until tomorrow morning to give him a name.”
Robbie sat up in his chair. “Och, dare I guess who ye’re going to choose?”
He ran a hand roughly through his hair. “It can only be Dahlia, of course. But I hesitate to ask her. She’s already been destroyed by Wainscott’s deceptions. How can I ask her to be complicit in this?”
“And yet,” Joshua said, “if you choose someone else, how will Dahlia ever believe you care for her? More important, how will she ever trust you when she sees you’ve dumped this supposed girl of your dreams after a fortnight? She’ll fear you will do the same to her.”
He nodded. “She may never trust me, no matter what I do.”
“But ye think ye have to take the risk and ask her to help out?” Robbie asked.
“I can easily pretend that I’m falling in love with her since I am doing exactly that.” He lolled his head back and groaned. “However, I’ll scare her off if I just come out and admit I love her now. The Wainscott incident is still too raw. So for now, I will just tell her it is all a pretense. Once the vote occurs, I’ll let her know how I truly feel.”
Robbie rose and gave him a companionable pat on the shoulder. “I thought my cousin Thad made a mess of his courtship. I dinna think anyone could mess it up worse. But I think ye’re about to do it, laddie. Good luck to ye. Ye’re going to need it.”
Joshua remained in his chair, saying nothing until Robbie left. “I think Stoke, Lady Melinda, and the Lord Admiral are the least of your problems.”
Ronan regarded his brother. “What do you mean?”
“You haven’t thought of Miranda. She has just learned that her baby boy is moving into his own house. Now suddenly, you’ll be courting Dahlia. I love that woman, but there is no telling what she will do to you if she finds out what is really going on. All she will see is that you haven’t been courting Dahlia so much as using her to advance your political goals.”
“Bloody hell. Josh, just keep her contained. I had better let Finn and Tynan in on this, too. Maybe she’ll listen if all four of her sons are on their knees, begging her not to get involved.”
Joshua rose and patted him on the back. “We don’t stand a chance against her. But good luck, Ronan. You’ll have your hands full these next few weeks.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
“Do you think Ronan will stop by today, Violet?” Dahlia peered out the entry hall window to stare at the front gate. “Where is he? What if he’s detained and cannot make it?”
Violet laughingly dragged her away from the window. “He would have sent word if he had to cancel. Come into the parlor and sit down. You can give me decorating ideas while we wait for him.”
Heather had already taken a seat in the parlor and was pouring herself a cup of hot cocoa. “Currant scones. My favorite. Thank you, Violet. This all looks delicious.” She stared at the platter of cakes set out on a side table for them.
“There’s tea in the other pot, if you prefer.” Violet sat in a chair beside Heather’s, the two of them purposely leaving an open seat beside Dahlia on the settee.
“Do you think he’ll be irritated with me for reading ahead? I ought to have waited for him before jumping to the next chapters, but yesterday’s meeting went well and left me in better spirits. I couldn’t wait. I’ll read them again with him, of course. Is this how you felt with Romulus?”
Violet blushed. “Well, our circumstances were a little different. We only had a week to figure out if we loved each other. But it was exciting to read the book with him and discover the sort of man he was. Obviously, I quickly realized he was splendid and wonderful, and I fell madly in love with him.”
“It won’t be the same for Ronan and me. He’s reading the book so he can find himself a duke’s daughter to marry. I’m reading it to learn more about men and know which ones will betray me.”
Heather winced. “Oh, Dahlia. That is so harsh. You must think of it as a means to find love. And who is to say Ronan will not fall in love with you? Then you can marry him, and everyone will be happy.”
“No, it won’t happen. He doesn’t think of me