Thatwas nothing an unmarried woman normally heard from a man. Forcing down a shiver of nerves, she did as he asked.
“I’m seated on the sofa, Mrs. Blake. Come join me.”
She moved forward cautiously, in case furniture had been moved as the servants cleaned. But they had all been well trained, and everything was where it should be. Lord Knightsbridge took her arm and guided her to a place beside him. It felt strange to sit so close when they were all alone. It had been almost three years since a man had showed any interest in her at all. She’d begged this one to help her—why could she not just hear his decision without feeling anxious?
“Why did you speak with my father?” she asked.
“Right to the point—I like that about you, Mrs. Blake.”
“I had assumed you would discuss your decision with me first.”
“I had to follow the rules of courtship. Which meant I had to inform your father I was marrying you.”
Her breath caught in shock, and then fury and disbelief filled her up like a pitcher about to overflow. “I will not marry you!”
“Keep your voice down,” he murmured. “I’m not truly planning to marry you—you’ve told me you’ll never marry again.”
She swallowed heavily, forced herself to breathe again. “Then why did you tell him that?”
“How else did you think I could get you away from here? I was not about to flee dishonestly in the night, as if I’d compromised you and we had something to hide.”
“Now we just have a false engagement to hide.”
“You are not thinking clearly. Since we’re newly engaged, and you’re widowed, I can escort you and your lady’s maid to your new home—conveniently close to mine—to ease thewedding preparations. Once you’re settled, you can break off the engagement, as is every woman’s right. Who would blame you? We barely know each other, and thank God we took the time to discover our differences before we married, yes?”
She was still breathing deeply, realizing how frightened the thought of being married again made her. It was such a visceral, sickening feeling, that sense of helplessness she’d experienced being passed back from her husband to her father, as if she were but a possession, not a person with feelings to be hurt.
But his words calmed her, and at last she began to make sense of his plan. “Yes, I see what you’re saying. You’re an earl who wants to marry me, taking an invalid off her father’s hands. People should think my father the luckiest man in existence. Or that I must have an incredible treasure in jewels.”
“Now you’re sounding sarcastic,” he pointed out.
She was surprised to feel the beginnings of a smile. “I am sorry I reacted in quick anger when you’re only trying to help me.”
He put his gloved hand on hers. “Believe me, I understand your disillusionment with marriage. My parents’ marriage was even colder than a mountain battlefield. They cared nothing for each other, and knew that from the beginning. It was a match to satisfy their families and their social status, that was all.”
“I’m sorry. That sounds terrible for you.”
“They didn’t beat me, and they provided for me. There are many who have it worse.”
She felt the cushions shift as he stood, bringing her hand up with him until she was forced to rise.
“Off to bed with you,” he said. “You must fortify yourself before we break the news to the rest of your family. I’ll let the hunting party go off without me in the morning and try to convince your brother to join his friends late.”
She winced. “You had the worst of it, dealing with my father. I will find the words to explain to Blythe and Edwin,” she insisted, smiling up at him. “I will take it from here. Thank you for your assistance.”
It had beendifficult for Audrey to fall asleep. For one thing, she kept secret from Molly her “engagement,” deciding that her sister and brother should hear news of it before a servant—even though Molly was far closer to her than any of the others.
But she’d felt so fragile after Lord Knightsbridge’s “proposal,” she was worried she wouldn’t be able to keep the truth from Molly—that it wasn’t a real engagement. And that was something she had to hug to her heart as she played the part of a delighted bride. She couldn’t risk anyone finding out the truth.
She’d waited to descend to the ground floor until Molly told her the shooting party had gone to the stables. Now, every step toward the dining room made her feel more and more apprehensive.Why do you care what your family thinks?They didn’t care about how their feelings of shame hurt her; they didn’t care if they kept her locked away forever, as long as she was useful to them.
But they were her siblings, and she didn’t want to treat them as they’d treated her. It was her dearest wish—after her own independence—that she could heal her relationships with Blythe and Edwin.
She entered the dining room and came to a stop.
“Good mornin’, Mrs. Blake,” said the footman. “Yer chair is all ready for you.”
“Good morning, Richard, and thank you. Is anyone else here?”
