Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Bridget closed her eyes and let herself drift, trying to lose herself to the sweet notes of the pianoforte. Her thoughts kept returning to the duke and Rose's daring plan for them to feign as though they were courting. The plan would not fix all Bridget's problems, but it might allow her enough time to find some solution. Was the plan asking for too many risks, though?

Her heart fluttered like a bird's wings when she thought of his green eyes and his hands moving over her shoulders and arms, gently wiping away the champagne. Bridget dared to think about what might have happened if his hands had drifted just a little further, if he had caressed her breasts or let his fingers wander just beneath her bodice to brush along her stays. If she feigned a courtship with the Duke of Hamilton, she would be expected to enjoy his company, and Bridget was unsure if she could bear being so near His Grace while having such scandalous thoughts of how he might touch her.

A wrong note lingered in the air. Bridget grimaced and opened her eyes.

"You so seldom make errors," Anna noted.

Bridget's sister sat across the drawing room, a canvas stretched before her. Anna's subject was the gardens outside the window. Her painting was not so lovely yet, but Anna's most beautiful works always began as spots of dull browns, greens, and grays.

"I suppose I was distracted," Bridget said.

Anna smiled. "How strange. I have also found my attention wandering this afternoon."

"To what subject?" asked Bridget.

She hoped if she persuaded Anna to speak about her own wandering thoughts, she could distract her sister from asking about her own.

Anna took a deep breath. "I made the acquaintance of a gentleman at the Hamilton ball."

"Oh?" While Anna often expressed an interest in Bridget's potential suitors, she seldom mentioned any for herself. Wanting to think about a male acquaintance was a new development. "Do I know him?"

"I do not believe so. His name is Mr. Russell."

Bridget shook her head. "I have not had the pleasure."

"He enjoys art," Anna said, "and he expressed an interest in seeing my works."

"Oh!"

"I noticed him watching me from across the ballroom, and I saw something in his eyes that intrigued me," Anna said.

"Something?"

"Heat," she said. "Passion."

Bridget looked wryly at her sister. "I suspect this is what happens when you think so often about the anatomy of marble sculptures."

"Not like that!" Anna protested.

Bridget suspected that it was something like that. "So what are you thinking about this young man?" she asked, amused.

"I like him," Anna added. "I was unable to speak to him for long, but I had the impression that he was prepared to treat me as a serious artist."

Bridget nodded in understanding. Anna had often expressed dismay that men were not prepared to treat her as a skilled artist. They thought of her as a lady with a passing, trivial interest. Even when they saw her paintings, men were inclined to find fault in them, and she had long suspected that it was because the men of the ton were unaccustomed to female artists.

Perhaps Mr. Russell was not one of the ton, though.

"That is very good," Bridget said.

"Indeed," Anna replied, her expression brightening. "I hope he will come to call soon. I offered to show him my works, and he seemed intrigued by the prospect."

"That is wonderful!"

Bridget tried not to think anything dour, but she thought about her soon-to-be arranged marriage to the Marquess of Thornton. If Mr. Russell was not a titled man, she must marry for the sake of her family. If Bridget did not, Anna would not have the freedom to marry this man. Sure, Anna had not said that she intended to marry Mr. Russell. But what if she found that she did wish to wed him?

What if Mr. Russell came to call and delighted in Anna's company as much as she did his? A courtship might occur, and as the elder sister, it was Bridget's duty to ensure that she did whatever she could to preserve her family. If she married the Marquess of Thornton, that would enable Anna to be happy. It was better for one of them to be happy, surely.

Anna sighed happily, oblivious to her sister's plight. "I should like to see his collection, too."

Bridget nodded. She forced her attention once more to the pianoforte, letting the light notes sweep into the air. Bridget wondered if the duke enjoyed music and if so, what manner of it. If they pretended to court, she could surely ask, and he might sit across the drawing room and listen as she played.

She heard applause behind her and started, turning in her seat to see her father's beaming face. Her heart sank. Bridget feared instinctively that this would be the moment where he revealed that secret meeting, and she would no longer be able to avoid her fate.

"Thank you, Father," she said.

He smiled, but the friendly gesture did not reach his brown eyes, which were tight with anxiety. "I have come give you some excellent news. We have received a proposal for you, Bridget."

"A proposal!" Anna exclaimed. "Why, the Season has just begun! You are faring well!"

Bridget forced down the lump that rose in her throat. "Who… who is the proposal from?" she asked.

"The Marquess of Thornton."

Bridget exhaled softly, trying to steady her nerves. Although she had known precisely whose name her father would say, hearing him say it still made her feel unmoored, as though nothing were quite real at the moment.

Anna gasped. "And you refused, of course."

Bridget glanced at her sister, whose face was utterly scandalized. "He did not refuse," she said dully. "He agreed."

