Part 3 (1/2)
Her eyes sparkled with mockery-and a trace of excitement. ”I might enjoy that.”
”Then I definitely won't spank you,” he said, tucking the idea away for revisiting later. She retained the power to surprise him, his gorgeous wife. His headstrong, self-willed, meddling wife. His voice firmed, partly to remind himself that he hadn't come in here to flirt. ”You're out to scupper my plans for a deal with Baildon.”
This time she didn't bother pretending innocence. ”I'm out to achieve a friend's happiness. That's much more important than a few pennies in the family coffers.”
Despite his vexation, he couldn't contain a grunt of laughter. ”A few pennies? Those fields in Hampstead promise to make me thousands. Do you want our children to starve, madam?”
It was Sidonie's turn to look unimpressed. ”Doing it too brown, my love. If you never lifted another finger, our children could eat truffled pheasant off gold dishes until they're ninety.” She paused. ”Child, that is. Unless you know something I don't.”
He'd dearly love to add another occupant to the nursery where his daughter Consuela slept in luxury. His wife distracted him from his point. Deliberately, he knew. ”You've put Elias Thorne up in Barstowe Hall.”
Barstowe was the Merrick family seat, a rambling Jacobean manor of no particular distinction adjoining Ferney. Jonas had devoted most of his life to getting his hands on this tangible symbol of his inheritance. Once he did, after his marriage, the house had been too full of bitter memories. He and his bride had soon settled into Ferney, the elaborate palace he'd built to undermine his vile cousin's pretensions to the Hillbrook t.i.tle. Jonas was currently renovating the ramshackle old place with a view to leasing it.
”How did you know?” Sidonie asked without a trace of apology.
”My love, Barstowe is next door. How did you expect me not to know?” He drew a long-suffering breath. ”Mrs. Bevan saw lights last night so I went over after breakfast to check. Imagine my surprise to find Cam's brother-in-law camping in the south wing.”
”I would have told you,” she said uncomfortably. ”But I thought you wouldn't like it.”
”d.a.m.n it, Sidonie, I don't,” he said with an edge and turned to face out the window. ”It was underhanded.”
”I know,” she said quietly from behind him. ”And you're right to be angry.”
”This infernal house party is meant to get Baildon and Desborough on board. Thanks to last year's antics from Cam and Harry, I've had difficulty gaining a hearing.”
”I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done it. I'll ask Elias to leave today.”
He hated that subdued note. ”You can't help matchmaking. In this case, you're misguided. I have it on good authority that Marianne intends to accept Desborough.”
”Her father's?” Sidonie's skepticism was audible.
”Well, yes. They're suitably matched and she'll make the perfect political hostess.”
His wife sighed behind him. ”Poor Marianne, consigned to marriage with a man almost twice her age, and fated to politeness for the rest of her days.”
Jonas hardened his heart against the regret in his wife's voice. ”She's been bred for it.”
”She's not a prize ewe, Jonas.”
”No, but she's also none of our business.”
”She's a friend. That makes her our concern. I want her to have a loving marriage. A meeting of minds and hearts.” Her voice lowered. ”A marriage like ours.”
”Oh, h.e.l.l, Sidonie, what am I expected to say to that?” He turned at last to find her watching him with a pleading light in her eyes.
She looked so disarmingly earnest. ”You could say you'll help me to throw Marianne and Elias together.”
He took her hand. How could he cling to his displeasure? ”My darling, Elias needs to marry an heiress-and quickly. He must view Marianne as an easy solution to his monetary woes. She'll be better off with Desborough whose regard is at least sincere.”
”I don't believe that about Elias,” Sidonie said stubbornly.
”You know Peter left the Thorne finances in complete disarray.”
”Yes, but I also saw the way Elias and Marianne looked at one another last Christmas.”
”That was months ago.”
”And how they looked at one another at the Chetwell ball last week.”
”You're a romantic.”
”You made me one.”
Impatience firmed his lips. ”If I get involved in this mess-and I'm not saying I will-I'll lose any chance of convincing Baildon or Desborough to work with me. They're men of influence.”
”If they keep alienating people like Cam and you, I suspect their influence isn't going to last.”
”Perhaps. But I have plans for that Hampstead land.”
”You'll find somewhere else.”
”Your confidence is rea.s.suring.”
”I can't see a clever man like Elias being poor forever.”
”I admit I was struck with his ac.u.men when he worked with Cam on that ca.n.a.l scheme. And he's quick to find possibilities in new ideas. I hear he's involved in using steam to power transport.”
Sidonie's smile was wry. ”Be careful. You'll talk yourself into agreeing with me.”
A short laugh escaped him. ”The Thornes are reckless by nature. Elias's dabbling in science could merely be another symptom of inherited rashness, like Peter's gambling.”
She sighed and dropped in a discouraged slump onto the window seat. ”I like Elias. I like Marianne. She needs a chance to discover who she really is. Her father's brought her up to be the feminine ideal. Quiet. Calm. Biddable.”
A smile tugged at Jonas's lips. ”You make her sound a complete bore.”
Sidonie didn't smile back. ”I fear if she marries Desborough, boredom is all her future holds. You have to admit she was amazingly brave when Cam married Pen.”
”Cam and Pen are meant for one another. They always were. Even a thickheaded fellow like me can see that.”
”But in finding one another, they hurt Marianne.”
He s.h.i.+fted to sit beside her. ”You want everyone to have a happy ending.”
This time she did smile and when he took her hand, she leaned her ruffled dark head on his shoulder. Her sweet scent filled his senses and he kissed her crown.
”Of course I do.” She paused. ”Do you really want me to ask Elias to leave?”
”You could.” It was his turn to pause as he stared into the pretty room, his mind working through strategies and consequences. ”Now you've set up your pieces, my love, let's leave the game's outcome to fate.”