The three girls considered her, with ill-disguised interest.

"Pish posh," Ester declared to the silent trio.

Ester rolled her eyes, looking at each of her friends in turn. Marie, fair-haired and owner of exquisite china-blue eyes, blinked slowly even as her lips twitched with mirth. Penelope, blonde as well, only ashy, widened her hazel eyes in prudish surprise. Ester turned her attention to the final member of their party.

Caroline's gaze didn't waver from Ester's, as though ascertaining whether Ester truly did think marriage was unnecessary or if she was once again trying to shock them with her free-thinking ways.

Ester sighed with exasperation. "We are pawns. Our fathers arrange a suitable match and we are expected to bow to those wishes with the remaining years of our lives. What if I dislike Mr. Welby, above all else? I have yet to meet the man, and Father is set to read the banns himself."

"What if you do like him, Esse?" reasoned Marie.

"Yes," agreed Penelope. "Mother says she came to care for Father once she knew him better. Perhaps you will as well."

"If I go to London for a season and meet this Mr. Welby fellow, my father will think I have come to an understanding. I won't do it." Ester warmed to her argument.

She could discover she liked Mr. Welby, but as yet, she had no information on the man. Ignorance did not sit well with her. It smacked of blind acceptance. "You're quiet, Caroline. What do you think?"

Caroline tapped her lip with her forefinger. "I think you will do as you deem fit and confound your father for it. I think you really mean to ask what is to be done."

Ester beamed at her, "Precisely."

"Then yours is a very different question. I think we have to consider your father's request," Caroline held up her hand to stay Ester's retort, "while satisfying your requirements. Do you detest the idea of marriage, or are you rebelling against your father's decision?"

"I suppose I will marry someday," Ester said. "But only to a man I choose who allows me my freedoms."

The three friends nodded their agreement.

"Then we compromise," Caroline reasoned.

Penelope glanced from one lady to the next. "Ester cannot disobey her father. He wouldn't choose a poor match for her."

"So we agree," returned Marie, an impish grin teased a dimple from her right cheek. "We will join you in London as your father allowed. While we are there," she nodded to Ester, "we will find Mr. Welby and discover his character to your satisfaction. Then we can dissuade him from a suit if you don't care for him. If you decide to carry on with the wedding, your father will be more than pleased. If you decide to cry off," she turned to Penelope, "we will give him to Penelope, who cares naught for love."

Marie winked at Penelope's shocked gasp. "I jest, Penny."

Ester giggled. "Aren't you clever, Marie? But I may have to add my own condition to the plan. I must be certain Mr. Welby is the man of character my father expects." The beginnings of a plan tickled the edges of her imagination.

Marie leaned in, willingness to conspire in Ester's latest scheme evidenced in every fiber.

Penelope glanced over her shoulder toward the closed door of the library.

Caroline folded her hands in her lap and waited. She cocked an eyebrow.

"We will do as Marie suggested, but with a slight difference." Ester's gaze darted between her friends.

Penelope groaned.

"I'll go to the soirees. I'll dance at the balls. But I will go as a man."

"What?" Poor Penelope blanched, looking to be on the verge of a fainting spell.

"You misunderstood me entirely!" exclaimed Marie. "Oh, it would be fun, but how?"

"Excellent question," murmured Caroline.

"You will all be there with me. Father will not be at every event to accompany me since I have three chaperones. The rest is a matter of disguise, like the time I pretended to be a stable hand so I could sneak to your house unescorted."

Caroline leaned forward. "Aren't you forgetting London is different? Here in the country, we are freer to determine our chaperones. In London society, you must have a matron or elder family someone or other to escort you."

"Father will accept you all as my escorts if he thinks that is the way it is done. I will make a point of convincing him. I must make this work." Ester stared at the designs on the Aubusson carpet, already dreaming up her words to her father.

"I'll help with the disguise," offered Marie. "You are going to need to be more convincing as a young lord than a dirty stable hand."

