were. I’m not a good person.”
Lord Sleat threw back his head and laughed at that. “Lass, you have no idea what you’re saying. Not a good person? So you’ve told a few white lies in order to save yourself from marriage to a despicable dog. It hardly signifies.”
“But I’ve also brought trouble to your door. Trouble you don’t need given everything else you have to contend with.”
He grimaced. “Aye, you’ve done that.”
“And believe me, I feel terrible about it. The reason I didn’t tell you the truth sooner was that I feared you would terminate my employment and throw me out. Or, worse, return me to my uncle’s care. And to Felix.”
A muscle flickered in Lord Sleat’s jaw. “You can rest assured, that’s not going to happen. If I ever see your cousin again, he’ll rue the day he was born.”
“Then . . . you’ll let me stay on as Tilda’s nurse?”
“I didn’t say that, lass.”
Olivia frowned. “I don’t understand.”
“Miss de Vere. Even though your cousin Felix might be temporarily incapacitated with a broken collarbone, do you think he’s just going to let you walk away now that he’s discovered your whereabouts?”
“I . . . I hadn’t thought that far ahead.” Indeed she hadn’t. What a wigeon she’d become. She’d been so preoccupied with what Lord Sleat might do, she hadn’t even thought about the threat Felix still presented.
“Well, I have.” Lord Sleat’s expression was grim.
Apprehension flared inside Olivia. “What . . . what are you suggesting then, my lord? I’m confused.”
“There’s only one sure way to protect you and your fortune, lass.” Lord Sleat took a step closer and captured her hand. Fire lit his gaze from within as he stated with the solemnity of a man upon the gallows, uttering his last words to the crowd below, “Olivia de Vere, I’m going to make you my wife.”
* * *
* * *
Olivia de Vere gaped in openmouthed horror even as she simultaneously blushed. “Surely you’re jesting, my lord.”
“Indeed, I’m not.” It was the only way Hamish could think to save her. And it might just benefit him too. A plan began to take shape in his mind.
“But why?” Olivia shook her head. “Why would you do this?”
“I assure you I don’t need your money, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“No, I didn’t think that.” Olivia’s brow wrinkled in confusion. “It’s just . . . I don’t understand.”
“You’re a gentle, sweet-natured lass, and it would be a travesty indeed to see you wed to a self-serving blackguard like your cousin. And all because of greed. I won’t stand for it.” His mother, Margaret, had been forced to wed a terrible man, and he couldn’t let that happen to Miss Olivia de Vere.
“Besides, as I understand it, we have a fair few mutual friends,” he continued. “Lord Malverne and Lord Langdale would surely have my guts for garters if I simply washed my hands of you in your hour of need. I’m certain their wives and Lady Charlotte Hastings would make mincemeat of whatever remained too.”
“But . . .” Olivia’s dark eyes were filled with dismay as she murmured more to herself than to him, “It . . . it’s not supposed to be like this.” Raising her chin, she added, “You might call my dreams foolish and girlish, Lord Sleat, but I’ve always wanted to marry a man who loved me. Truly loved me. Not just the contents of my bank account. Never once did I entertain the idea that a man might propose to me out of a sense of obligation.”
“It’s true this will be a marriage of convenience, Miss de Vere. Or may I call you Olivia now? In any case, there’s every chance that a love match could be in your future.”
A scarlet blush marched up Olivia’s neck and across her face. “With . . . with you? I mean, I know we’ve only just met—”
“While it is true I am attracted to you in a physical sense, Olivia, and you certainly have many other qualities I admire, I’m afraid I’m not the sort of man who falls in love.”
“You’re a rakehell,” she said flatly.
“Aye. And a wicked one at that. But that’s not all.” Hamish blew out a sigh. How could he warn this young lass that he not only was inherently sinful but also constantly struggled to keep a dark and dangerous streak in check? He didn’t want to scare her, not when he was essentially offering to marry her to protect her from her