Dear God, this was worse than any of them had imagined as they’d crept out of the house in the cold light of dawn…
She snapped her eyes open again. “Then you believe I have no other choice than to accept your offer?”
“I think it might be difficult for you to receive others. In fact, if the word spreads, it will be difficult for your entire family.”
“Does Sir Edmund know?” she asked hoarsely.
He shook his head. “Not from me.” He smiled deprecatingly. “I am the grandson of an earl. If I marry you, the Letchworths will be more inclined to favor your sister. Or at least not to forbid it. For what it’s worth, Letchworth is a very upright young man. Unless there was fault on Lucy’s part—and I can’t see that there is—he is unlikely to blame her.”
She let out a relieved breath, then frowned and caught his gaze once more. “And you? You have not even asked me what happened.”
He shrugged. “That is your business. My hope is you were not harmed. For the rest, I am happy to listen, but you hardly seem the type of girl to fall happily into an orgy.”
She shuddered. “I’m not perfectly sure what an orgy is, but if it is the vulgar racket that went on below us in the princess’s house, then I can assure you, I was not happy at all, and I spent most of the evening locked away from it all.”
“You are an innocent,” he observed, “caught in a scandal, not of your making. You need a husband. I need a wife. I believe we could deal well together.”
“On the basis of one interview? Sir, there must be any number of better born, wealthier, and more sociable women who would jump at the chance to—”
“Are you trying to talk yourself out of the position, Miss Shelby?” he interrupted.
She stared at him. He was joking about this as a position, of course, but perhaps that was the way to regard it. An extremely well-paid position, with benefits for her whole family.
And a way out of the scandal.
Pressure built behind her eyes so quickly that she rubbed distractedly at her forehead. “You are truly serious about this?”
“I am, but I will not press you. Go home and think, if you like. But if you could give me your answer one way or another by tomorrow, I would be grateful.”
“I would be relieving one set of problems,” she said slowly, “and taking on others.”
“That is life.” His lips curved into a smile of pure mischief. “And it can be fun.”
Her breath caught. A position with adventure was what she imagined she would have when she accompanied the princess abroad. This was an entirely different adventure and just as unknown.
“Shall I call on you tomorrow?” he asked. “Or would you prefer to send a note to me at Gosmere Hall?”
“There’s no need,” she said abruptly. “I accept your offer. I will marry you.”
Dear God, what have I done?
Chapter Three
His eyes widened with excitement she knew had nothing to do with her personally.
None of this was personal.
However, he solemnly held out his hand, and she shook it because she didn’t really know what else to do.
“Thank you,” he said. “I shall do my best to ensure you never regret this decision.”
“Likewise,” she agreed.
He released her hand, and she let it fall back into her lap. Shock and even fear at what she had just done surged within her, forcing her abruptly to her feet.
“I should go home,” she mumbled. “If you will excuse me.”
“I’ll accompany you, carry your basket.”
“There is no need. I—”
“I believe there is every need,” he said lightly.
She had just agreed to marry this man. Instead of trying to shake him off, she should at least be getting used to his company. She could not explain to herself, let alone to him, why she suddenly found his person just too overwhelming.
Inevitably, it seemed, they saw her mother’s friend, Mrs. Copsley, being driven along the village street in her gig. The lady’s eyes were agog, but Mr. Halland merely raised his hat and kept walking. Deborah dropped a quick curtsey and hurried on with him.
She didn’t know if she was glad or sorry when the children merely waved from the square and didn’t run up to join them. Her mind was too busy for conversation, but she did feel his gaze upon her frequently. Perhaps he was appalled at what he had just done. Should she give him a chance to