I banged on the door for nearly ten minutes before I gave it up as useless. Groaning, I collapsed onto my bed. The letter in my other hand crinkled, reminding me of its presence. As it seemed I wasn't going anywhere, I unfolded it. The handwriting was as familiar to me as my own, and I chuckled as I read.

'My dear little brother,

I find myself quite astonished at the remarkable news your last letter imparted to me. An arranged marriage? With Phoebe Ramsey, no less! What is our father thinking? I mean no disrespect, but clearly, he has not considered this as he ought. Miss Ramsey is, I am sure, a lovely young lady, however, she always was a silly thing. Hardly the type of girl for you.

I have no doubt Mama is as appalled by this as I am, and she in a situation where she cannot assist you! Never fear, dear brother, I will come to your rescue. You say that Miss Ramsey is capable of breaking the agreement with no repercussion? Well, I shall simply devise a way of convincing her to do just that.

Inform our parents that I am coming. Julia and Tristan are ecstatic to visit their grandparents, and I am confident they will raise Mama's spirits...'

Chuckling, I folded my older sister's letter. "Oh, Jane," I said aloud. How surprised she would be when she arrived to discover I had managed to get myself into a worse tangle than an arranged marriage.

There was a light tap on the door. "Luke? Are you awake?"

"Philippa?" I asked, recognizing the voice of my sister. Hastily, I rose and hurried to the door. "Yes, I am awake."

The doorknob jiggled. "Why is your door locked? Luke, let me in so we can talk."

"Philly, I didn't lock myself in. Unless you can find whoever has the key, we will have to talk through the door."

I heard Philippa's gasp through the wood. "Never say you have been locked in! This is horrible!"

Sighing, I leaned my head against the door. "Did you need something? Has Mr. Ramsey returned Phaeton with no trouble?"

"How can you be concerned about your horse when you have been accused of a crime?" Philippa asked, her tone one of astonishment. "You have the strangest priorities, Luke. There are more important things going on."

"I am innocent of any wrongdoing." There was a long moment of silence. "You don't believe me, do you."

"Of course I do," she said, much too quick for me to believe her sincere. "And do you know, Mr. Ward all but berated Rosamund for causing a hum. Mrs. Ramsey says that she has never seen him come to anyone's defense before. Everyone was confused about the whole situation."

"Of course they were."

"How did this happen, Luke?" Philippa asked, her tone serious all of a sudden.

I lifted my head from the door. "In short, Miles and Phoebe have an attachment, however, Miles lost a family heirloom in a wager with Mr. Lamotte," I said, eager to tell anyone the tale. "Miles concocted a wild scheme to take back his ring from Rosamund by pretending to be a highwayman—though how she came to have the ring is beyond me. I happened upon him at the wrong time and was shot."

There was silence from the other side. "Would you be able to relate this whole situation to her before George or Rosamund have a chance to blacken my reputation completely?" I asked.

"Luke, I don't think Mama needs to know about this. She will fret about it, and her health will suffer."

"Keeping Mama in the dark will not help her health either," I said, far more sharply than I should have. "How would you feel if you were confined to one room for months on end with nothing to occupy your mind?"

Again, there was a long silence. I could only hope that she was thinking about what I had said. Of all my sisters, Philippa was never one to have any depth of thought on most subjects. "Oh, and you should make preparations for Jane's arrival," I said, reminded of my older sister's letter. "She is bringing Julia and Tristan, though she failed to mention whether her husband will accompany her as well."

I heard Philippa's horrified gasp. "Oh, it's just like Jane to not send word ahead! And I suppose she gave no indication exactly when she would arrive? She will land on us tomorrow for all I know!"

Chuckling, I listened to my younger sister's tirade for a few moments. "Philippa!" I finally said, trying to get her attention. "When you tell Mama about what has happened to me, add in how Jane is coming. She will send for Mrs. Jensen, and all will be arranged. Do not leave it for Rosamund to handle."

