Blackmore is insistent that love is the main criteria in matchmaking.”
“Then you make her think that you are looking for love, and you will find a sensible girl who shares your sentiments,” Martin proposed.
“Do you believe that would work?”
“I do,” he replied. “Furthermore, Miss Blackmore should be able to find you a myriad of ladies who fit your criteria, and you shall have your pick.”
Edward bobbed his head. “I am beginning to see the validity of your suggestion, but this will require me to spend additional time with the vexing Miss Blackmore.”
“Some people find her charming.”
“Well, I certainly don’t,” he remarked.
“Good,” Martin declared, rising, “then you will be immune to her charms.”
“Meaning?”
Martin smirked. “You wouldn’t want to fall for the matchmaker, would you?”
Edward shook his head vigorously. “Heavens, no. I can barely tolerate the woman.”
“That is what I wanted to hear,” Martin said. “Now go hire Miss Blackmore to find you a wife.”
“Right now?” he asked, glancing over at the window.
Martin placed his glass on the tray. “You only just finished supper,” he commented. “It is entirely appropriate to make house calls at this hour.”
“But this isn’t a house call,” he stated. “It is business related.”
“All the more the reason to visit Miss Blackmore,” Martin encouraged with a grin on his lips.
Edward rose. “Good point,” he said. “I shall go speak to Miss Blackmore right away.”
“I’ll see myself out.” While Martin started walking towards the door, he remarked over his shoulder, “Enjoy your chat with Miss Blackmore.”
After his friend departed from the room, Edward walked over to the door and shouted, “Garvey!”
His butler appeared a few moments later. “Yes, milord.”
“See to it that my coach is brought around front,” he ordered. “I have an urgent matter I must attend to.”
“As you wish,” Garvey replied, spinning on his heel to do his bidding.
Edward clasped his hands together. A wife might be the solution to his problems. Or the start of new ones. He had yet to discover which.
Katherine had just closed the ledger on her desk when Amelia walked into the study with a knowing grin on her face.
“I thought I would find you here,” her sister said, coming to sit across from her. “You disappeared so quickly after dinner that I assumed you had work to do.”
“It’s true, but I keep getting distracted thinking about the dinner party last night. I still find it remarkable that Kitty actually was conversing with Mr. Dunn over dams.”
Amelia smiled. “I thought it was a roaring success.”
“As did I.”
Glancing over her shoulder at the open door, Amelia remarked, “Even Hannah is pleased with how well Miss Olivia conducted herself.”
“Miss Olivia did well,” Katherine agreed. “But she was rather blunt as she expressed her disinterest in dams.”
“Mr. Dunn did go on at great length about the different types of dams,” Amelia said. “Even I lost interest when he taught us how to build our own crude dam out of sticks.”
Katherine grinned. “That was quite informative.”
“But not at all useful,” Amelia remarked, laughing.
“I agree.”
“Would you care to play a card game with me?” Amelia asked, leaning back in her chair. “I’m dreadfully bored, and I have no desire to work on my needlework.”
Katherine pushed the ledger away from her. “I believe I will,” she replied. “I just finished reviewing the ledger anyway.”
“You work too hard,” her sister remarked. “Perhaps we should hire another man of business.”
“I enjoy balancing the ledgers.”
Amelia shook her head good-naturedly. “You are very peculiar, dear sister, and I mean that in the most kind and loving way.”
“There is nothing wrong with being slightly odd,” Katherine contended, rising.
“I would agree with you,” Amelia said. “I just wish everyone accepted their uniqueness rather than feel embarrassed or ashamed of it.”
Before Katherine came around her desk, Cooper stepped into the room and announced, “Lord Berkshire is here to call upon you.”
“Botheration,” Katherine muttered under her breath.
Amelia laughed. “I take it that does not please you.”
“No, it does not,” she replied.
“Would you care for me to stay?”
She shook her head. “That won’t be necessary. I am sure our meeting will be brief, and I will be playing cards with you in no time.”
“Then I shall be waiting for you in the drawing room,” Amelia said, turning to leave.
Katherine smiled at the butler. “Please send Lord Berkshire in.”
“As you wish, miss,” Cooper replied.
She remained standing, wondering why Lord Berkshire was calling on her at such a late hour. Fortunately, she didn’t have to wait long before he walked confidently into the study.
“Lord Berkshire,” she greeted. “What an