Page 16 of The Earl’s Marriage of Convenience

But as she climbed the stairs to her room, the quiet pressed in—and with it, the cost of everything she carried.

It was exhausting, pretending.

She had done it so long she scarcely knew where the performance ended and she began—only that it had been necessary. That it was necessary.

And as she lay back and closed her eyes, one thought lingered, unwelcome and persistent.

If her plan succeeded … would she ever be permitted to stop?

Or had she only secured herself a lifetime in which the performance must never falter?

That question followed her into sleep.

Chapter Seven

“Try to mind your manners,” Pere chided as she welcomed her brother into her home.

Edwin watched as she speared him with a look that all but said behave. As if he’d done anything else since he’d arrived back home. It was bloody exhausting, wondering how his actions might be interpreted, how they might be perceived and talked about. It was so much easier when everyone just assumed he was blindly charming and of pristine reputation. There was a slight temptation to blame his brother, but rationally, the fault lay on his own shoulders.

He’d been the one who had set up the fight that had gone sideways for Henley, all in an effort to cover his own indiscretions. He’d fed his own brother to the wolves of the gossiping ton without a thought to how it might affect the family.

And when the ton found out, he ran.

But that was in the past, and it appeared society was willing to at least watch and wait before passing too much a cut direct. He’d be thankful for small favors.

“Edwin?” Pere’s voice cut through his musings.

“Ah, yes. What were you saying, sister dear?” He added a wide grin, just to goad her.

“Anytime you call me sister dear I get a shiver up my spine. Nothing good follows. I was merely asking if you knew if mother was attending?” Pere asked with her usual saucy tone, but it was the hesitance in her expression that stopped him short from making a sarcastic reply.

Their mother was a tender topic.

“Ah, she begged off. I’m sure she’d love a visit from you after this week though,” he added, hoping to soften the blow.

“I see.” Pere nodded once, and he glanced to Hawthorne, who had reached out and grasped his wife’s hand.

“Shall we?” Hawthorne gestured with his other hand toward the hall leading to the parlor.

“Yes, of course.” Pere recovered and gave a weak smile. “Dinner will be ready shortly. Is Henley close behind, do you think?”

“I’m actually shocked he didn’t beat me here,” Edwin said as he followed his sister and brother-in-law down the hall.

“Eliza will be down shortly; she had quite the afternoon,” Pere said significantly.

Hawthorne glanced heavenward and shot a look to Edwin. “She’s mentioned this a few times.”

“Clearly, she’s happy with the news,” Edwin offered as he took a seat in the parlor.

“It was quite impressive.” Pere glanced to the hall and then lowered her tone. “No less than ten gentlemen stopped by to pay a visit. She held court like a queen.” She grinned.

Hawthorne nodded. “That’s well and good, but … let’s not pressure her.”

“She’s giving herself plenty of pressure. That’s why I’m telling you all this before she comes down. I reminded her that this is family. She doesn’t need to hurry and marry herself off so she’s not destitute. Good Lord, what a Greek tragedy.”

“Family and all,” Edwin added, earning a dirty glare from his sister.

“I’m glad you reminded her.” Hawthorne patted his wife’s hand as he took a seat beside her. “And you had far too much entertainment watching. Is that the part of the story you’re not revealing? She might have been a queen holding court, but you were the one with the power to send a gentleman off if you wished. You like that sort of control, don’t you?” A wicked gleam lit up Hawthorne’s expression even as Pere swatted him with some force.