face as Wainscott’s had. His were well-intentioned.
Dahlia had to know he would never hurt her.
He was eager to share his ideas with Robbie MacLauren and Joshua the following day. The three of them had offices in the Palace of Westminster, among the oldest of the Parliament buildings. Joshua was a captain in the King’s First Dragoon Guards serving as the War Ministry’s liaison to Parliament. Robbie was a captain in the Royal Scots Dragoons, working as the Scottish liaison to Parliament. Ronan was a captain in the Royal Navy, working as the Admiralty’s liaison to Parliament.
The three of them had grown quite close over the course of their assignments and often tossed ideas back and forth among themselves.
They were now gathered in Ronan’s office, Ronan seated behind his desk, while Joshua and Robbie had made themselves comfortable in the chairs in front of his desk. “What is this about?” Joshua asked, casually stretching his legs in front of him. “Does it have anything to do with yesterday’s incident?”
“Och, sorry I missed it,” Robbie said. “I had to attend a regimental function. A damned boring affair, but I could no’ get out of it. I heard all about the excitement that went on at Joshua’s place. How did the little pixie take her sister’s humiliation?”
Ronan arched an eyebrow. “You mean Heather? Not well at all. She’s very close with Dahlia and cried along with her every time Dahlia burst into tears. I spent the entire time trying to calm both of them down.”
Joshua nodded. “Heather is very soft-hearted. She adores her sisters. It could not have been easy for her to see one of them suffering. She was supposed to make her come-out with Dahlia, but I think both of them just want to hide out in the Farthingale home until the season is over. Of course, Holly is completely overset by what happened. She cried all night, too.”
Ronan was not surprised. Holly was the eldest of the three and extremely protective of her sisters.
“I think Holly expected everything to be right as roses once she gave that book to Dahlia.” Joshua shook his head and sighed. “Instead, she saw her sister humiliated and spurned. She blames herself for not seeing Wainscott for the bastard he is. Now that the damage has been done, she doesn’t know what to do to make things right.”
“Holly doesn’t need to do anything. I’m working on the problem.” Ronan took a deep breath and leaned forward in his chair. “I’ve agreed to read The Book of Love with Dahlia.”
Robbie shot out of his seat. “Are ye bloody insane? Och, ye looby. Ye know what’s going to happen next. Ye may as well pick out a ring and stick it through yer nose, for she’s going to be leading ye about by it before ye finish reading the first chapter.”
Joshua’s mouth was agape. “Good Lord, not you, too? Are you sure about this, Ronan? Robbie’s right. Have you lost your sanity?”
He arched an eyebrow. “Did you?”
“No, of course not. Marrying Holly is the best thing I ever did.” Joshua rolled back his head and groaned. “What is it about Brayden men and Farthingale women? First Romulus. Then Finn. Then me. Now you. I’m not one for superstition, but there is something about that book. If you read it with Dahlia, just know that you are done for. There is no turning back.”
Ronan winced. “Josh, I know. I think it is already too late for me.”
His brother’s eyes widened, and he laughed in disbelief. “Blessed saints! You’re serious?”
He nodded. “But Dahlia isn’t ready for another suitor yet. Wainscott completely destroyed her confidence. Worse, he’s destroyed her trust in men. So I’m not going to say anything to her until we finish reading that book. And I have another plan I’d like to discuss with both of you.”
Robbie had crossed to the window to stare out at the Thames, taking a moment to watch the boats sailing along swiftly flowing waters. He now turned back to Ronan with a dazed look on his face. “This is a calamity. All my friends married. My own brother is married, and so’s my cousin, Thad. All because of that damn book.” He ran a hand roughly through his hair. “I want it next. Will ye give it to me when ye’re done with it, Ronan?”
“You too, Robbie? But it isn’t his to give away,” Joshua said. “Heather is getting it next. You’ll have to ask her permission for it.”
“The pixie? Och,