Daring Deception Part 38

And if it had not. He refused to think further on that possibility, which led only to despair.

"Good morning, Sea brooke," said Sir Thomas, entering the pafiour.

"I.

am told Frederica has just gone out, but she should be back within an hour or so. She always was an early riser. "

"No matter," said the earl.

"It was you I wished to speak with."

Gavin waited until Sir Thomas had made himself comfortable before launching into his speech.

"As you know, my betrothal to your sister cur red as a result of a gaming debt on your part.

At the time, I was badly in need of funds, and this seemed my best chance of obtaining them.

However, that does not excuse what I did. I essentially forced you to engage your sister to me, without making the slightest effort to discover her feelings on the matter. "

"Forced?" echoed Thomas.

"No, I say, that's coming it a bit strong" -- He stopped as Lord S~abrooke held up his hand.

"Please, hear me out. Whatever your thoughts were at the time, the fact remains that neither one of us consulted Miss Chesterton's wishes. Having met her, I realize now that she could no doubt have her choice of any number of highly placed, wealthy gentlemen for a husband. It seems most unfair to hold her to this betrothal, which was made without her consent."

Sir Thomas appeared nonplused, but not, as Gavin had feared, angry or distressed.

"But my wager... ?" he stammered.

"I am willing to forgive the debt entirely, and return what you settled on your sister. I have eently come into funds that will enable me to live quite comfortably without it, and I cannot rest easy knowing what we have done."

He watched Sir Thomas keenly, ting to decipher the conflicting emotions on the young man's face. "Is your sister truly set on the match?" he asked in sudden concern.

"If so, of course I cannot renege."

"No, no, I don't think so. In fact, she was dead set against it when I first broke the news" -- said Thomas candidly "--though she seems to have come round now. Still, twelve thousand pounds..."

"A small price to pay to avert years of possible unhappiness, both for your sister and myself.

And I have had use of the money for more than a month, do not forget. I'll gladly consider it a loan. " He managed to summon a smile.

"What about the announcement? It's been in the papers this week and more."

"She may cry off, of course, and the public will be duly notified. It seems only fair that I be the jilted party, as she was blameless in all this."

Thomas exhaled noisily.

"Well! Won't Freddie be flummoxed when I tell her! And after all her scheming" -- He broke off, looking almost guilty, but brightened at once.

"Very well, then, Sea brooke. It shall be as you say. I must admit, I am relieved. I would never have forgiven myself if Frederica had been unhappy.

This way, it will be her own choice."

"Quite," said Gavin shortly, eager to be gone. He had little doubt that Miss Chesterton would avail herself of the opportunity he had given her, especially now that he knew what her feelings had been at first. She had not seemed comfortable in his company last night, and now he could understand why. Looking about him, he noticed for the first time the veritable garden of bouquets that had been delivered, and thought, with a pang that surprised him, that she would have no trouble finding someone to replace him.

"I'll be off, then. Be so kind as to send me word of when the retraction will appear in the

DARING DBCBPTION.

papers. " He rose, nodded briefly and departed, trying to convince himself that he had done the only honourable thing.

"Wo~q'T YOU come in, Mr. Westlake?" asked Frederica when the carriage pulled up in Audley Square. She spoke automatically, her thoughts still bus' fly engaged with how she might best arrange to speak privately with Lord Sea brooke. Mr. Westlake agreed at once, obviously loath to part from Miss Milliken just yet. The three of them repaired to the par lout where Mr.

Westlake politely exclaimed over the flower arrangements.

"Lovely. Quite lovely. And your success is very much to Charlotte's credit, if I may say so."

He turned another lingering look on Miss Mil- liken.

On impulse, Frederica said,

"Would you do us the hondur of dining with us this evening, Mr. Westlake?

Our cook is excellent, as Milly can a.s.sure you."

When he allowed that he would very much like to join them, she said, "I shall just nip downstairs to tell Cook." As quickly as their courts.h.i.+p seemed to be prog~sing, Frederica felt that a moment alone might be all that was needed to bring it to a satisfactory conclusion. Leaving the parlour door slightly ajar to preserve the proprieties, she walked unhurriedly down to the kitchens.

An extra place at dinner presented no problems, and she was soon done with her consultation with the cook. She was considering what other duty she might perform to give Milly and Mr. Westlake more time to themselves when Thomas came out of the breakfast-room, hawing just finished his own belated meal. "Freddie! The very person I wanted to see.

You will never believe what occurred while you were out! "

Mindful of the occupants of the pafiour, Frederica steered her brother back into the breakfast-room.

"What is it, Thomas?" she asked.

"You look inordinately pleased with yourself. Have you placed a bet on a winning horse?" ' "Even better," he said, beaming.

"Sea- brooke has cancelled my debt to him!"

"Cancelled it?" For a moment, Frederica's mind refused to function.

"What do you mean, Thomas? I thought my betrothal to him had discharged it.

Did you not say that twelve thousand pounds of my inheritance had gone to pay it?"

Thomas regarded her patiently. " " That's just it. He has offered to repay the amount in full. You no longer have to marry him, Freddie! " Frederica felt as though the world were crumbling around her.

"He... he has broken off our betrothal?"

"Well, not precisely. He left that for you to do, since he could not cry off in honour. But you are now perfectly free to do so! Is it not a superb jest? When I think of the lengths you went to to free yourself from him, and now he releases us from the obligation as easily as that!" He snapped his fingers.

"I vow, I laughed for ten minutes together after he left."

Frederica knew her face must have gone rather white, for Thomas abruptly sobered somewhat.