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“If you will please excuse me, too. I must see to my packing. I am eager to return home,” said Jacqueline.
“Of course, dear. Would you like to join me and Lady Selina on our shopping excursion?” asked Aunt Susanna.
Jacqueline smiled. “No, I shall decline. I hope you enjoy yourselves.”
“Very well. Enjoy your day.”
Colebourne waited for Jacqueline to say her goodbyes to her sisters. They made promises to visit before they returned to the estate. As he watched Jaqueline leave, she appeared melancholy. Now with Gemma wed and Abigail pleading for him to allow her to take a governess job in the Highlands before Lucas’s wedding, she was all alone. He wished he could’ve seen her settled before he attempted his next matchmaking scheme.
However, Norbury threatened him with breaking the betrothal if Lucas and Selina didn’t marry by the end of the year. Even though he had no intention of allowing Lucas and Selina to wed, Colebourne didn’t want her father to promise her to another gentleman. He had noticed the attraction between Selina and his nephew at the house party he held before the season started. Colebourne decided then to make their match, but Duncan questioned his motives with his behavior as of late. His ill-treatment of Selina made him wonder if he’d made the wrong decision. However, he’d changed his mind after Duncan’s behavior at Gemma’s wedding celebration.
Duncan couldn’t keep his gaze off Selina the entire day, had even followed her back to the chapel during the reception. If Colebourne wasn’t mistaken, they’d shared a kiss. Which led Duncan to drink his sorrows away. The closer the wedding drew, the more agitated Duncan grew. However, during breakfast this morning, he’d caught Duncan comforting Selina. Oh, not where anyone saw. However, it didn’t go past him to notice Duncan holding Selina’s hand underneath the table.
It had been foolish of him not to have seen the callous disregard Norbury treated Selina with. No wonder the poor girl lashed out. While Colebourne didn’t condone her spiteful behavior, it made more sense why she behaved as she had. With a little extra guidance, Selina would display her true character. And to do so, he would require a little extra assistance on this match.
“Thank you for joining us for breakfast this morning,” said Aunt Susanna.
Charlie laughed. “It was not as if we had much of a choice.” She quirked an eyebrow at Colebourne. “Did we, Uncle Theo?”
Colebourne chuckled. “We all have choices, Charlie, my girl.”
Sinclair and Worthington scoffed behind their napkins. Everyone in this room was aware of Colebourne’s meaning behind his statement. Choices he controlled. But they wouldn’t argue because, without his interference, their unions wouldn’t have been possible. That and the old man would always take credit for their matches. And to please their wives, they continued with the farce.
Charlie rubbed her hands together. “So who is next?”
“Do you require our help with this match?” Evelyn’s voice rose with excitement.
“Of course he does. Why else would he have demanded our presence this morning and waited until everyone left to approach the subject?” stated Charlie.
Evelyn gasped. “Is it Jaqueline? It must be. Why else wait until she left the room?”
“Which unsuspecting bloke do you plan to trap this time?” quipped Worthington.
Charlie narrowed her gaze at Worthington. “Trapped? Is that how you view your marriage to Evelyn?”
“Charlie,” Sinclair and Evelyn warned.
“What? He is the one who used the word trap.”
“You know very well our marriage is an enjoyment we feel blessed to live every day,” Evelyn reprimanded.
Worthington leaned over to kiss Evelyn on the cheek and gazed into her eyes. “That is putting it mildly, my love.” Then he whispered something into Evelyn’s ear to make her blush.
“All right, all right. We get the picture, Lord Worthington,” muttered Charlie.
The table chuckled over how even after Worthington proved his utter devotion toward Evelyn, Charlie was still overprotective of her twin.
Colebourne sighed. “As much as I wish Jaqueline was next, ‘tis not her.”
“Abigail then.” Sinclair nodded. “We will help in any way possible. Worthington and I are acquainted with a few gentlemen from the club who will make an excellent match for Abigail.”
“A kind offer, Sinclair, but ‘tis not Abigail either.”
Charlie started laughing uncontrollably. Everyone at the table stared at her in confusion, except for Uncle Theo and Aunt Susanna. They waited patiently for her to get herself under control. Tears leaked from her eyes, and she wiped them away before laughing harder.
“Seriously? How long have you known?” Charlie asked in between her bouts of laughter.
Colebourne nodded. “Since the house party. Various occurrences during the season confirmed my suspicions.”
Charlie smiled in amusement. “Count me in. Oh, this will be so much fun. Neither one of them will realize they are your next victims.”
“Who?” asked Evelyn.
“Duncan and Selina,” Charlie announced before Uncle Theo could.
“Ohhh.” Evelyn’s eyes grew wide. Then she grimaced at Aunt Susanna. “Umm. Does this match set well with you?”
“Oh, yes. Selina is the perfect lady for Duncan,” Aunt Susanna gushed. “The air sizzles when they are together.”
“What is it you require of us?” asked Worthington.
Colebourne steepled his fingers together, gazing at them shrewdly. “I will need your assistance in keeping the Duke of Norbury occupied. He is proving himself more unbearable the closer we get to the impending wedding. His treatment of his own daughter is deplorable. Until they speak their nuptials, Norbury will keep his shrewd gaze focused on Selina. For Duncan to steal any moments alone with Selina, we must distract the duke.”
“Does Forrester know of your matchmaking effort?” asked Sinclair.
Colebourne laughed. “He does not hold a clue.”
“Then what makes you think he wishes to steal any time alone with Selina?” asked Evelyn.
Colebourne quirked a brow. “Where do you suppose he is now?”
“Oh, you are sneaky, Uncle Theo. You knew he would follow her.” Charlie looked at Evelyn. “Why else do you think he told us where to sit this morning? He forced Duncan to sit next to Selina.” Her gaze swung to her uncle. “Did you see him offering her comfort?”
“Yes, I did.”
“I do not see how Charlie and I can be of any help. Norbury does not carry a high opinion of women and never speaks to us,” said Evelyn.
Colebourne gazed at them seriously. “I need you girls to put your differences aside and befriend Selina. Her past behavior needs to be forgiven, and she needs to feel welcomed into our family. What I ask of you may seem unfavorable, but take a step back and see what life has been like for Selina. I am not justifying her past actions, but only asking for you to put yourself in her shoes. How would you have handled yourselves?”
“Will you require our presence before the wedding, then?” asked Evelyn.
“Yes. If you can, please come for an extended visit.”
The two sisters stared at each other, reading each other’s thoughts like they did. Then they each glanced at their husbands. Sinclair and Worthington both agreed with a nod.
“Worthington and I will follow you to Colebourne Manor,” said Evelyn.
“Sinclair and I will visit every day,” Charlie agreed too.
“Excellent. You gentlemen will keep Norbury distracted, and you ladies will find every opportunity for Lady Selina and Duncan to fall in each other’s paths. When Lady Selina speaks her wedding vows, it will be to the gentleman who deserves her. And my son is not that gentleman.” Colebourne raised his teacup to toast his plan.
Colebourne rested back in his chair while his nieces thought of instances to throw the couple together. Sometimes one needed to draw in extra recruits to make a plan a success.
What better help than the ones who understood the subjects so well?