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saying and what he intended to do when he got upstairs and confronted his wife.
    In the middle of the afternoon and under this very roof.
    James glanced warily up at the ceiling. Oh, good heavens, that was far more information than he wanted to know.
    Wheeling around, James headed for the front door, but then realized he was still wearing Jack’s wretched jacket. The same poor coat Jack had probably owned when he’d romanced Miranda.
    The duke examined the dark wool encasing him and considered the very real truth that he might know very little about women.
    About as much as his brother did about fashion.
    Egads, could there really be a good reason why he, the Duke of Parkerton, wasn’t on Lady Standon’s list?
    Honestly none that he could think of, but then again, right now his brother was headed upstairs to enjoy the delights of his wife and what was James going to do?
    Get out of earshot, that much was for certain.

Chapter 4
    I f Elinor thought her plan to hire Mr. St. Maur would be enough to find her a husband, she’d quite mistaken the matter.
    For not an hour after Lucy had left, Minerva’s Aunt Bedelia arrived. Like an unstoppable windstorm, she blew into the house on Brook Street, feathers fluttering, keen eyes catching every detail around her and her determination resounding in every sharp click of her heels.
    A widow four times over, she had recently married her fifth husband, Viscount Chudley, and therefore the newly minted Lady Chudley considered herself the leading expert on the subject of finding and catching a husband.
    The Duchess of Hollindrake’s Bachelor Chronicles had nothing on her.
    â€œNow that I’ve gone and arranged Lucy Sterling’s marriage—,” she announced, taking the spot squarely in the middle of the settee in the sitting room.
    Minerva and Elinor exchanged glances. Just asthey’d guessed. The ink was barely dry on the couple’s Special License and already Lady Chudley was taking full credit for the match.
    Aunt Bedelia settled deeper into the brocade, which boded ill for all of them. It meant she had no intention of leaving.
    Not until she’d unleashed whatever plot she’d concocted.
    â€œI’ve come upon the perfect plan as to how to do the same for the two of you,” she said, revealing her hand. Not that the subject was a surprise.
    Minerva crossed her arms over her chest. “Aunt, I have no intention of getting married again.”
    This was met with a flutter of a handkerchief. Some might have considered that a certain sign of surrender, but Aunt Bedelia did not know the meaning of the word.
    Hence, the five husbands.
    â€œYes, yes, so you say,” she blustered, “but now that the two of you are the toasts of the Town, you will be besieged with offers.” Aunt Bedelia practically glowed.
    â€œToasts?” Elinor managed, taking another glance at Minerva, whose cheeks were now about the same color as her muslin gown.
    â€œYes. Toasts. Diamonds. The on dit of the Season. How could you not be? Of course it is all because I arranged for the Earl of Clifton to fall in love with Lucy Sterling—”
    Elinor shot Minerva a pointed glance. Straighten this matter out before it continues. Before it goes too far.
    Oh, but it already had.
    Aunt Bedelia fluffed the lace on her cuffs. “Lucy’s marriage puts the two of you in a new light. For if Lucy Sterling could capture Clifton’s heart and stealhim away from Lady Annella, then you two, as the other Standon dowagers, must be—oh, how can I say this politely?”
    Minerva had her hand on her brow, as if it were ringing with a blinding megrim. “Just say it, Aunt.”
    â€œWell, you needn’t take that tone, Minerva. It is just that your generation isn’t as open about these things as mine was, but if you insist…It is being said that because of the speed with which Lucy was able to catch Clifton, she must be as