Chapter 12

"Carina we are to visit my brother."

Carina stared at Gaia. "Why?"

"As a favor to my parents. It is time for the quarterly lecture on his duties and as they are not here to give it, the chastisement has fallen to me." She raised and waved the parchment in the air. "They have written the exact instructions though I already know it word for word, as it has not changed over the years. However, I shan"t go alone and need you with me."

"Of course, I am your companion."

"I need my friend. You know Angelo as well as I do and we already anticipate how the conversation will commence and end."

"Then we will be quick about it and then enjoy tea." Carina laughed.

"And perhaps we will take a stroll and enjoy the day."

"Whatever you wish."

It was odd to see a different driver of the carriage. Carina was so used to seeing Knight in the seat or setting the step and assisting her and Gaia in and out of the carriage. She took no offense to this driver, just that it wasn't Knight.

He had wanted to kiss her yesterday, but she had not allowed the same. It was not proper, nor did it serve any purpose. He may wish to court her but to what end? They were both servants within a household, which is where they'd likely spend the rest of their days.

Except, she had hoped for a home of her own and thought that perhaps she might come to know the tenant farmers on the estate. There must be a few bachelors who have a house, though it wasn't owned by the farmer, so there was that. But at least it would be somewhere she could make a home and not need to share her chamber within the castle with a husband, or sleep above the stables.

Why couldn't Knight be that bachelor farmer?

"What are you thinking?" Gaia asked, pulling Carina from her thoughts.

"Do you and Lydell have any bachelor tenant farmers?"

Gaia pursed her lips. "I do not know, nor will I ask. It is bad enough that a coachman presumes to attempt courtship. I will not have a tenant farmer calling on you either."

"You did not used to look down on those who had not been born to the same privilege as you," Carina reminded her.

"I do not now," Gaia said. "However, I wish for you to wed into a more comfortable life, not one of servitude."

"I am your servant," Carina reminded her.

"You are my friend."

Carina did not argue further as the carriage came to a halt outside of the buttermilk-colored, three-story townhouses of the Royal Crescent where Gaia's parents owned the home where Bolton resided.

"What if he is not at home?" Carina asked.

"Then we shall wait. Perhaps when we are done, we might do some shopping instead of taking a stroll."

Carina wasn't in the mood for such, but at least it kept her away from the estate and having to continually hide from Knight.

Oh, he was a dear and she enjoyed being with him, and they'd had such interesting conversations, but ever since she had kissed him after he had been injured, she wanted to kiss him more, which would never do.

A footman opened the door and stood back, allowing Gaia to enter. As she had once lived here, they did not dare deny her entrance. In fact, Carina had lived here as well.

"He is in the drawing room, Lady Lydell."

"Thank you."

Gaia retrieved the parchment from her reticule and marched forward, waving it as she had done earlier and entered the drawing room as Carina followed.

"I am here to remind you that your quarterlies are due in a month."

Angelo groaned. "Forget the tea, Knight, this torture calls for brandy."

Carina stopped and glanced about the room. Had she known that Knight had come here, she would not have joined Gaia. Not that she had much of a choice since her role was that of companion, which meant she went where Gaia did when asked.

"You bring this upon yourself," Gaia insisted. "Nor am I happy that the task must fall to me, as neither of our parents are here to deliver the lecture."

"What lecture would that be," Knight asked as Angelo poured two glasses of brandy.

"Marriage." Angelo groaned. "Well, get on with it."

Gaia unfolded the parchment and began to read. "Angelo, we must insist that you begin your quest for a wife earnestly and diligently. If we do not receive word that you have attempted courtship of a respectable miss or lady, one worthy of marriage and not the type you prefer to spend your time with, we will have no choice but to withhold your quarterlies until such time as you are betrothed."

"Has he made this threat before?" Knight asked.

"Frequently," Bolton answered without concern.

"How is it possible that you have not been cut off?"

Carina couldn't help but snort. "Because Bolton will now spend the next month squiring proper misses and ladies about. Enough so that his parents are pleased but not enough to give hope. When the funds are deposited, he will return to his sinful ways."

"You wound me, Carina."

"Do I not speak the truth?" she asked with humor.

"It is the use of sinful. I far prefer pleasurable."

She rolled her eyes and settled into a chair.

"Ah, now I understand," Felix laughed. "I used to wonder why you suddenly became interested in respectable misses and just as quickly lost interest. You were being coerced. If they know this is what you do, why do they keep using the same tactic?"

"Because my parents hope that when Angelo is doing the very least to meet their requirements that he will actually fall in love with one of the misses or ladies, thus he will finally wed."

"Except, there are few women in Bath that I have not squired about for that very purpose and I am running out of prospects."

"Oh, dear," Gaia muttered while staring at the parchment.

"What is it?" Bolton demanded.

"I had not read the whole of it until now." Laughter twinkled in her brown eyes as Gaia started to smile.

"This does not bode well for me if my sister is finding joy in what has been written."

"Has it ever occurred to you to court Carina?" Gaia read.

Angelo nearly spit out his brandy and Carina choked on her tea. His parents could not be serious.

"The two of you get on well and Carina will not put up with any of your nonsense. Though I do believe that she can do far better than you, you can do no better than Carina. Therefore, you will attempt a courtship to determine if the two of you will suit. If you promise to do so, we will not withhold your quarterlies."

