“I’ve no time to take a wife or set up a nursery.”
“Ah. The steward—ah. Apologies. I mean,estate managerbusiness.” She grinned, a tiny fledgling thing. “Not all men, I see, are pigs.”
Josiah shrugged. “Give me time. I’ll oink soon enough.”
She grunted a laugh and looked into the bundle of blankets. “Hello, Bea. Thank you as well. We women must look out for one another.”
A true statement that needed amendment as well. She clearly needed someone, anyone, to look out for her. He’d never once seen her aunt, and she seemed to have no men folk to protect her. A damn shame. A crime.
“You could marry, Lady Georgiana. Then those fortune hunters have no prey.” And she’d have a husband to keep her safe.
“I’ve often considered the idea. It’s a sound one, of course. Logical. The problem is finding a man who isn’t after my fortune and who is…” She looked away from him, a blush stealing over her cheeks again. “Acceptable to look at. Mr. Hobbes is handsome.”
He scowled.
She cringed. “Still… something about him makes me shiver a bit. And not in a good way. Aunt Prudence always says if my gut makes me question a man, it’s not indigestion.”
He relaxed and gave baby Beatrice a little squeeze. “Excellent advice. But—”
“She’s ill.”
How to respond to such an abrupt statement? “I am sorry. I’m sure she’ll recover.”
“Mm. She’s approaching eighty.” She waved her hand and snapped her head to the side, her gaze roaming across the crowd. “Tis no worry. As you say, she’ll recover. And I’ll not marry.”
An independent woman like her would not be easily swayed. Yet the thought of her alone, no one to protect her, rippled goosebumps across his skin. Who would fight off those fortune hunters? She clearly needed a husband. Or something like. A champion perhaps.
“Make use of me.”
She raised a brow. “And what does that mean? Do not think I’m unaware of the inappropriate innuendo in those words?”
He waggled his eyebrows. “I’ve already insinuated we have an understanding, so you should make use of it. Let the idea linger in everyone’s minds. They’ll leave you alone soon enough. Won’t be a lie either. Wewillhave an understanding. Just not the one everyone assumes.”
“An understanding.” She chewed the word over thoughtfully. “An understanding that neither of us will ever wed, but—”
“We’ll hint to everyone that we mean to marry one another.”
She stiffened. “I do so dislike being interrupted, Mr. Evans.”
“But do you like fortune hunters? You can be rid of them if we have—”
“An understanding. Hm. What doyougain?”
“You are in luck that I do not mind being interrupted, as you do, Lady Georgiana. What do I gain? Nothing really. But I lose nothing from it either.”
“You’re too busy for a wife. Yes. I remember.”
“And there is another benefit for you. I will be at Apple Grove most of the time. When I’m in Town for some reason, I’ll pay you a visit, walk with you in Hyde Park, shape the illusion. But otherwise, you are free to do as you please. With the protection of our implied courtship. I can even cast a few menacing looks at other men when necessary.”
“It’s not a horrid idea. Very well then.” She nodded at Josiah’s shoulder. “Bea is drooling on you.”
Josiah held a finger to his lips and made a shushing sound. “She’s asleep.”
“No one will believe we’re interested in one another. We’ve nothing in common. You’re running an estate and prefer the country.”
“And you’re an heiress with a taste for London life. But”—he grinned—“I do like cake.”
She grinned back. “And I like babies.”
