out of a deadly whirlpool of imaginings, “we can’t take her out of London, and she would refuse to move into one of our houses purely to spare us Sir Reginald.”
“Let him come to my house,” Cam growled, sounding like the man prone to fighting he was reputed to be.
Suddenly, Graham saw the man in a whole new light and made a note never to anger him.
Graham was a man of above-average height and an athletic build, but he would be no match for Camden Vale.
Tony sighed, ignoring Cam’s dark invitation. “At least with Amelia staying with her, Edith will be sure to garner a few more invitations than she might have done on her own. Amelia is very popular, and the Perrys well-respected; once word gets out of the friendship, Edith will be invited absolutely everywhere.”
“Good.” Henshaw nodded, taking a long drink from his glass. “Rumors already fly about her, so we will need to see that she is seen in the right company and under favorable circumstances. Sir Reginald will likely object to all of it and start his own rumors about her. That won’t help Edith make connections.”
Graham glanced at the man in surprise. “So, we are trying to get her a husband? I thought Miss Wright’s idea was vetoed.”
“We?” Tony repeated with raised brows. “You’re joining in?”
Apparently so. It had been clear to Graham the moment he’d exchanged nods with Edith, but he hadn’t admitted such until this moment. He was committed now. He lifted a shoulder in a shrug.
“Ingram brought me in, and I feel honor-bound to see this through.”
“Good man.” Henshaw thumped his back once. “And no, not getting her a husband. We’re not going to force anything, but if Edith happens to form a connection with a gentleman of whom we approve…”
Graham rolled his eyes and rested his elbows on the table. “Surely, there’s another way to keep her protected. Or why not just marry her yourself, Henshaw? You seem close enough to her already; it would be a comfortable match.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, he hated the idea. It was the simplest of all the ideas yet, but it was undoubtedly the most distasteful one.
Funny, that.
Henshaw grunted once. “I offered already.”
“You did?” at least three of them asked.
He nodded. “Before I knew the situation in its entirety. I call on her once a week, you know, to check on things and make sure she wants for nothing. I know how comfortable the match would be, and likely it would be exceptional. But she refused, and it is for the best.”
“Is it?” Tony asked with more interest than Graham would have thought. “I would have sworn the two of you were destined. Georgie and I have wagered on it.”
Henshaw glowered at his friend. “What have I told you about making matches for me? I respect Edith immensely. It would be a good marriage, but it is not to be, and both of us are happier that it is so.”
“I bet you are,” Ingram murmured under his breath, smiling at something Graham didn’t catch, and Cam snickered alongside him.
Tony, it seemed, was just as clueless. “What was that?” he asked.
Ingram waved it off. “Nothing. So, we’re not getting Henshaw down the aisle, and Edith will be out and about, which could also give Sir Reginald more chances to make trouble. How do we account for that?”
“Ensure one of us is present at each event?” Tony suggested. “We can keep an eye on Edith and intervene where and when it is necessary.”
“Which works well, if one of us is invited to the same thing,” Cam pointed out. “I don’t know about the rest of you, but I don’t move in particularly exalted circles, no matter how beloved my wife is.”
Henshaw nodded slowly, his dark brow wrinkled with thought. “The Spinsters are fairly good at intervening at the events where there would be mostly ladies, but as for the rest…” He looked over at Tony, one brow lifting. “What about Miranda?”
Tony, Cam, and Ingram all crossed themselves in a strange motion of unison.
“Who’s Miranda?” Graham felt the need to ask, if for no other reason than for explanation of their actions.
“My stepmother,” Tony murmured with a weak smile. “I love her dearly.” He sounded as if he would say more on the subject, but just left the statement there, which made the others laugh knowingly.
Graham was just as confused as before. “And she would be helpful?”
Four sets of eyes stared at him in