Chapter Two − The Most Awful Woman in all of England

With his sister happily married to his oldest friend, Griffin Radley, Earl of Amberly, had begun to feel like a third wheel. Although he considered both his closest confidantes, the dynamic in their relationship had changed. Now, Winifred and Trent only had eyes for each other, and although Griffin was happy to see them so…well, happy, he could not help but envy the bond between them. Was it time for him to find a wife?

The thought had occurred to him ever since his little sister had decided she was getting old and would need to find a husband fast if she wanted to be a mother. Fortunately, he had been able to sway her from her path of obtaining a husband through her rather practical approach and lead her into the arms of the man she had loved all her life. Still, their happily-ever-after had come at a price…for Griffin!

To have a say in her choice, Griffin had to enter into a pact with his rational-minded sister, giving her an equal say when it came to finding the right woman for him. And now that Winifred was happily married, she loved nothing better than to remind him of that fact and tease him endlessly. He would have thought she’d be grateful for his interference as it had led to a most fortunate outcome of this whole husband-hunting nonsense. Still, Winifred had a bit of a wicked side to her, and he did not think she would stop teasing him any time soon.

While chatting with a couple of friends, Griffin glanced across the room at the dance floor where his sister and her new husband twirled around to the notes of yet another waltz. Although they seemed to be arguing about…something−as they commonly did−their eyes glowed with devotion, and Griffin could not deny a deep sense of satisfaction at having been instrumental in seeing his sister happily married.

“They look happy,” his friend Lord Berenton commented, his bushy eyebrows going up and down like a caterpillar crawling over his face. “Still,” he chuckled, a teasing gleam in his eyes, “I cannot help but be cross with you for giving them your blessing. Have I not told you time and time again that she was the one for me?”

Griffin laughed, “I assure you I only gave them my blessing to protect you. My sister has a way of pushing people over the edge, and I’m afraid to say this, but you are no match for her.”

Berenton’s bushy eyebrows drew down. “Do you think so poorly of me?”

“Not at all, old friend. But I know my sister too well. Believe me, the day they got married was your lucky day.”

“You sound a tad relieved.” Squinting his eyes, Berenton watched him. “Do you not miss her company?”

Griffin sighed. Terribly.

However, before he could answer, the happy couple came walking toward them, joining their little circle. Instantly, Berenton turned to Winifred, and Griffin tried to roll his eyes at him quietly. “My congratulations on your wedding. From what Amberly told me he is quite relieved to have his sister well married.” Turning to Griffin, Berenton grinned at him. “I cannot understand why you had trouble marrying her off. A beauty like her.”

Griffin sighed. If only you knew! Remembering the many sleepless nights and stressful days when he had tried his best to prove to his sister that love was the best reason to choose a husband, only to have her rational mind thwart him time and time again, Griffin still could not help but feel exhausted. Maybe he should repay the favour and tease her as much as she always delighted in teasing him.

Grinning at her, Griffin told his friend, “Mind you, she had no lack of suitors. However, I’m afraid my sister was quite particular about the kind of husband she had in mind. I tell you it caused me many sleepless nights.”

Everyone laughed, and more than one friend patted him on the shoulder as though he had just crossed the African desert and made it through alive.

As expected, payback was not far off.

Turning to her brother, Winifred smiled at him sweetly. Still, having known her all his life, Griffin had no trouble detecting the touch of mischief that had come to her eyes. “I suppose that it is now my turn to find my brother a suitable bride.”

Unable to keep his stomach from twisting into knots, Griffin took a deep breath as laughter echoed around him. Deep down, he had to admit he was waiting for the day she would finally make good on her threat! Would today be the day?

Perhaps it was the suspense that was killing him.

Although he had no doubt that his sister loved him, he also knew her tendency to rationalise emotions. What if she found him a bride she truly believed to be his perfect match? And what if said bride did not appeal to him at all? Would his sister insist, thinking she knew better? Thinking he would eventually come around? Or would she show mercy?

As though he had read Griffin’s thoughts, Berenton declared with utter delight. “You’re at her mercy now, Amberly!” Then he turned smiling eyes to Winifred, and Griffin felt as though he was going to be sick. “My lady, if you require any assistance, do not hesitate to call on me. I’m quite familiar with a number of eligible ladies and could point you in the right direction.”

“How kind of you, my lord,” Winifred trilled in that voice that meant she was up to no good.

“In fact, there are many eligible ladies here tonight,” Berenton continued, completely unimpressed by the threatening glares Griffin shot him. “However, I would advise against Miss Abbott.” He leaned closer into the group and whispered, “She’s rumoured to be the most awful woman in all of England.”

Griffin almost groaned at the intrigued look that came to his sister’s gaze, and he knew that he was doomed. Still, shock had his eyes popping open and his jaw dropping down. “Oh, no, you wouldn’t,” he stammered, aware that no matter what he did his sister’s mind was already made up.