"A very young lord," Caroline stressed, examining her form with a critical eye.

"I shall go to men's clubs as well. How else to better know the mind of a man? Especially if one is expected to wed the dreadful creature."

"What?" Penelope leapt to her feet, fidgeting her fingers along the neckline of her day dress, an unconscious habit which proclaimed her distress to the other three women. "To masquerade in a full ballroom and hide in the shadows is a risk, but to venture into a man's realm is a different undertaking altogether."

"I must." Ester heard the desperation in her own voice. She did not want to wed. She did not want to be required to wait on the irrational whims of a husband or be treated like an empty vessel with no more purpose but to nod and agree. She had all she required in managing her father's estates with a free hand and living a quiet life in the country. Marriage? She'd rather be a serf.

Penelope frowned, "I suppose you could be my brother viewing the prospects. But I don't like your scheme and I will disown you if you embarrass me."

Caroline grinned.

Ester squealed, embracing the reluctant Penelope, causing Penelope to cover her ears.

Footsteps sounded without. All four women turned. The library door swung open and Ester's father, the Marquis Richmond, strode into the room still reading a missive. A frown furrowed his brow.

Ester cleared her throat.

"Good day ladies." Without stopping, Richmond's heavy tread continued to his desk where he dropped into his leather wingback chair.

"Good day, Father. The ladies have agreed to join me in London for the season."

The Marquis glanced up, distracted. "Good. Good. You are welcome to come."

"Thank you, my lord," Caroline responded.

Penelope and Marie murmured their thanks as well.

Ester winked at her friends. "Why do we not retire to the salon and leave my father to his business. Shall we? He has been most distracted of late. I'll warrant Father won't even notice us in London." Ester called back over her shoulder, "Isn't that right, Father?"

"I may be preoccupied, daughter, but I always have time to consider your prospects," he returned with a slight smile. "I have particular interest in Mr. Welby. You must keep in mind to encourage a suit." He laid his missive flat on his desk and preoccupied himself preparing a response.

Ester rolled her eyes. "Of course, Father." Ester ushered her friends out the door, to the salon.

Once in the hall, Caroline asked, "How did Mr. Welby become an issue? You said you have no information on him. Did he present an offer to your father?"

"Perhaps he is a secret admirer who last saw you as a child and is certain, as a woman, you are the epitome of his wifely desires," sighed Marie.

"Marie," scoffed Penelope, "you are such a romantic. I'm sure he must know her through her father's investments or dealings in London." Penelope entered the salon behind the others.

"Such speculation. I don't know why or how Mr. Welby knows of me, but he does. It matters not. He may have heard of my dowry and may not concern himself with beauty or romantic notions. I'll wager he is vastly in debt and desperate for an heir."

"Is he handsome, do you think?"

Ester smiled at Marie's fancifulness. Marie often dreamed of handsome lords, wealthy estates and true love.

Ester patted Marie's hand. "We will know soon enough. We will be off to London in a fortnight. It will be grand to have you with me. We will all have a season together."

"Only you will be a man." Penelope pursed her lips. "It is fortunate my brother Nicolas is away on the continent. He would be most unhappy knowing he had grown effeminate for a season."

Caroline looked to Ester in warning. "My brother will be among us. We will have to make sure you do not meet up in the same circles with Marcus."

Ester rolled her eyes. "Every aspect should be considered. Penelope, you may have to borrow some of your brother's wardrobe for me. What a grand scam this will be. I can hardly wait."

"I think you are over estimating yourself. Nicolas is twice your size. Though," Penelope paused considering Ester again, "you may be tall enough and the right size for some of his earlier garments."

Marie screwed up her face with disgust. "Penelope, really, you cannot expect her to try and cut a swath through High Society using outdated boy's clothing. Ester, surely you have some pin money you can use? Perhaps you can use some of the money your father is allowing for your first season, on new clothing."

