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conversation. “You said your father requested it for some hunt.”
    â€œI lied. I sold her. Broke my heart to do it, but she went to a good home.”
    â€œOh. I’m sorry.”
    â€œYes,” he said mournfully. Clearly the loss of his horse affected him more deeply than the request for her hand. “My carriage went too, though I didn’t mind so much. Always thought it a waste in the city anyway. I much prefer to ride.”
    Again, she bobbed her head as if she knew what he was talking about. Then it hit her. Her dowry. Of course! And how stupid of her. Many gentlemen would condescend to marry a cit if the dowry were large enough. She just never thought he would be one of them.
    â€œSo the dukedom has fallen onto hard times?” She could barely fathom it. Certainly many titles were struggling, but he always seemed so flush.
    â€œNot a bit. The family coffers are quite full, truth be told. It’s just that my grandfather has cut me off.”
    She blinked. Cut him off? “But why?” Was it gambling? That was the normal way of things, but he’d never spoken of gambling. And when he visited, his conversation was all about science and engineering.
    He sighed, the sound coming from deep inside him. “Grandfather is all up in the boughs about me marrying. Have to carry on the title and all that rot. My father’s as healthy as a horse, but as I don’t have a brother, it’s up to me to marry and produce a number three in line for the dukedom.” He leaned forward. “My grandfather would die of apoplexy if he thought the title might go to my French cousin. That’s something you and I have in common, by the way.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œDifficult cousins. Though in my case, my cousin really is off in the head. Can barely tie his shoes. They’ve got a nurse on him and all that, so he’s comfortable enough, but his brain never progressed to the point of…well, of a normal boy, much less a duke. Broke my aunt’s heart, but there was a problem with the birth and he was hurt somehow.”
    â€œOh,” she said, her head feeling light. “How very sad for her. For your family.”
    Mr. Anaedsley shrugged. It was not important, apparently, except in that the duke would die of apoplexy if the boy stood in line to inherit.
    â€œPlease,” she said, her voice very small. “If you would explain—”
    â€œOh yes. Of course.” He was still rubbing her fingers, but this time he added a squeeze. “Grandfather’s cut off all my money unless I find a bride. No allowance, no bills paid, not even the tab at our club. Not a penny unless I hitch myself to a woman.”
    Her mouth went very dry. Did he want her? Of all the ladies he knew, he picked her? A cit? She was certainly wealthy enough, but it sounded like his grandfather would start paying his bills again the moment he married. It made no sense.
    â€œI thought I had it worked out,” he continued. “Got an investment in an emerald mine. A friend of mine from school found the place, and together we worked out a new way to get them out of the earth. I thought we’d be seeing a profit already, but it’s deuced expensive to begin and has taken three times as long as I expected.”
    â€œOh. That must be most awkward.”
    He rolled his eyes. “It’s been terribly awkward. I’ve survived by going to parties and the like, but a man can live off society for only so long before some enterprising mama snares him. I am set to inherit a dukedom, you know. Stirs female minds everywhere into heights of devious treachery.”
    Her patience was wearing thin, so she jerked her hand back from his distracting caress and glared at him. “Yes, well, I am not so devious, and you are the one who just proposed to me. So…so, what are you about, Mr. Anaedsley? I cannot believe you have suddenly tumbled into love with