Page 48 of A Match of Misfortune

Even in the candlelight, the lovely shade of pink coloring Cecily’s cheeks was easily discernible. “Yes, of course.”

“Perhaps I should write to him also,” Nash said. “That way, I might request his permission. I’d hate for him to think me negligent of my gentlemanly responsibility.”

“I assure you, there is no need.” Cecily sounded resolute on the point. “He will forgive your oversight, considering how swiftly this has all occurred.”

“Let us hope the gentlemen of the ton are equally forgiving,” Lady Bridget said with a sigh. “For I imagine there will be many of them with broken hearts and wounded pride. Particularly poor Lord Harlow. Though I must admit, the timing could be rather perfect for Mr. Markham. What with Cecily being a darling of Society, this could be just the thing to help recover his reputation. For why else would he capture Cecily’s heart if he were not worthy of it?”

The thought struck Nash soundly. It was true. Once others were told of his betrothal to Cecily, they would assume his luck was not as poor as they had previously supposed. Not when most of the eligible gentlemen in the upper crust wished to secure her affections. Even if he were still blackballed from White’s because of Featherbottom’s vote—and the man would undoubtedly vote against him—it would make the reason behind Nash’s exclusion seem rooted in jealousy more than his current state of misfortune.

“We must take advantage of her good standing,” Lady Bridget continued. “Make certain you two are seen with one another as much as possible over the next several weeks by planning outings instead of spending every day in the drawing room receiving gentlemen callers.”

“Yes,” Cecily agreed, surprising Nash with her resolve. “I believe that would be the correct course of action.”

He appraised her, unable to decipher much excepting that she seemed to pendulum from regretting having enacted the ruse to being confident in the plan. The two of them would certainly need to speak in private, and he had to admit he was very much looking forward to it.

“Shall we toast the happy couple?” Rothsburg raised his glass, and the others did likewise.

Nash lifted his cup higher than them all, his gaze on Cecily. “To you, my love.”

She stared at him a moment before bringing her cup to her lips and tilting her head back to drain the remaining contents of her glass. It seemed the pendulum had swung again. And yet for Nash, it seemed this was the first bit of luck he’d encountered since the Darlingtons’ ball.

Chapter Sixteen

Cecily had felt uneasy all morning as she readied for the Rothsburgs to arrive. She hated not being entirely honest with the Markhams, but it had been Mrs. Markham’s visible heartache at the prospect of Nash’s immediate return to India that had finally given her the courage to implement her haphazard plan. In hindsight, she likely should have spoken to Nash about it privately first, but it was too late now. Besides, it truly was the best course of action. Not only for the Markhams and for her, but for Nash as well. If Bridget’s assumptions were correct, and she believed they were, Cecily could help him restore his reputation.

The carriage ride back to Marylebone when dinner had finished had been the worst part of the whole ordeal. Adelaide had been rightly curious about how their relationship had progressed. She questioned them ceaselessly the entire way while Mr. and Mrs. Markham listened to Cecily bumble through a hastily contrived explanation made all the worse by Nash repeatedly adding unhelpful comments. The ride ended with Mrs. Markham explaining that, all things considered, they would need to instigate a new set of rules to ensure their reputations remained intact since they were currently living under the same roof and not yet married.

Not that Cecily would complain about the new precautions. They were the reason she hadn’t yet spoken privately with Nash to explain her reasons for their temporary betrothal. Not that he had seemed upset by the evening’s strange development. Quite the opposite, in fact. Nash had appeared entirely amused by all of it. Which was why she dreaded the forthcoming conversation she would have to have with him. He would surely take the whole thing to mean something it did not and tease her mercilessly.

Adelaide glanced up from her filigree project when Cecily entered the drawing room. Thankfully, it was only she and Mrs. Markham present. “You look lovely, Cecily.”

“Thank you.” She peeked over her sister’s shoulder at the nearly completed box. The intricate floral pattern was exquisite. “Do you think you will finish today?”

“I hope to.”

“Should I look for something else for you to filigree while we’re at the shops this morning?”

Adelaide smiled. “Perhaps a frame?”

Cecily mindlessly gathered Adelaide’s loose blonde hair while she continued working, twisting it and settling it down the center of her back. “Do you require more paper as well?”

“I have enough to get me started on my next project, but thank you.”

“So you are to head to Bond Street?” Mrs. Markham asked, continuing to work on her sampler.

“We are. Then we are to return to the Rothsburgs’ for morning calls.”

Her gaze lifted. “And you will share your happy news with others?”

Cecily gave a light clearing of her throat. “That is the plan.”

“I imagine it will be nice that you needn’t consider any further suitors.”

Cecily shifted uneasily. She was not the least bit surprised Mrs. Markham suspected the legitimacy of the betrothal, but Cecily was determined to see it through. “Yes.”

A distant knock sounded, and Adelaide smiled. “They are here. You must promise to tell me everything upon your return.”

“I always do,” she said, placing a farewell kiss atop her sister’s head.