Page 43 of The Dangerous Lord

Guilt suffused her face, as he’d known it would. “All right, I’ll admit that was badly done, and I regret it. I apologize for that bit of … of gossip.” She set her shoulders with stubborn determination. “But I can set the record straight in Lord X’s next col⁠—”

“How? I assure you, Wellington won’t repeat his words to Gideon. No one in the government will acknowledge me. And if you present only rumor, that will make your readers doubt me more, not less. No, you’ve opened that Pandora’s box, and you’ll never be able to shut it.”

“What do you want from me? I can’t marry you, Ian!”

“Yet I still need a wife.” He rubbed his chin, casting her a speculative glance. “So why don’t you provide me with a replacement for yourself.”

Clearly, he’d startled her. “Whatever do you mean?”

“You know many young women, and you have the ear of society even without your column. I’m sure you could find me someone to marry.”

“Find you a wife?” The panic in her expression pleased him inordinately. “Don’t be ridiculous! I-I wouldn’t know who or how or⁠—”

“Then you plan to leave me in this situation?”

“Yes. No! I-I mean—” She broke off, her eyes narrowing. “You act as if you must marry at once. But if you’ll only wait until the gossip dies down⁠—”

“I can’t,” he bit out, then cursed himself when her brow knit in confusion.

“Why not?”

After years of spying, coming up with a plausible reason for his urgency took only a second’s thought, especially since it was almost true. “Searching for a wife takes me away from my estate. I’ve spent two fruitless years on the endeavor; I can ill afford another.” A sudden inspiration hit him. “And consider this—you spend a great deal of time at social events advancing your profession, while I spend the same time looking for a wife. It would make perfect sense for us to help each other in our endeavors.”

With a wary look, she folded her arms over her chest. “Each other? Exactly how would you help me?”

He raised an eyebrow. “By not exposing your real identity, of course.”

Alarm lit her features. “You mean if I don’t find you a wife, you’ll expose me?”

He suppressed a smile. “Let’s just say that your refusal to help me with my problem will encourage me to start a rumor or two about Lord X’s true identity. You could hardly blame me for that, given the ‘rumors’ you’ve divulged about me.”

Gliding away from the fireplace, she wandered to the dressing table. She braced her hands on the greenish wood surface and stared into the mirror as if to find answers in her reflection. His gut tightened at the sight. He didn’t like playing these games, but he saw no other way to secure her.

And secure her he would, no matter what stratagem he must use. He’d have that waist-length hair scattered across a pillow and those hands clutching him close. He’d have those honey-sweet lips and that lissome body, rampant with sensual secrets. And yes, that bloody sharp mind of hers would be his, too. He wanted it all. As soon as he could get it.

In the mirror, he saw her gaze shift to him, haunted, reluctant. Bitter. “To think that a few minutes ago, I called you a gentleman.”

The accusation stung, but not enough to change his mind. “Everyone makes mistakes,” he said softly. “And your mistake lies in underestimating me. I’m not a gentleman when it comes to getting what I want. You should have learned that by now.”

Folding her arms over her breasts like a Christian maid meeting the heathens, she faced him. “What if I do as I threatened before? Find out your secrets and print them?”

“Come now, Felicity, do you really want war between us? Over the mere possibility of helping with my hunt for a wife?” He stepped toward her. “I’m not asking you to drag a woman into the church for me. I merely want you to praise me to your unattached female friends, introduce me here and there, and try to negate the effects of your most recent column. Surely you don’t think me undeserving of anyone simply because I don’t suit you. Am I so evil as all that?”

The starch went out of her posture. Bending her head, she fiddled with the lace ties of her wrapper. “N-No, of course not.”

He pressed his advantage. “Think of the opportunity this will afford you to make my life miserable. You can choose only sharp-tongued women or ugly women or even cruel women. In my current state of desperation, I’ll take nearly anyone you find me.”

Meeting his gaze, she said archly, “Somehow I doubt that.”

He smiled. “You know me so well. You see? You could be a great help to me.”

Her consternation at his words was so transparent, he marveled that she didn’t realize herself how unwilling she was to marry him off elsewhere. Stubborn woman. Her pride kept her from accepting him. And her jealousy, no matter what she protested.

Well, he’d use that jealousy against her. He’d make her see that watching him court someone else was much worse than enduring his protection of Miss Greenaway. And if he had to dance with ten thousand women to make her see that, so be it.

Felicity cast a quick look up to heaven as if hoping for the Deity to advise her on his proposal. Then she lowered her gaze to his. “All right. I’ll do what I can.”

“Thank you.” When she went limp, he added, “And don’t think to renege once we’re back in London. I shall hold you to your promise.”