"Indeed, I did," her father said. "The marquess will be a suitable match for you, Bridget, and I would be very pleased for you to accept his proposal."

"But he is so old!" Anna exclaimed. "Father, you jest! Surely, Bridget cannot marry a man such as that!"

Their father said nothing. He did not need to, for Bridget felt his eyes boring into her. Even if she did not wish to wed the Marquess of Thornton, she knew she must. It was for the good of her family.

"You must reconsider!" Anna continued. "Bridget, do you not agree?"

"I shall not," their father said curtly. "Thornton has been my friend and business partner for many years. He is a good man who will be certain that Bridget has her every need met. This is not something to debate. Lord Thornton is an older man, but why should that matter? He can provide Bridget with what she needs."

Anna folded her hands in her lap, looking abashed. Bridget let her fingertips rest on the pianoforte, not playing a single note.

"I expect that you will agree," her father said. "That is your duty as my daughter, Bridget, and I know I have raised you to be a proper young lady."

"So you have."

Her throat felt so thick that Bridget feared that she might be strangled if she tried to speak too much or too quickly. "I understand, Father."

She averted her gaze, unable to look at him any longer.

"I am pleased to hear it. Regrettably, it will be some time before Thornton may formally announce the engagement. He will be leaving London tomorrow on urgent business, and he will announce the arrangement upon his return. I thought it best to make you aware of it beforehand, so you may adjust to the idea."

Bridget suspected her father wanted to give her time to bury her indignation and anger at his choice. He had likely expected her to react with the same disbelief that her sister had, and indeed, she might have if she had not already known about her father's agreement. A shudder of repulsion traced a cold path down her spine.

"Of course," she said.

"He will be good for you." Her father sounded relieved, likely pleased that she had agreed so easily. "I know you may not understand that now, but you will."

"I am sure."

Silence settled between them all, heavy and awkward. After what felt like an eternity, their father cleared his throat. "I shall leave you both to your art."

He left. Bridget listened for the sound of his retreating footsteps before sighing and slumping her shoulders.

"What is he thinking?" Anna asked, her eyes wide with disbelief. "You cannot marry that man!"

"I do not know that I have much of a choice," Bridget said. "I am sure that our father has good reasons for his decision."

"That does not change the fact that Lord Thornton is very old and you are not. Besides, after that scene at the Hamilton ball, I cannot believe our father believes him a suitable husband for anyone!" Anna laughed, the sound edged with anxiety. "A man who cannot control his emotions, who lashes out at innocent servants! What could be redeemable about such a dreadful man?"

His wealth, Bridget thought bitterly.

"Perhaps, if you find a better suitor," Anna said. "then our father will be forced to concede that his choice is flawed."

"I would have to find one quickly," Bridget said.

She knew it was futile, though. Even if she did find a genuine suitor, any man would be dissuaded from marrying her once he discovered she had no dowry to speak of. However, her father had not told her that she had no dowry. Bridget narrowed her eyes, thinking. If she just happened to find a superior suitor, she could hardly be blamed for allowing him to pursue her. Bridget's father would not wish to offend any lord of the ton, so she might be able to buy herself some time.

She thought once more of Rose's plan for her and the duke to feign as though they were courting. It was a ruse that could not last forever, but Bridget did not need it to be lasting arrangement. She simply needed for the courtship to be long enough for her to find a way to clear her father's debts or for Lord Thornton to lose interest in her.

"You could do it," Anna said. "You are witty and beautiful. You are skilled at the pianoforte and a gifted dancer. Any man of the ton would be fortunate to have you as his wife."

"You may be right," Bridget said slowly.

If she could not find a suitor, she could certainly pretend to have one. Rose's plan was just absurd enough that no one would expect it, either. Bridget merely had to coax His Grace into agreeing to the plan.

"I believe I shall retire for the evening," Bridget said, rising. "I plan to call on Rose in the morning, and I wish to be well-rested for my visit."

Anna's expression softened. "Are you going to tell her the dreadful news?"

Bridget sighed. "Anna, I—I must confess that I already suspected that something like this might happen."

"What?"

"I overheard our father speaking to Lord Thornton about a marriage between us," Bridget explained, "but I did not wish to distress you with the news. I also thought it best to say nothing until the arrangement was announced, in case our father changed his feelings on the matter."

"Oh, Bridget! You should have told me," Anna said gently. "I would have borne the burden of the knowledge with you."

"I know," Bridget said, smiling. "Thank you."

That was precisely why she had not told her sister. It was also why she did not intend to tell Anna about Rose's plan. Anna deserved an unburdened Season with devoted suitors whose company she genuinely enjoyed. She did not deserve a Season spent worrying about Bridget's fate.

In the meantime, Bridget would try to find a solution. She had a little while, after all, before Lord Thornton would return to London. She must make the best of it.