His eyes narrowed. “You can and will. I’ve had enough of your games, girl. By tomorrow evening, you will be my wife and there is nothing you can do to stop it.”

Oh horrors.

To her surprise, Aunt Esmeralda stood. “There is, actually. As her guardian, in lieu of the duke, I can withdraw my permission.” When his face went purple, she said, in a conciliatory tone, “You cannot rush such a thing as a wedding.”

“Especially a society wedding,” the duchess murmured with a smile.

Twiggenberry’s expression went hard. He stared at them for a long moment and then he cleared his throat and rocked back on his feet. “We shall see.”

“We shall,” Esmeralda agreed, which did not appear to please Twiggenberry in the least. A vein on his forehead began to throb.

“I shall consult with the prince directly.” His gaze sharpened on Elizabeth. “I do have his ear, you know. And if he orders an immediate wedding, it shall be done.”

With that he spun from the room.

Despite his threats, Elizabeth was happy to see him gone.

“Oh, I don’t know why he doesn’t find a wife who wants to marry him,” Victoria grumbled.

“Would that be possible?” Lady Pennington quipped.

The duchess tipped her head. “Perhaps the attraction is your connection with Caithness?”

Most likely. For a man of his wealth, her dowry could hardly be the lure.

“What does a connection with a duke matter if he has the prince’s ear?” Lady Pennington asked.

The countess huffed. “Assuming he does. I can check with James. He would know.”

The duchess nodded. “I’ll speak with Edward as well. Somehow . . . I just don’t trust Twiggenberry’s motives. He was far too . . .”

“Desperate,” Victoria offered, and they all nodded, because that summed it up in a word.

For her part, Lady Pennington shuddered so hard her corkscrew curls bounced. “I really hate that man,” she said.

“Would it be so terrible if you didn’t marry him?” the countess asked. “I’m fond of you and I’d like for us to be friends, but I don’t think even I could tolerate him at my table.”

Elizabeth laughed. “Neither could I.”

“She’s not marrying him,” Esmeralda said, to the shock of all. Most especially Elizabeth.

“What?” she croaked.

Victoria clapped her hands. “Oh, famous!”

“You’re not marrying him. I won’t have it. I cannot tolerate it. I thought I could, but I can’t. I am so sorry, darling. And now that Mary—”

“And Anne have gone to Kent to visit an ailing relative . . .” Victoria put in.

“It is just not going to happen.”

“Oh, thank you, dear, dear aunt!” Elizabeth leaped to her feet and pulled her aunt into a hug. “I can’t marry him. I just can’t.”

“Lady Esmeralda,” the duchess said in an arresting tone.

“Yes, Your Grace?”

“Do you mind if we chat with Elizabeth. In private?”

Her aunt glanced around the room and then cleared her throat. “Not at all. Come, Victoria.”

Her sister put out a lip. “But I want to hear.”

“Come.” A command Victoria could not resist. Begrudgingly, she stood and followed Esmeralda from the room.

Once the door closed, Kaitlin folded her hands on her lap. “Very well then,” she said in a businesslike tone. “Let’s review your options.”

Helena held up one finger. “Marry him and be miserable.”

“I’ve been there,” Lady Pennington said with a shudder. “You cannot choose that one.”

Elizabeth gaped at her. “But you and Lord Pennington seem so happy.”

“Not Lord Pennington,” the countess said. “Eleanor’s first husband was a beast.”

Lady Pennington took a sip of tea. “Helena, you are being unkind to beasts.”

“My apologies.”

“Just so,” Kaitlin said.

Helena smiled brilliantly. “Perhaps you could convince another man to make you pregnant?”

Lady Pennington raised her hand. “Also one of mine.”

“How did that work?” Elizabeth asked. It sounded like a wonderful plan. She had just the man in mind.

“Again, not recommended,” Lady Pennington said.

The duchess ticked off another finger. “You could always run away.”

The countess made a face. “I tried that one. I would not recommend it.”

“It worked for you,” Kaitlin insisted.

“Only by sheer chance. It is far too dangerous in this day and age.”

“Not if we helped her,” the duchess said with a smile. “And we would. Wouldn’t we?” She fixed her attention on Elizabeth. “You just came out of mourning, didn’t you?”