It had not been his experience at all, for though they were formerly locked in a constant state of quarreling with one another, he had never left one of their encounters feeling as if she were boring. Quite the opposite. At times, he found her to be too lively, too opinionated, too eager to trump whatever he had to say, and often sharply witty, where he tended to be the target of her cutting remarks.
“Is this why you are not married?” he asked, thinking aloud.
He had always assumed it was because of her books—that no gentleman could match up to the fictional heroes and men she read about, so she had not bothered to try. He would never have guessed that it was because she became silent and charmless when presented with potential suitors. Nor would he have guessed that she held love in such sacred esteem and had actively—at least in intention—sought it for all these years.
And now you are a spinster, alone without security or anyone to take care of you but your brother.To Percy, that seemed like madness, like a terrible risk that had not paid off.
He would have said he pitied her, if he had not thought it would gain him a smack in the face. But to put so much weight upon love—he could not fathom such a foolish act and had to wonder why her brothers had not stepped in to tell her as much, years ago.
Anna turned away, gazing out of the carriage window at the verdant world beyond. “It was not for lack of trying, regardless of what my brothers might say,” she replied softly. “If I had met the gentleman who is meant for me, things might have been different. Now, I am studying acceptance instead, learning what power there is in being alone from the likes of my friend, the countess. But that does not mean I have ceased believing in love. I never shall, even if all I can do is share in the joy and love of others.”
Is that why you became The Matchmaker?Percy could not ask it aloud, but he made a note in his mind to enquire later, if he could catch her by herself for a moment.
“At least you will always have Max,” Dickie chimed in. “He is as hopeless as you when it comes to wooing, and he simply will not agree to take lessons from me. I suppose it is the cost—I am a very expensive tutor.”
Max laughed. “I have been a duke for barely more than a few months. I must adjust to that change before I consider finding a duchess and, at present, it is not important to me. Perhaps, it never shall be. I have never daydreamed about love the way the two of you do.”
“Quite right, too,” Percy said, all this talk of that vague emotion making him feel uneasy, and rather like he was sitting among lunatics. “Marriage does not require love. Love is a foolish notion, so it is little wonder that ladies chase it so diligently.”
Anna whipped around. “Excuse me?”
“I am inclined to agree with Dickie—love is a trick. I have never felt it, nor would I wish to. Those whothinkthey are in love allow it to cloud their judgment; it makes them silly, and it makes them do stupid things.” Percy sat up straighter, soothed by his own words. “It is witnessed time and time again. You hear of a couple ‘in love’ who marry for that reason, and that reason alone, and in a year or two, they are miserable.”
“And what of marriages of convenience that result in misery?” Anna shot back. “What about marriages of business and status and exchanges of wealth—how many of them are thoroughly dismal?”
Percy puffed his chest. “At least everyone is well taken care of. The ladies have security, the gentlemen have the promise of legacy. That is nothing to be despondent about. Being without two coins to rub together, and finding that love is fleeting and certainly not enough—thatis a reason to be miserable.”
“But… but… that is socold!” Anna gasped, as if she could not believe what she was hearing.
“Perhaps, you think it cold, but I think it is logical, and peopleshouldbe logical instead of allowing silly ideas to guide their decisions,” he replied. “Of course, I am not saying there cannot be companionship, but having it or not having it does not, in my mind, dictate whether a marriage is successful. Legacy and security are the only essentials.”
Anna shook her head, like he had disappointed her. “When you have found your bride, perhaps we shall see who is right and who is wrong. But in myexperience,” her eyes widened, sending a silent message, “love always triumphs, and the absence of it is always keenly felt. Love endures anything, while matches of logic and business cause eyes and hearts to wander.”
“She has a point,” Dickie remarked, surprising Percy. He had thought the younger of the two brothers would be on his side. “What good is legacy if you are a cuckold? What good is security if your husband is never home, and has a trail of illegitimate children that are draining his coffers with every threat he receives? It is why I truly will not settle for less than a love match.”
Anna flashed a victorious smile at Percy. “What do you say to a wager, Percival?”
“I do not gamble,” he replied stiffly.
“But if you are so sure that you are right, why not?” she challenged. “It can be something small, if you are not as confident as you claim to be.”
He shifted in his seat. “Very well. This is silly, but as Ishallgain the satisfaction of winning, then yes—why not.”
“Five pounds to the victor,” Anna said without hesitation. “If you are miserable within your marriage after… two years, then you owe me five pounds. If you are very content, I shall owe you.”
It appeared that she had forgotten about her reputation—or, rather, The Matchmaker’s reputation as a figure of unrivaled success in the art of bringing couples together in happy unions. Still, Percy would not let that stop him, for he knew that he was right, and she had walked directly into her own trap.
“Let us hope that I am matched with the most suitable bride, then,” he said, sticking out his hand.
He saw the moment it dawned on her and resisted the urge to smile at his early victory. Having heard everything she had said, there was no way she would risk her accomplishments as The Matchmaker for the sake of a small sum of money.
With a slight grimace, she took his hand and shook it.
He held on a moment longer, saying quietly, “I look forward to being five pounds and a wife richer, Catchweed.”
But it would cost him in other ways, as he realized he had just undone all of the progress they had made toward civility. He saw it in her eyes, the moment he called her that name.
CHAPTERNINE