"You will be discovered. If you go for a fitting, the tailor will not be unaware of your gender," Caroline spoke in quiet consideration.

"You are right, of course." Ester slumped against the sofa arm. She trailed lazy fingers over a bold embroidered rose and down the stem. The tickle of heavy thread against her finger tips made for a pleasant distraction.

Marie tilted her head as she considered the toe of her pink satin slipper peeping from underneath her matching day gown.

Penelope's brow furrowed.

Caroline drummed her fingers on the opposite sofa arm.

"We can all sew. I suppose we can still use Nicolas' old things and tailor them ourselves." Penelope offered the last in little more than an embarrassed whisper.

Ester sat forward with interest.

Penelope blushed.

"And I can make sure new Nicolas is de rigor," put forth Marie.

A spark of hope thrilled through Ester's chest. "Then it is settled?" Ester waited for any opposition. When none was offered, she asked, "Shall we meet at Caroline's over the next days to prepare a wardrobe fit for young Nicolas?"

"We shall do it then," Caroline responded. "You, Ester, will have to practice your speech so you are passable."

Ester leapt to her feet and hugged herself to contain her excitement.

Caroline grinned. "You will also have to practice your movements. I doubt Nicolas has ever giggled like a girl fresh from the nursery nor hugged himself with such enthusiasm."

All four women laughed at the image.

Caroline continued. "If he is anything remotely like my brother, Nicolas would be aghast at such feminine displays in a worldly man. No Corinthian would dare show more emotion than a single raised brow."

Ester schooled her features, cleared her throat in what she deemed a masculine manner, shot each of her friends a look of bored disdain and delicately arched her right brow.

"Nicely done!" congratulated Marie. "Even Marcus would be impressed with your display of arrogance."

Caroline nodded.

"And you may get a chance to try it out on him. I wouldn't mind a chance," Marie sighed.

A look of alarm crossed Caroline's features. "My brother had better never meet up with Ester because he is sure to recognize her from the first. If you do see him coming," she remarked turning to Ester, "flee in the opposite direction. If we are found out, it will be the end of your charade and the end of your reputation among the ton."

Ester flipped her wrist, unconcerned with Caroline's warning. "He hasn't seen me since we four were in the nursery together and he was home for holidays from University. I doubt he would recognize me in the least."

Caroline snorted. "Again you underestimate yourself. He has seen you in breeches before when you leapt upon his mount and sped away with a bag full of investment papers. Or did you forget he hunted you down on my mare? I seem to remember you draped across his saddle and hauled before your father by the ear."

"That was years ago. I was a mere ten years old at the time and how was I to know he was in the middle of transferring to a new financial advisor?" Ester protested. "My hair was rumpled and my face smudged. I am a woman of consequence now and several years older than our last meeting."

"You will still be wearing breeches," Caroline pointed out.

Penelope snickered.

"At least with Ester as a man, I will be permitted free access to associate with him. I have grown up, too. Do you think he will notice?" Marie asked, wistful.

Caroline shook her head. "It would not be wise for you, either. If he sees you, it will take him less time to discern Ester's identity than a blink of an eye."

"She is right, Marie, and what does my being dressed as a man have anything to do with you associating with Marcus?"

"You are beautiful, is why. If I stand beside you, what man will look at me?" Marie, the youngest of their group, pouted.

Ester threw back her head and laughed. She was certain if she stood naked before Marcus, he would brush her away like an annoying fly in order to reach the fair Marie.

Marie's curling golden locks sparkled in the sunlight. Her petite frame made men feel powerful and protective. Her prominent clear blue eyes spoke of innocent mischief. Ester knew her own dark locks and dull green eyes were of no comparison. Next to Marie, Ester towered like a slender giant over her smaller friend.

"Marie, you are ignorant of your own effect on men. Why, I vow I saw our footman walk into the carriage wheel after you alighted."

Penelope and Caroline nodded, smiling.

