being overtaken by footpads yesterday. They delivered a vicious blow to her driver’s head. I gave chase, but in the crush of the street traffic, I was unable to reach her. Rather than seek the authorities and sound the alarm, I deemed it best to chase after her myself. By the time I was able to overtake her carriage, the brigands had reached the countryside.”
His betrothed’s eyes widened at his subterfuge. The excuse was rather silly, he had to admit, but he had not bargained upon an interfering aunt when he had formulated his plan.
Her aunt gasped. “Footpads! Mon dieu, I cannot believe it. How fortunate that you were there, my lord, to come to her rescue.”
“I managed to scare the villains off, but a violent storm was rolling in,” he continued, warming to his cause. “I was left with no choice but to remain with Lady Calliope on one of my estates, overnight, rather than travel in the storm with no coachman. Knowing that I have compromised her, I have offered Lady Calliope my hand in marriage, and she has graciously accepted.”
“My lord, I am eternally grateful to you for rescuing my beloved niece! But I cannot help but to think a marriage is precipitate,” her aunt said. “After all, Westmorland is on his honeymoon. No one even knows Callie was alone with you.”
“Unfortunately, I was unable to act the gentleman,” Sin added, hoping the maiden aunt would understand what he was intending to convey without too much detail.
The aunt frowned. “Do you mean to say…”
“Yes,” Lady Calliope interrupted, glaring at him. “It was all rather…hasty and sudden. The drama of the moment overcame us both.”
He grinned back at her, enjoying her irritation, the orchestration of her ruin. “My love for Lady Calliope blossomed overnight. I have long admired her from afar, but since the fates have so conspired to throw us together, I find myself unable to live without her. I was so pleased when she confessed she feels the same way about me. I realize this is all highly irregular, of course. My lapse in propriety was egregious, and I will be pleased to rectify the matter with as much haste as possible.”
“You are in love?” the aunt asked, her gaze flitting between Sin and Lady Calliope.
“It is a new love,” his betrothed said with a pained smile.
“Desperately in love,” he added.
“Well, our family is known for our eccentricities. I cannot say I am pleased with you for violating propriety in such a shocking fashion, but I do understand the temptations of being alone, overnight, especially given the horrors the two of you had been through. I am so thankful to you for saving her.” The aunt paused to beam at him. “All is forgiven, my dear boy, as long as you promise to take very good care of our beloved Callie.”
Bloody hell. This was going better than he had imagined.
Of course, if Westmorland were here, he would likely have resorted to fisticuffs. Sin and Westmorland were acquaintances, but not friends. However, he knew the man well enough to know he would not be impressed with Sin having absconded with Callie overnight, only to return with her wearing a tattered gown. Nor would he have swallowed Sin’s flimsy tale so readily.
How obliging of him, getting married and leaving on his honeymoon.
This eccentric French aunt was no match for Sin.
“I promise to take excellent care of Lady Calliope,” he told the aunt. “It will be my greatest honor to make her my countess.”
And to use her dowry to save myself from ruin.
Wisely, he refrained from adding that bit. She owed him, after all, Lady Calliope. She was the reason for his desperation. She was the one who had forced his hand.
The aunt pressed a hand to her heart, looking overjoyed. “Oh ma chère! Your brother will be overjoyed when he hears you are marrying after all.”
“Yes, I imagine Benny will be pleased.” Lady Calliope’s voice was wan, her smile unconvincing.
“When does Westmorland return from his honeymoon?” Sin prodded now. Because he was running out of time. He needed to get married within the next few days, not within the next few weeks.
Nor could he afford to wait for Westmorland to drag his heels or otherwise attempt to wrest his sister from Sin’s grasp. He fully expected Lady Calliope to do everything in her power to extricate herself from her promises. The less time she had to achieve her goal, the better.