“There you are.”
“You found me.” Wiping the tears from her face, Miranda smiled with what she hoped would pass as anything other than heartbreak and disillusionment under her Aunt Sarah’s watchful gaze. “You’re up early.”
“Silly gel, I have only just arrived home.” Sarah sat on the edge of the bed. “So how did your walk in the garden go?”
Easing up in the bed so her back rested against the cushioned headboard, Miranda plucked at a thread on one of her pillows. “You saw that?”
Her aunt rolled her eyes. As if Miranda could have left the ballroom without the notice of the woman. “Of course I saw it, and I would have been worried if you were in the same room with the earl and didn’t take the opportunity to speak with him. I suppose you got an answer from him.”
“I supposed I did.”
“Well?” Aunt Sarah huffed. ”Don’t leave me in suspense.”
“His lordship had not an inkling of who I was.”
“He hasn’t seen you since you were…honestly, I can’t remember how old you were.”
Shaking her head, Miranda pulled the quilt tighter around herself. “No. I meant he didn’t know who Miranda Beauchamp was.”
Sarah gave her a perplexed frown. “That can’t be correct. There is a signed contract stating the two of you were betrothed as infants.”
Yes, but signed when Andrew had been but a week old, and Miranda yet to be born. “Have you ever seen the contract?” she asked.
“No, but I can’t imagine your mother lying about it. It made sense, and your father spoke at length that combining the two estates would lead to all those great things men care about; it would right a wrong, and other such drivel. To be honest, I rarely listened past the first few words. My brother bored saints. And I am no saint. And, neither was your mother. She was more of a—”
Miranda had grown up hearing how despised her mother had been by anyone who knew her. “Aunt Sarah, please, not today.” Changing the subject, she said, “I wonder if Daniel can locate the contract?”
“If anyone can tell us where it might be, it would be your idiot brother. Or the family solicitor here in London would surely have it. Shall I send a missive asking a representative to come meet with us?”
“Would you?”
“Of course, dear. Although I don’t see what difference it might make.”
It would make all the difference in the world. “I need to discern if I am free to live my life, I suppose. Am I free of my obligation to Lord Windenshire?”
“Now that is something I might be able to help you with. Are you sure you want out of the contract?”
Nodding, Miranda moved closer to her.
“Very well. The best way to get out of this marriage contract is to compromise yourself—” Aunt Sarah frowned. “Don’t look at me as if you are shocked. And you can close your mouth while you are at it, not at all ladylike. If you aren’t pure, no one will fight the legality of the agreement made between two foolish men. I am familiar with a woman who helps set up evenings between the well-to-do.”
Miranda stopped her jaw from dropping, but only just, not sure if the shock came from her aunt being aware of such a woman, or because she spoke about it so openly with her. “How do you know of this?”
“I might be your maiden aunt, but I am no maiden. I decided years ago life would be easier without a man to be chained to, and I am one of the few women of our time blessed with freedom and money to live my life the way I choose. I, too, had an aunt once. Aunt Milly left me everything she owned so I would not need a man to be reliant upon.”
“I’ve never heard of Milly.”
“You wouldn’t. My brother thought it unfair for her vast estate to go to me, a simple bluestocking. Milly’s name never crossed your father’s lips once she died.” Sarah waved a hand. “Now back to what’s important…I have actually used Madame Evangeline’s services twice. Both resulted in long-term, mutually satisfying relationships for me and the men.”
“Aunt Sarah....” Miranda’s cheeks burned, the heat of embarrassment threatening to engulf her. “I don’t think this is a conversation we should be having.”
“Don’t be a ninny. Who else is going to have this talk with you? Your mother, who ran off with that officer to the wilds of Australia? Perhaps your brother. No? Darling, if you want to get yourself out of this asinine contract, then you have to do some things you might not be comfortable with. I support you either way.”
“This Madame Evangeline…she won’t tell anyone?”