Ester continued. "Still, you have no need to worry. The last I remember--and forgive me for saying so Caroline--Marcus, our esteemed Earl of Rochester, was a scowl-faced old man who had more concerns with his wealth than with pleasantries."

Marie and Penelope exchanged looks.

"Ester, that was almost ten years ago. Your perceptions were those of a little girl to a man home from University trying to prove himself," Penelope said.

"I saw him two years ago and my heart has not yet recovered," sighed Marie.

"His care for investments has made him much respected and afforded him considerable wealth. And," Caroline added, "He cares a great deal for pleasantries. You misjudge him harshly." Caroline swatted her tea napkin at Ester.

"What do I care anyway?" Ester chided. "My father is attempting to marry me off to Mr. Welby. It is his character which concerns me at the moment. I suppose," Ester sighed, "I will make peace with Marcus some day, but in the mean time, I need to know about my intended."

"Marcus is a man of business. Would it not be wise to ask him about Mr. Welby? Perhaps Marcus shares a financial commonality with Mr. Welby," Penelope noted.

"I may need to make peace much sooner than I had thought," Ester murmured.

"That will be quite a feat," said Marie. "Didn't you set fire to all his cravats after he spanked your back end for stealing a pasty from the kitchen?"

"Yes," Ester blushed, "but he was acting superior and it irked me when his cravat never wrinkled through the entire episode. Besides, I was hungry. Cook wouldn't have minded and I didn't know the pasties were filled with tart apples and cream for his father's birthday."

"True, but what about the time you told all of his visiting friends his favorite pastime was galloping about in the nursery in his shirtsleeves and whooping as loud as he could," reminded Caroline. "Or the time you stole down to the pond while he was swimming and took all his clothes back to the estate just before my musicale? He was left trying to sneak in unnoticed but you made sure nosey Lady Haversham saw him through the garden windows."

Marie and Penelope snickered in memory.

Ester squirmed. "Well, he did like galloping in the nursery when he was a child. And Lady Haversham saw him of her own accord."

"You neglected to inform his friends of the minor technicality of age and I seem to remember you pointing out the windows and saying something like, 'Oh, my, Lady Haversham, I do believe I see something behind those bushes. Can you quite make out what it is?'"

"Marie, hush, before you tell all my secrets. I understand your point. I have a lot of making up to do with Marcus."

"You are assuming," Caroline noted, "he will allow you the opportunity. You may have to let me do the asking. I think he is more apt to turn you out on your ear than allow you entrance to his townhouse."

"I'll come with you Caroline," offered Marie.

Caroline cocked the Rochester eyebrow at her.

Ester smirked. "Then you could say you were visiting to discuss one of Penelope's suitors."

"Don't say that," Penelope all but shouted. "I don't have any suitors, yet."

"Good, then it will spread the word you are at least amenable to the prospect." Marie ducked her head before Penelope saw the twinkle in her eyes.

"But what if Mr. Welby found out I thought he was my suitor?" Frantic, Penelope turned to Ester. "I would be mortified that he would think me so assuming."

"You know nothing of this man. Why care what he thinks?" Ester said, sharing Marie's penchant for teasing.

"I care. It is out of character for me to be so brash. Can we not just say it is for a possible suitor of Marie's? At least that would be more believable." She turned pleading eyes on Marie. "At least you will know if he's interested in you if he appears jealous."

"I like the idea," proclaimed Marie.

"You would," agreed Ester.

"He's just my brother," Caroline said, shaking her head at Marie's blatant interest. "I still say you cannot meet up with Marcus, Ester. I will find out as much as I can about Mr. Welby. I will explain I am in town with you for the season when he asks. We have enough deception. It will be easier to keep our stories straight if there is less to hide."

"It's also a better explanation for why you will be staying in my townhouse and not at your parents' home. Just because he cannot see me in disguise does not mean he cannot know I am in town somewhere."