“Did you two discuss anything of interest?” she asked. “Music? Art?” She paused, looking idly around. “Matrimony?”

Emily stumbled a bit, but Diana’s grip upon her arm was firm and she quickly regained her footing. “Should I take that as a yes?” Diana asked gleefully.

“No,” Emily said, very firmly. “And even if he were to offer such a thing—which he has given no indication he intends to do—I don’t see how my parents would possibly permit it.”

“Belfry is, by all reports, exceedingly wealthy,” Diana pointed out. “Perhaps he’d be willing to pay your father’s gambling debts and free you from Cartham.”

“I’m beginning to wonder if there’s more to it than simple debt,” Emily said slowly, worrying her lower lip. She paused for a moment, clearly considering her words. “Do you recall last Season, when Viscount Trevelyan showed an interest in me?”

“Of course.” Trevelyan was in his mid-thirties and owner of a famously lovely country seat in Cumbria. “He never actually proposed, though.”

“No,” Emily agreed. “My mother told me he had known I had no dowry, but hadn’t realized he’d need to pay Father’s debts, too.” She paused. “But Lord Julian said that he had it on good authority that Trevelyan had offered to pay my father’s debts, and he was still rebuffed.” She looked up at Diana. “Which doesn’t make any sense at all!”

No, it didn’t—unless, as Diana was all at once coming to suspect, the Marquess of Rowanbridge’s debt to Cartham went beyond money.

“Did Belfry add anything?” Diana asked curiously; she still couldn’t figure out what, precisely, the man’s game was. That he would find Emily lovely was entirely unsurprising; that he should take such an interest in an unmarried lady with no fortune was somewhat more so—as Willingham had noted, Belfry did have something of a reputation as a rake.

“He said…” Emily trailed off, blushing a bit. “He said that he intends to be at Lord Willingham’s country house party next week, and he wished to know if I would be attending.”

“Oh did he?” Diana said, resisting with great difficulty the urge to cackle. “And what did you tell him?”

“That Lord Willingham always invited me, but my mother never wants to chaperone me—she and my father would normally already be back in the countryside by now, and she has little interest in delaying our return home further. He seemed somewhat disappointed.”

“Of course he did,” Diana said cheerfully. A thought struck her. “Do you think your mother would find a different chaperone acceptable?”

Emily frowned. “You know she won’t let you act as my chaperone for a trip to Wiltshire, Diana. It’s miraculous enough she allows me to accompany you to the park or the theater without her.”

“I didn’t mean myself,” Diana said, waving a hand dismissively. “I was thinking, though, that Willingham’s grandmother said she planned to attend—and isn’t she friends with your mother?”

“Friends might be stretching it,” Emily hedged. “She stops by for an afternoon call periodically and terrifies Mother into buying me a new pair of gloves or something along those lines. She was friends with my grandmother, you know, and seems to think it her duty to see that we’re all behaving appropriately.”

“Perfect,” Diana said, making a mental note to call on the dowager marchioness the very next afternoon. “I think I know just the chaperone for you.”

“I don’t know,” Emily said doubtfully. “And besides, I’m not at all certain I wish to attend Lord Willingham’s party—I don’t understand what Lord Julian’s aim is, precisely, but he hardly seems like the sort of man to just suddenly take an interest in an eligible lady for no reason,” she added suspiciously, echoing Diana’s own thoughts on the matter. Diana was forced to admit that this did not precisely sound like the beginnings of a legendary romance, but perhaps Emily and Belfry simply needed more time together.

Time in a romantic pastoral setting, even.

“I’m sure Lady Willingham won’t object once she learns that a matter of the heart is at stake,” Diana said dramatically.

“Stop that,” Emily said repressively.

Diana pouted. “I don’t want to.” She tugged Emily even tighter to her side. “This is all going perfectly, if I do say so myself. Tricking your mother into allowing me to take you to Belfry’s theater is the best thing I’ve ever done.”

“I don’t think—”

“Your babies will be so adorably blue-eyed.”

“I hardly—”

“You’re right, you’re right,” Diana conceded. “Mustn’t get ahead of ourselves. Let’s focus on the wedding first.”

Emily sighed, clearly recognizing a battle she was not going to win, and evidently decided to change tack. “I’d much rather speak of your wedding,” she said, casting a sly glance at Diana.

“An event that has happened once and is never to be repeated,” Diana said firmly.

“Don’t you ever wish to marry again?” asked Emily a bit tentatively.

“Why should I?” Diana asked blithely. “I’ve done it once, and now that I have the advantage of a widow’s portion and the accompanying freedom, I don’t see why I should ever wish to tie myself to another man again.”