Chapter 22
Nick couldn’t help a rueful chuckle as he paced Steeplesands’ exquisite library. He shouldn’t be the one who was nervous. It was Beresford who had asked to have a private meeting with him, it was Beresford who ought to be nervous about receiving Nick’s approval. It was also Beresford who, by all accounts, had a solid fortune behind him. Ever since Beresford had made his request, Nick had been wavering whether to tell him about their situation or attempt gloss over Violet’s lack of dowry.
He thought back to Marling’s words about always trusting your sensibilities. True, those sensibilities hadn’t done very well by him when it came to Matthias—nor had they been of much use back at Cambridge; but every instinct was now telling him not to let Violet marry under false pretenses.
B
