Page 7 of A Lady by Chance

“She will wed Lieutenant Chalmers in seven days,” the duke said.

“And if he doesn’t like her?” Lucy persisted.

“He will be smitten.” The Marriage Maker’s smile flashed again.

“What if she refuses him?” Olivia asked.

Silence answered from the bed, and when all gazes turned there, Doctor Belch held up a small vial of laudanum. “She needs rest.” He tucked the bottle back into his medicinal carry-all. “Bring her a good stout broth for supper and have someone sit with her through the night. Allow her a spot of whisky. Perhaps—” he glanced at Chastity “—have your cook give you some fresh liver slices and place them over her forehead and eye for the swelling. By morning, she should be feeling much better.”

“We shall hope so, Doctor.” Chastity smiled at him.

Their father thanked the doctor as he hurried to the door, clearly wishing to escape any consultation on desired—or undesired—marriages. And sure enough, as soon as Doctor Belch’s footsteps no longer echoed up from the nearby stairwell, Lucy hurried to where the duke stood near the window and grasped his arm. “You must do something, Papa. The lieutenant will despise Jessica. He will make her so unhappy, then run off to sail the world. He will—”

“He will do no such thing, Lady Lucy.” Sir Stirling drew all eyes to him. “Have you so little faith in me? Patrick will not return to the navy. His last ship took a cannon blast and shrapnel hit his thigh. You wouldn’t know it to see him, he refuses to limp. Most times, anyway. But he is now wholly devoted to Baldain, and he shall be solely engaged in beginning a family with his new wife.” His gaze shifted to the bed where Jessica slept. “I cannot think of a more suitable woman for him.”

The duke turned toward the window, but his three daughters glimpsed the hard set of his mouth in the instant before he tugged aside the drapery to reveal the newly falling rain pattering against the glass.

The sisters exchanged glances.

Yet again, their father sided with Sir Stirling. No matter how fervently they argued, they would lose. The Marriage Maker had struck again and, despite his past successes, poor Jessica was doomed.