"I would never make such a mistake as that!" Philippa said, sounding offended I would even suggest she would leave it to Rosamund. "I ought to go, Luke. It will be dinner soon. I'll come by tomorrow morning if you haven't been released then. If there's anything you need, you must tell me."

"Have a good evening," I said as I heard her footsteps in the hallway. Shaking my head, I walked to the window to look out. The sun had started to dip down below the horizon, and shadows were growing long on the ground. I had slept the afternoon away. "I hope someone thinks to let me out for food, or send me up a tray."

****

Nearly two hours later, there was a knock on my door and then the click of the lock turning. I lifted my gaze from the book I had been reading. Mrs. Jensen stepped in and, without making eye contact, carried a tray to my table. Without saying a word, she hurried back to the door and pulled it closed behind her.

The lock clicked once again, and I knew I was once again trapped in my room. I had, for a brief moment, considered an escape through my window, but had put it to the back of my mind as a worst-case option. In truth, I knew it would have been a foolish and ill-advised plot.

In the light of a single candelabra, I ate every morsel from my tray. Once again left with nothing to do, I picked up the book. I had no notion as to how it had ended up in my room as it wasn't the usual type of book I would read. It was the first volume of a rather amusing novel entitled Pride and Prejudice. I made a mental note to search out the rest of the volumes.

Not long after I had taken up the book, I heard the lock on my door click. Expecting it to be Mrs. Jensen or one of the maids come to retrieve the tray, I kept my eyes on the printed words. Thus, I gave a start when I heard my sister-in-law's voice.

"Aren't you so quick to be lazy."

Lifting my head, I sent a glare towards her. "I don't recall inviting you into my room, Rosamund."

"A criminal loses his right to anything," she said, her tone prim. She put her hands on her hips. "Mr. Bywood suggested you might be amenable to returning my ring if I requested in person. Return it to me now."

A laugh left my lips. "Oh, Rosamund. Even if I had taken it, I wouldn't hand it over to you just like that."

Her eyes narrowed, and a scowl marred her face. "I knew you were a disagreeable, irresponsible young man, but this is outside of enough! Were I not aware of how it would reflect on my dear Mr. Bywood's good name, I would gladly watch you hang."

"I am curious as to how you acquired the ring in the first place, I said, ignoring her. "Since I know George did not give it to you, and it was used as security for a gambling debt."

Her eyes widened with anger. "My brother is no gambler!" she said, her voice raising an octave.

"Did I make mention of Mr. Lamotte? I don't believe I did. However, it is telling that his is the first name you bring up."

With a gasp, Rosamund took a step back, her face going pale. "How dare you?"

"How dare I?" I rose from my seat. "I am not the one making wild accusations and demands. I do not know what induced my brother to marry you, but you would do well to cease your efforts to cause a division between my family and me."

Her right hand came up as though she wished to slap me. "The truth of the matter will come out, Rosamund," I said, lowering my tone. "I suggest you keep your opinions to yourself until that time. Kindly leave my room now."

She spun on her heel and stalked to the door. For a moment, I considered making a break for freedom. However, I decided it would not reflect well on my innocence. With a sigh, I sank back down and leaned my head back against my pillow.

Apparently, Miles had not reappeared to clear my name, which I found to be the most dishonorable thing he had ever done. Right up there with pretending to be a highwayman robbing my brother and sister-in-law. Whether Father and George had interrogated Lamotte for the truth of the matter, I had no way of knowing.

And how long my imprisonment in my room would last, I couldn't even begin to guess.

****

Though the novel was entertaining, I ended up putting myself to bed earlier than usual. Thus, I rose just after dawn. As long as I had been in my bed, I had gotten little rest with my arm aching as badly as it had. Dr. Morgan's sleeping draft still stood on the table beside my bed, but I had little inclination to take the opiate.