Smiling sweetly, Winifred met his gaze. “You gave me your word, dear brother, and besides what’s fair is fair.” Then she turned to Berenton. “Would you be so kind as to point out Miss Abbott to me?”

Berenton’s face lit up with delight, and he winked at Griffin. “I most certainly would.”

Groaning, Griffin forced a deep breath into his lungs, glaring at Berenton as he escorted Winifred across the room. Very well! This was a friend he could certainly do without!

“Do you know who this Miss Abbott is?” Trent asked beside him as everyone’s gaze remained fixed on Berenton and Winifred, trying to catch a glimpse of London’s most eligible shrew!

“I do not,” Griffin forced out through gritted teeth, feeling his pulse hammering in his neck. Suddenly, his collar seemed much too tight for comfort, reminding him of a hangman’s noose!

With many couples occupying the dance floor and blocking their view, Griffin had to crane his neck. His gaze swept over several good-looking young ladies before he saw Berenton stop to introduce Winifred to…

Griffin’s mouth fell open. “She cannot be serious?”

Trent cleared his throat, the expression on his face speaking of a similar disbelief. “One should think so. However, knowing your sister, I’m afraid you’re out of luck, my friend.”

Feeling the blood in his veins turn to ice, Griffin stared as his sister smiled amicably at a young woman in a painfully bright pink gown with orange blossoms, her dark hair pulled back into a tight bun, making her face appear as though it was stretched to its limits. Even from across the room, he could hear her shrill laugh as she returned his sister’s greeting, her hands gesturing wildly and−inevitably−smacking Lord Stockdale on the side of the face.

Surprised, the young gentleman held a hand to his cheek, looking rather taken aback at the young woman beside him. Miss Abbott, however, did not seem to see any fault in her actions for the look on her face did not speak of an offered apology, but a reprimand instead.

“She can’t be serious,” Griffin whispered, all air leaving his body as his future loomed threateningly on the horizon. “She wouldn’t be that cruel, would she?” Forcing his gaze away, Griffin stared at Trent. “Did I do anything to make her angry? Is she mad at me? I mean, did I not do everything in my power to see her happy? I found her perfect match after all.”

Trent smiled at the compliment. “Don’t take this too seriously. You know your sister. You know how she loves to tease. Simply play along…and this’ll all go away…eventually.”

Griffin drew in a deep breath, squaring his shoulders as he watched his sister speak to Miss Abbott. This woman was impossible, and yet, Winifred acted as though she had met an old friend, leaning in conspiratorially and whispering something Griffin did not doubt would lead to his doom.

After a small eternity, Winifred finally took her leave and made her way back across the large room, stopping here and there to exchange a quick word with one of their host’s guests. “She is doing this solely to torture me,” Griffin growled, willing himself to hate his sister with every fibre of his being…and still failing miserably.

Trent laughed, “I suppose that’s fairly obvious.”

When Winifred and Berenton finally reached them, Griffin was close to exploding. “You cannot be serious,” he snapped for what seemed like the millionth time that night, his disbelief stretched too thin.

Winifred frowned in confusion. Still, the soft twitch of her upper lip did not escape Griffin’s attention. “What do you mean? She’s such a lovely lady, but gravely misunderstood.” She sighed, glancing over her shoulder at Miss Abbott, who in that very moment spilled her drink on yet another unfortunate gentleman who had dared to come near her. “What do you have against her?” Winifred enquired innocently, batting her eyelashes.

In that moment, Griffin wanted to strangle her. Still, all he could do was open and close his mouth a couple of times before his mind was back in order and supplied him with what to say. “I don’t even know where to begin,” he stammered, his pulse hitching higher with each moment. “That woman is impossible. Look at her! You cannot be serious.” Shaking his head, he frowned at the sister he had known all his life. “What do you have against me? I’m your brother, remember? I thought you cared about me.”

Laughing softly, Winifred placed a gentle hand on his arm. “Do not worry, dear brother. Yes, I do love you, and I would never do anything to make you miserable. Trust me. I know what I’m doing.”

Griffin could only hope so.

Sighing, Winifred turned to her husband. “Poor Miss Abbott is still fairly new in town. I believe I shall call on her and see that she is settled in and not lacking company.” Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at Griffin. “Who knows, soon we might be the best of friends!”

As Trent led his wife back to the dance floor, casting an apologetic glance over his shoulder at his old friend, Griffin gritted his teeth to the point that he thought they would splinter in his mouth.

“Not having a good day, are we?” Berenton observed beside him, a touch of suppressed humour in his voice, and clasped a hand on Griffin’s shoulder. “Should we get drunk?”

Griffin sighed. That sounded like as good a plan as any.

After all, he had learnt long ago that he was no match for his sister’s devious mind. All he could do was hope that she hadn’t forgotten that she loved him.

She would not truly suggest he marry Miss Abbot, would she?