The Other Side - J. D. Robb [58]
“She is feeling so well that she is coming to observe today. She said that dinner made her realize how woefully uninformed she is, and she is taking steps to correct it.”
Nick raised his eyebrows. “Next she will be advising you on your vote.”
“I will assume that is your idea of a joke.” Why did men persist in thinking all wives meddled in business that was not theirs? “Bettina is very happy managing our house and family. As a matter of fact, she considers it time better spent than the endless hours here.”
Nick nodded and, thankfully, left it at that.
“Nick, I am early because I wanted a word with you. My wife told me that your sister is seriously considering an offer from Lord Osterman’s son.”
“The countess knows that? I was hoping it would not be gossiped about until it was done.”
“You cannot let it happen. You are the head of the household, and you must not allow it.”
“Indeed?”
Bettina heard the warning but went on anyway. “You know as well I do what an animal Osterman is. You cannot allow your sister to live in the same house with someone like him. And do you have any idea what his son is like? As far as I know, he has never been to Town.”
“Harry, leave it alone. You do not know what is at stake, and I am not about to tell you when you gossip like a girl.”
Bettina raised her voice a little. “Then think on this: is whatever compels you so important that you are willing to sacrifice your sweet sister’s health and well-being?”
Nick Bright closed his eyes and shook his head. “It is not what I would wish for, but I am not the one in control here.”
“But you are,” Bettina insisted, close to shouting.
“Enough, my lord.” Nick spoke with quiet vehemence, turning from the earl and walking away. Bettina looked around to see more than one group watching, including Osterman. Had she been that loud? Loud enough for the others, for Osterman, to hear? That was the last thing Harry needed.
Osterman stood up and began to walk to where Bettina was sitting, murder in his eyes. Bettina wanted to confront the man, wanted to tell him that nothing could keep the Earl of Fellsborough from defending the defenseless.
The bell rang, calling the lords to the chamber, just as Osterman came close. “Saved by the bell, Fellsborough. You are as meddlesome as a fishwife. What will it take to convince you to mind your own business?”
Lord Osterman did not wait for an answer but strode into the chamber, leaving Bettina wondering exactly what Harry would do in a situation like this. What kind of attention would it draw if the earl sent a message to his wife? Bettina knew she needed help.
Twelve
Nick had already taken his seat when Bettina joined him in the chamber. His ill humor had vanished, and Lord Nicholas made room on the bench for his friend.
Bettina looked up at the gallery and was surprised though not particularly upset to see that Harry was not yet in place.
There would be more traffic than usual, and Harry never left enough time, thinking that the world ran by his timepiece and always surprised when it did not. Hadn’t Bright expressed surprise at the earl’s early arrival just a few minutes ago?
It was an effort to pay attention during the prosing of at least ten members of Commons. Was it just that they liked to hear themselves talk, or did they hope to attract the notice of someone more important and move up in the political world that Harry had so luckily been born into?
It seemed a blessing of great magnitude to have the right to an earldom as Harry did. Yes, the family had earned it with a century or more of service to the crown, but the head of the family in the last two generations had only to maintain and add to the wealth.
It seemed to Bettina that Harry’s brother, who was fighting in Portugal, was serving the king more directly and more purposefully than Harry was sitting here in Parliament.
She settled more comfortably when she noticed that