Page 5 of The Best Marquess

“About time you graced us with your presence,” said Lady Kingsford, her lilac gown pristine and diamonds discreetly winking from her throat and wrists.

“Looking pretty, though,” said Georgiana earnestly, stunning in rose pink as they walked toward the carriage waiting outside. “Devonshire will fall madly in love with you, I’m sure.”

“I’m equally sure he won’t,” Pippa replied.

I’ll make sure of that.

Trapped with two women determined to extoll the virtues of hasty marriages, it seemed to take forever to reach Upper Brook Street. But when they finally arrived, Pippa scrambled out of the carriage and marched into the townhouse, thankfully remembering to greet the hostess before commencing her desperate quest to find Finn. Once she’d located him, as usual surrounded by the bevy of beautiful, laughing women she called Finn’s Regiment, Pippa near-sprinted over.

“Lord Knighton!” she said, bobbing a clumsy curtsy. Oddly, he didn’t make his usual jest about collapsing shipping rigging. In fact, his objectively handsome face looked grim; lines of tension narrowed his chocolate-brown eyes, and his square jaw was clenched.

“Lady Pippa,” he replied, bowing to the Regiment before ushering her away. “You are a vision of loveliness, as always. Perhaps a seat in the back row?”

She nodded at their long-established code. Front row meant they actually wanted to watch the performance; back row indicated a need to talk. That they had been friends since childhood and society was terrified of both her grandmother and his father meant no one fussed if they conversed sans chaperone. “Definitely the back row.”

Each paused at the refreshment table for a glass of lemonade to keep up appearances, before settling into the two seats nearest the drawing room wall.

Finn leaned closer. “What is your disaster, Pippet?” he asked in a hushed tone.

At the nickname only he dared, a blend of Pippa and poppet that she unaccountably found endearing, angry tears threatened. “The very worst,” she began. “Grandmother has decided I’m to marry Devonshire, his family agree, and the man himself will be attending a soiree at Kingsford House next week to commence our official courtship. Lilian is indisposed so cannot assist. Georgiana would serve me up on a platter with cream sauce, she is so eager to wed her mystery beau. I’m doomed, Finn. I’ll be a bloody damned duchess in mere weeks, forced to spend the rest of eternity in my personal purgatory, traipsing between parties and greenhouses. I couldn’t bear it. I don’t love the duke. He’s not my hero.”

“I know,” he growled.

Startled at his fierce, almost primitive tone, Pippa blinked. Finn never spoke like that. He was the playful spaniel, not the menacing wolf.

Wasn’t he?

Even more unsettled, she delved into her reticule. “Would you like a caramel?”

“Maybe later.”

Good lord. Finn never refused a sweet. Ever. The situation was officially alarming. “You’d best tell me your disaster. I feel like between us, the apocalypse approaches.”

“It does. Pinehurst cut off my allowance.”

Her jaw dropped. “What? Why?”

“Shhhh!”

Pippa sipped her lemonade until the curious onlookers grew bored and continued with their own conversations. “Why?” she repeated in a whisper.

Finn rubbed a hand across his face. “It’s complicated. I’ve been running a business from a house in Golden Square—”

“A business! And you didn’t tell me? For how long? Selling what?”

“Yes, a business. I wanted it to make a profit before saying anything. Ummmm, three months or so. As to what…I can’t reveal that here. But I need that allowance. It pays the rent, and for materials and employees. One staff member lives at the house with her adorable toddler, and she is the kindest, nicest woman, but…she is unmarried. Father found out and exploded like gunpowder. You know how he is.”

Yes. She did. Lord Pinehurst was second on her loathe list after Grandmother. “Are you cut off forever?”

“He said we can talk if I evict the mother and daughter. Which I won’t do. So, I’ll be penniless until I turn twenty-five. Or marry,” he finished with a humorless laugh.

“No, you won’t. I’ll lend you the money,” said Pippa impatiently. “I’m annoyed you didn’t ask me to be an investor, but shall magnanimously forgive such a shocking lapse.”

Finn’s eyes widened. “That is a spectacularly generous offer, but I need a rather large amount. For another year’s rent, staff wages, business expenses until we turn a regular profit…about two hundred pounds or so.”

“Well, you know I’m frugal with pin money, then Gabriel went and doubled the amount after he took over the family finances, so I have enough. I’ll arrange a draft. Now, back to my problem. Thwarting an unwanted marriage.”

He tapped his chin thoughtfully. “The dowager won’t retreat, nor will the duke. You have to be unavailable.”