My stomach rumbled as I stared out the window. I seemed to have been forgotten for no one came with a tray to break my fast. It was nearing ten o'clock when I heard a loud commotion in the hallway. I faced the door in anticipation of being freed.

The door was unlocked and swung open. "Luke!" My oldest sister, Jane, held her hands out as she hurried in. "What an abominable mess I've found. How have you borne it?"

As I took her hands, an unearthly rumble sounded from my stomach. Jane's eyes widened. "Have they been starving you as well?" she asked. "I cannot believe the state of things in this house! It is beyond comprehension!"

With a laugh, I shook my head. "It is not as bad as you are making it out to be, Jane," I said. She frowned at me and opened her mouth to speak. I squeezed her hands to cut her off. "There has been a misunderstanding, that is all. I have every confidence it will be put right soon enough. Let me explain what has happened."

"I have had the full story from Mama, and another version from Philippa, and an entirely different account from George and Rosamund," Jane said, pulling her hands free. "I think I have pieced together the truth. Your friend Miles has landed you in a fix once again and has left you to take the blame for it. How many times did I tell you he was no good?"

"His actions may have been rash and irresponsible, but he is far from being 'no-good,' Jane."

My sister sighed and shook her head. "And still you defend him. Very well, Luke. I will speak no more against your friend, though my opinion of him has not changed. Now come. Let's get you fed and then we will see about resolving this matter before the whole county knows of it."

"I would be greatly surprised if the whole county doesn't already know of it," I said, following her to the door. In the hallway, there was no sign of the footmen who must have accompanied Jane to my room. "How did you arrive so early? I was not expecting you until this afternoon at the soonest."

"When I went to Charles about this, he agreed there was no time to lose," she said, referring to her husband of eight years. I followed her along the corridor. "I do delight in setting Butler and Mrs. Jensen on their ears with a sudden arrival. And what is this I hear about the nursery being unavailable?"

"Rosamund wished to renovate it in anticipation of her own children."

Jane scowled and shook her head. "I cannot understand what induced George to marry that woman. She is everything that is disagreeable."

Again, I laughed. It was a relief to have my sister by my side and to be free of my room. "You cannot know just how many times that word has been used to describe me. I am just shy of being a confirmed reprobate."

"Yes, I've heard some of what Rosamund has been saying about you, and believe me she and I will be having words about it as soon as Mama is finished with her," Jane said, her tone dark with anger. She heaved a sigh. "If this is what happens when I am away, I shall simply have to convince Talbot to purchase a house in the neighborhood so I can manage things."

"It is simply a matter of bad timing. Had Mama been in good health, I am certain none of this would have happened."

"Well, the children and I will be here for at least a month. We shall see what we can do about getting Mama back on her feet. In the meantime, shall we clear your name before or after breakfast?"

"After. You know I detest missing a meal."

****

Charles Castleton joined us at the table, though it was only to drink his coffee. He was the most amiable of my brothers-in-law. He had a quickness of mind and good humor that made him easy to get along with. He had a modest fortune, but no land. He and Jane had spent most of their married life in London as he sought a suitable estate.

He and Jane made no mention of the situation, keeping the conversation to the estates they had seen and the failings they contained. It was in the middle of a description of a poor stable that Father appeared. "There you are, Luke," he said, his gaze landing on me. "I'd wondered where I would find you. You've been keeping to yourself too much."

I raised my eyebrow at that. "Not by choice, I assure you."

"And what is that supposed to mean?"

"Papa, you will not believe how I discovered Luke this morning," Jane said, jumping to her feet. "He had been locked in his room, and no one had deemed it right to take him breakfast."

Father's eyes narrowed. "Locked in his room?"

"I awoke yesterday afternoon to find myself locked in," I said, realizing he'd had no part in my imprisonment. "I assumed it was a precaution on your part to keep me from fleeing the country."

"This has gone on long enough," Father said, his tone a growl. He strode to the door. "Butler! See to it that all members of the family are assembled in the drawing room in half an hour."