Gaia handed the parchment to Bolton. "I have done my duty."

All Carina could do was stare at Bolton, her stomach tightening in panic and he looked just as horrified at the idea of courting her.

"It is just that..." Carina tried to find the words to avoid insult but could think of nothing.

"Yes...um...I agree..." Bolton offered.

How could she possibly ignore the request. Lord and Lady Dargate had been so good to her. They gave her a position when Carina was about to be forced from school. Paid her wages until Gaia married. It would be rude and uncharitable not to at least allow Angelo to court her. However, it would only be because they asked it because Carina had no desire to be courted by him. Which clearly was a problem within herself since there wasn"t a woman in Bath who did not desire Angelo.

"I am sorry, Carina. Had I known..."

It was as if Gaia almost pitied her.

"Your parents have been so very good to me, and if this is their wish..." Her stomach tightened even more as she glanced at Knight, who scowled and sipped his brandy.

Goodness.

"I do care for you, Carina," Angelo began. "It is just that...and I mean no insult...there are no romantic feelings, and I believe I consider you more a sister."

"No insult taken, Angelo, and I feel my emotions as they relate to you are rather of a sisterly nature."

Angelo tossed the parchment on the table and rose to refill his glass of brandy.

Felix stared at the letter and finally reached for it. Had Bolton's parents truly ordered him to court Carina?

As he read, his fears were confirmed.

The two may think of the other only in a sibling fashion, but that could also change if they were to spend time together in a mock courtship. What if their emotions began to change and developed into love, desire and passion?

Bolton could fall in love with her and Carina might fall in love with him. If that were the case, then they'd marry to please themselves as well as Bolton's parents, which would leave Felix alone and eaten with jealousy.

Felix continued to read and realized that Lady Lydell hadn't told Bolton the whole of the missive.

"This also states that Bolton must resist and avoid certain types of women, locations and entertainments while in a courtship for if it is found that he is participating in such, Lord Dargate will decide that Bolton is not more serious in his pursuit of a wife than he has been in the past."

This was even worse. With Bolton unable to associate with improper women and widows, he would spend even more time focused on Carina. It didn't matter that Bolton knew that Felix loved her, Bolton may not have a choice but to fall in love as well.

"You cannot be serious?" Bolton demanded.

"I am certain your mistress will survive a fortnight without your attention," Lady Lydell snorted.

"I currently do not have one," Bolton grumbled.

"Your going without female companionship for the same length of time will not kill you, Angelo," Lady Lydell teased.

He grumbled something that Felix did not quite hear, then drank his brandy as he slouched in his seat.

"Then it is settled," Lady Lydell announced.

"Nothing is settled," Angelo argued.

"Of course it has been." She grinned. "You shall agree to court Carina because you want your quarterlies. Carina will accept your courtship because she will feel duty bound because she feels she would owe it to our parents."

Carina bit her bottom lip, her brown eyes shifting first from Lady Lydell, to Bolton, then to Knight. She would do as asked but was not happy to do so.

"For a fortnight, the two of you will take in the theatre, visit the Assembly Rooms, and do whatever it is that courting couples do. In the end, you will send a missive to father and explain that the two of you simply do not suit."

"He will not take my word for it," Angelo argued.

"That is why I will be acting as Carina"s chaperone and each day I will pen letters to mother and father of your efforts and assure them that you have taken to the task of ardently courting Carina."

"Why would you do so?" Angelo asked with suspicion.

"Because if you lose funds, you will be forever at my dinner table, and gambling with my husband in hopes of winning so that you might go about your usual entertainments."

"You do not wish me in your home?" Angelo asked as if insulted.

"You know I adore you, dear brother, but there are no two people less suited than you and Carina, and I"d not see either of you miserable for the rest of your lives because you are doing as you are told, or what is expected. You will play their game, with my assistance of course, then in a fortnight, the two of you will be free."

"Will a fortnight be enough?" Felix asked, though he wished it would last no more than a sennight. "Carina mentioned a month."

"That is the amount of time I usually spend in these matters, but I've also never been told to forgo my other enjoyments," Bolton complained.

"They have known each other nearly seven years. If deeper emotions were going to develop, they would have no matter how hard Angelo clung to his bachelor state," Lady Lydell decided.

"Now what do I do? Take Carina on a stroll, visit the theatre tonight? I do not even know what entertainments are available this next fortnight."

"We will determine how the courtship will proceed, but first we shall put our heads together and each pen the perfect missive to our parents, one from each of us, so that they know you are doing their bidding and mine to tell them that you have approached this matter with the utmost seriousness."

Seeing Bolton like this with Lady Lydell made Felix long for his own brother and sisters. Yes, Alden had visited but it wasn't the same. Nobody sided with you against the poor decisions of a parent better than a sibling. It also caused some guilt because Felix wasn't there to protect or help his sisters and brother. Then again, if he had done his grandfather's bidding, Felix would be living too far away to be of assistance anyway.

He pushed those emotions aside and stood.

"As the two of you have important business to attend, and as your freedom may soon be taken from you, Miss Leonelli, would you care to stroll with me while brother and sister are occupied?"

At least he would have Carina's company. She'd been avoiding him since he had attempted to kiss her.