“No, not that kind of situation,” Christopher reassured his friend.

“What?” Katerina asked, her eyes skating from one man to another.

“Love, when a woman needs rescuing from a 'difficult situation,' she's often

implying she's with child by someone irresponsible,” Christopher explained.

“Oh. No, nothing like that. Lord Gelroy, my father, he was…” she looked at

Christopher, cheeks burning.

“You don't mind if I tell him?”

Katerina's lips twisting, showing that, yes, she did mind, but she gave a curt

nod. “He's your friend. He needs to know why you didn't tell him immediately.”

Her dark eyes met Colin's. “My Lord, I would prefer this not become public knowledge, please.”

Colin nodded.

“He was beating her,” Christopher said darkly. He returned his attention to

Colin, taking in an expression of wide-mouthed shock. “You can't imagine how badly. I couldn't leave her in that kind of danger.” He gave Katerina an intense

look, the kind of look he knew Colin had never seen on his face before. Though

his wife blushed like a summer rose at the blunt words, Christopher took grim satisfaction in knowing that since that day, no further suffering had or would ever befall her. The abuse might have spurred the hasty marriage, but I want to

be with this woman. Maybe now that her shyness has abated somewhat, people

will understand.

Colin shook his head, “Married. Humph. Well, I suppose someone had to be

first to take the plunge. Better you than me.”

Christopher dodged the comment. “So, how did the meeting go?”

Colin sighed. “It went nowhere. No one will extend me any credit because they know I will never be able to repay it. It's terrible. I'm responsible for repaying thousands of pounds not spent by me, because the estate owes them, but no one will do anything to ease the burden on me. The land gets more depleted every year—it wasn't good when I got it—but I can't not plant because of the debts and the taxes. It's a Gordian knot and I have no sword. I almost wish…” Colin swallowed hard. “I wish the tenants would move to the city for work and I could just abandon the entire enterprise… but I can't. I would still owe the same and have even less means to pay it.”

“What are you going to do?” Christopher asked.

“Damned if I know, begging your pardon, Mrs. Bennett. I mean, I'm going to

economize every way I can and work as hard as I can and hope to stave off disaster for a few more years. After tonight, I'm giving up my London lodgings

and heading home. There's nothing more to be done here. I'll take stock of what I

have left. Perhaps parts from the worst of the tenant houses can be used to improve the ones that still have some life left in them, and then, if we can extract another crop this year… I don't know. The land needs to rest for several years,

but then no one will earn anything. It's an impossible mess.”

“I'm sorry, Colin,” Christopher told his friend. “Is there anything I can do?”

“Not unless you have about thirty thousand pounds you don't need and won't

ask to have returned.”

It was a staggering sum, and Christopher, though quite well-to-do, had

nothing like that at his disposal. No one did.

Katerina laid her hand on Colin's arm. He looked at her. “I'm so terribly sorry, Lord Gelroy. May I… say a prayer for you?”

“You may,” he replied, one corner of his mouth twisting into a grimace. “I think the Lord is the only one who can help me now.”

“Then I shall do that,” she said firmly.

“Thank you, Mrs. Bennett.”

“Well, good evening, friends.” Mrs. Wilder approached, ending the personal

conversation.

“Good evening, Mrs. Wilder,” Christopher greeted their hostess.

“Mr. Bennett, you are in disgrace tonight,” she teased.

“Why is that?” he raised his eyebrows, alert for the opportunity to banter.

“You and Mr. Cary both left last time without a word, so early, and you took

your poems with you. We had to improvise on the spot and found nothing to interest us.”

“I apologize. I…” he considered his words. “I had an emergency.”

“Yes, I know,” Mrs. Wilder's teasing tone turned serious.

“You do?” Oh, dear. This can't be good.

She raised one eyebrow. “Well, certain clues were left abandoned in my

retiring room. They told a very interesting story. Would you like them back?”

Katerina blanched. In the sudden crisis, they had abandoned not only her wrap but also—horrors—her corset. Finding an undergarment left behind was certain