The Husband Mission (The Spy Matchmaker #1)(9)

Sir Richard had been home recovering from his wound for more than a year at that time and had assumed guardianship for them, with the help of his man Bixby. In the beginning, her uncle had been of some help to her, but it soon became clear he had no idea what to do with the three of them. His failure had only encouraged his retreat into the bottle.

Katherine had been the one to find them a house when they lost her stepfather's home to his heir, Weldon Amory. Katherine had begged Emma, her stepfather's long-time cook, to come with them. Katherine had made sure Constance received tutoring so she could be received into Society. Katherine had inveigled an old friend of her mother's to stand as Constance's sponsor so her stepsister could be presented at court.



       
         
       
        

And now Katherine intended to see that her wonderful stepsister lived happily ever after.

She wrinkled her nose as a feather from the down comforter tickled it. At some point, she supposed, she'd have to consider what "happily ever after" meant as well. Her twenty-third birthday would be in August. She was too old to have a Season of her own. In truth, she wasn't sure she wanted one. While she loved London with all its amusements and intrigues, she wasn't particularly enamored of parading herself on the marriage mart. The only thing she had saved for a trousseau was her mother's ruby engagement ring, a heavy, ornate piece that suited her no better than it had her gentle mother.

Once Constance was safely wed and Eric enrolled in Eton, as was his due, she thought she would be quite content to keep a small house and cultivate a select circle of friends. She might even purchase herself a harp to replace the one Constance's cousin had spitefully insisted on keeping when they had left the Templeman town house.

But all that depended on Constance marrying in the next six weeks. Lord Borin was the favored candidate. Tomorrow, Katherine would take another step toward betrothing him to her stepsister.

With the plan of attack she had in mind, the poor fellow didn't stand a chance.





Chapter Four


By the time Alex arrived at the Collins's house the following afternoon, he was well pleased with himself. He rather thought the Marquis of Hastings would be proud as well of his reconnaissance, had the man known.

Of course, it hadn't been easy. He had stopped first to question his friend Kevin Whattling, who shared Alex's level of popularity among the ton. The Corinthian was also not above a bit of gossip. Unfortunately, Whattling was on the way to a prizefight. It simply would not do to let him go alone. Only after the roar of the crowd had ceased had Alex had a chance to learn anything from his friend.

It seemed Whattling had already met the new Lord Templeman. The nephew of Constance Templeman's father, he had inherited the title and estates on the death of the former Lord Templeman. Constance's father had amassed his own fortune, however, which he had bequeathed to his only blood daughter. Alex found it surprising that a woman with Miss Templeman's supposed beauty and fortune had not been snatched up for marriage. Giles Sloan, friend to both him and Whattling, pointed out the obvious over dinner at White's that night with their crony Sir Nigel Dillingham.

"She may be a beauty, but she is notoriously finicky." The rotund Sloan nodded his red head sagely. "She even refused to dance with Viscount Darton."

Sir Nigel gave one of his horse-like snorts. "Nicely intelligent female, if you ask me. Darton is too high in the instep." 

"But is Miss Templeman any lower?" Whattling mused, poking at his beef. He glanced up at Alex with a twinkle in his blue eyes. "Something tells me she would lead even you a merry chase, Borin."

"Give me a plain girl who knows her worth," Sir Nigel muttered, "over a beauty who thinks herself a goddess."

Alex had to agree.

He also did not disagree when Sir Nigel offered to introduce him to some other gentlemen recently returned from the Peninsula. From them, Alex learned that Richard Collins had earned his knighthood after being wounded at Corunna. Collins had been part of the guard burying General Moore when they had been hit by grape shot. Several of Sir Nigel's acquaintances had served with Collins. All found him jovial and helpful. One, however, complained of Collins' fondness for wine and women. Alex didn't see that fondness as a weakness, for on occasion he shared it. He also couldn't see why Collins could be interested in him, unless they had somehow become rivals over the same woman. The only woman he'd pursued recently was the delightful Lydia.

As he left White's, he almost stopped at her flat to ask her about Sir Richard Collins, but he wasn't sure he was in the mood for her attentions. The fair Lydia had proven herself to have a rapacious appetite, which extended no further than his purse. If Collins wanted her, Alex was ready to hand her over.