“Stop hiding behind clichés,” Ashendon snapped.
“Clichés exist for a reason. Without wishing to hash over the past, let us agree that having allowed Georgiana to be caught in a compromising position, I am honor bound to marry her.”
“And placing that blasted notice in the blasted papers without so much as a by-your-blasted-leave? How do you explain that?”
“An accident,” Hart lied smoothly. “I had drafted a notice in anticipation of the event, and an overefficient secretary acted without my knowledge.” He spread his hands in a what-can-you-do movement. “Of course, as soon as I saw it in the paper, I contacted you.”
There was a long silence. Ashendon eyed him coldly. “You know she doesn’t want you.”
“She doesn’t know what she wants. Yet.”
Ashendon snorted. “You don’t know her very well, do you?”
Hart shrugged. “That’s immaterial. Most couples get to know each other after marriage.”
Ashendon’s eyes narrowed. “Why are you really pursuing this? You could have any woman in the ton. Why pursue a girl who doesn’t want you?”
“I want her.” It was risky being so blunt, but they were men of the world, after all.
The gray eyes filmed with ice. “Your wants matter nothing to me, Everingham. The only question I care about is, does my niece want you? And she doesn’t.”
“I think she does. I think she’s just nervous, like a filly being brought to stud for the first time.”
“My niece is nota filly.” Ashendon’s voice was icily savage.
“No, she’s not,” Hart said, soothing ruffled feathers. “It was a clumsy and inappropriate analogy.”
There was a short silence, filled only by the rumbling of thunder. A moment later, rain started pelting down.
Hart spoke again. “Look, we can dance around the issue all morning, but let us not waste time. Having compromised your niece—and without resorting to vulgarity, let me just point out that she was not an unwilling participant, no matter what kind of girl you imagine she is—I’m doing the gentlemanly thing and preventing a scandal by making her an honorable offer. You know I’ll be generous with the settlements.” After all, they had negotiated the financialarrangements for his marriage to the earl’s sister Rose only a short time before. Ashendon knew who and what he was dealing with.
Hart stood. He was impatient to get things settled. “So, do we have an agreement?” It wasn’t really a question. With his niece compromised and a betrothal notice in the papers, Ashendon had no other choice but to agree. Hart’s visit was a mere formality.
To Hart’s surprise, a faint note of amusement lightened the flinty gray eyes. “You have a lot to learn about Rutherford women, Everingham. I’m George’s uncle, not her keeper. She makes up her own mind. It’s not me you have to convince—it’s George.”
Hart frowned. The marriage was necessary. Surely there was no doubt. “I presume you’ve explained the situation to her.”
“Oh, she knows the situation.” Ashendon seemed to be almost enjoying himself now. “But George isn’t your average young lady.”
Of course she wasn’t. Hart would never have contemplated marriage with her otherwise. “May I speak to her?”
“I’ll see if she’s home.” Ashendon pulled the bell cord.
“Surely she knew I was coming. I sent you that note.”
Ashendon gave an enigmatic smile. “Yes, but George dances to her own tune.”
Just as the butler returned with the information that Lady Georgiana had gone out with her dog, they heard the front door open.
The first sign that she’d returned from her walk early was the wet and muddy dog that came bounding into the room. A moment later Lady Georgiana followed.
The moment she entered the room Hart knew he would need all his powers of persuasion. She was breathing hard, as if she’d been running. Her short dark hair clung in damp feathery clusters around her face. Her clothes were damp and clung to her lithe, slender body. Her hem was as muddy as her dog.
No other woman he knew would have dreamed ofentering a room dressed so untidily, especially one containing a gentleman visitor, let alone a young lady expecting a marriage proposal.
Nor would most ladies inflict a damp and muddy dog on a visitor.
But her skin was pale and damp and glowed like a pearl. The dark clusters of hair framed her piquant face enchantingly. Her mouth was plum dark and endlessly enticing.
