An Experiment in Love. Louise Allen
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something.’
‘Bishop Usher.’
‘No, he was a baronet.’
‘The bishop worked out the age of the earth from the Bible,’ Kit explained patiently. No wonder poor Chloe was anxious to leave home if her family knew less about geology than he did. ‘The baronet must have been a Neptunist—that theory explains everything in the earth in terms of Noah’s flood.’
‘Sounds as if you understand her better than he did, at any event.’ James perked up a little. ‘You both need to sleep on this, it is too important for a spur of the moment decision.’
‘Perhaps I should go back to the Clarendon,’ Kit suggested. The ceilings of his town house were being replastered after the water tank had burst the week before and James had invited him to stay upon hearing he was putting up in an hotel.
‘Does Woolmer know you’ve moved here? Best stay below the horizon until you and Chloe get this resolved, given that he’s out for your blood.’
True, but a night’s sleep away from this house might remove the sensation of careering downhill on an out-of-control sledge. A tap and the door opening prevented him agreeing. ‘A Mr Woolmer for Lord Twyford, my lord. He appears a trifle…agitated.’
‘Hell.’ James muttered. ‘Dunton, tell Mr Woolmer that his lordship is not in and we are not certain when he is returning.’
‘I regret, my lord, that Lady Chloe was crossing the hall when the gentleman arrived, told him Lord Twyford was here and took him into the drawing room. She requested the presence of you both.’
‘If she has told him she’s betrothed to you, then that’s final,’ James pronounced. ‘I don’t care whether you’re suited or not. I’m not having another sister’s marriage causing a scandal.’
Kit realised that he was committed to marry Chloe, whether she liked it or not. Her suggestion had been impulsive and well-meant and his insistence on formally asking James’s permission had been intended to push her into considering more carefully. But now that Woolmer knew…
For himself, he could contemplate with equanimity marriage to an intelligent, kind young woman who was the sister of a good friend. He did not expect a love match and it seemed that neither did she. But he had wanted her to think about it first.
James opened the door into the drawing room onto muffled sobs and a deep, rather desperate, voice saying, ‘There, there, Lady Chloe, you mustn’t take on so.’
‘But I feel so guilty,’ Chloe wailed from the depths of a large handkerchief that must belong to Mr Woolmer. ‘I could tell you were upset. If he had been able to tell you earlier…I told Kit we could not announce our betrothal until poor Penelope recovered from her tragic disappointment.’
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