Her mother had married for love only to discover she had chosen a man who controlled every aspect of her life. The females of the Shepherd family were told what to do and think.
Leah would be damned if she would make the same mistake. The sooner she could quietly sever all connections with Guy Dannon, the better.
Chapter Five
The following Monday saw James and Guy seated in the drawing room of Guy’s recently acquired town house in Noel Street. During previous visits, they had utilized the smaller, warmer library. But as Guy was having the house redecorated and the painters were still working in there, they had been forced to change rooms.
With new curtains and floor coverings also evident about the place, it was clear Guy was sparing no expense when it came to his marriage preparations. The future mistress of this house would have the finest of everything.
“You are still going to go ahead and propose to Leah?” asked James.
“You mean after she was willful at the garden party? Of course. Girls like Leah think they are in control of matters. And while we are courting, it makes sense for me to permit her those little indulgences. She will, of course, see sense once we are married,” replied Guy.
James frowned, unsure if he had heard Guy correctly. After the way Guy and Leah had interacted with one another at the garden party, he was not convinced that they would suit. “Do you even like her?” he asked.
“She is tolerable enough, which is sufficient for my purposes. I think she will make for a solid political asset. She is pretty in an average sort of way. I am sure I can train her for the bedroom and in other areas,” said Guy.
James scratched his chin. While Guy appeared to be unfazed by his and Leah’s complete lack of chemistry, she, on the other hand, had barely hidden her distaste for his friend. A woman in love with her potential fiancé would most certainly not have kissed another guest. It may have been on the cheek, but still, it was a kiss.
To James, it had been more than just a simple kiss. Watching as Leah’s soft lips touched Francis’s cheek had sparked something within him. In his mind, a voice had whispered one word. A word which had shaken him to the core.
Mine.
As he relived the memory of that moment, James gripped the arm of his chair and tried to calm his breathing.
Guy picked up his brandy and took a long sip, chuckling softly at James. “Relax, James. It is all part of the wooing process. Women like that sort of thing. Let them think that they are in charge. It makes them more pliable for marriage proposals.”
From what he had seen of her, James did not think Leah was at all pliable. Yet despite what appeared to be clear signs of them not being suited to one another, Guy seemed determined to press on with courting and marrying her.
He had secretly enjoyed the sight of Leah defying Guy over her bonnet. She was an adult and capable of deciding whether to wear it or not. James liked women who had their own opinions, while he had less-than-kind thoughts about men who felt that only their views would hold sway. Guy had acted in an unchivalrous manner when trying to force Leah’s hand. Only their friendship, and the worry of causing an embarrassing scene, had stopped James from stepping in and coming to Leah’s aid.
Now that he had seen for himself the sort of behavior she was up against when it came to his friend, he was beginning to understand Leah’s earlier rude greeting to him. The more he thought about it, the more he was certain that Leah Shepherd detested Guy Dannon. And that was no recipe for future happiness for anyone. “So, you think the two of you can make a go of this marriage lark?” he ventured.
“Of course. She was just a little out of sorts with me on Saturday, that is all. I plan to press ahead and speak to her father posthaste. It wouldn’t look good on me if the chit suddenly got cold feet and the wedding didn’t go ahead. Especially not after all the effort I have put into wooing her.”
“It is your funeral,” replied James.
Having seen enough of his cousins recently leap into the joyful arms of wedded bliss, James was convinced that Guy did not have an appreciation of the ingredients that went into making a successful marriage. For a start, all those other unions seemed to have had a great deal more mutual attraction and affection involved in them.
Caroline and Francis’s sister, Eve, had recently eloped with the second son of a Viscount, with her parents’ blessings. Even James, who wasn’t the least bit interested in marriage, had been impressed with the amount of passion involved in that particular wooing. Hopefully Guy would take his time and not rush into offering for Leah’s hand. “And when do you plan to speak to Mister Shepherd?” asked James.
“The day after tomorrow,” replied Guy.
Any hope James had held for Leah and Guy to be spared a loveless union swiftly died.
“Damn, and double damn.”
Her behavior at the garden party had not had the desired effect. Instead of Guy Dannon having second thoughts about courting her, he had decided to press his suit and speak to her father.
The party had been Saturday, and now it was Monday night. Her mother had excitedly announced to Leah earlier that Guy had made an appointment with Tobias Shepherd for this very Wednesday. Those words had filled her with dread.
“While I cannot say exactly what it is about, you should know it does not concern politics or business. I suggest you prepare yourself for some news, my dear girl.”
Two days. It was not enough time for her to find a way out of the inevitable betrothal announcement. She could feign being sick, but her mother was a great one for purging and the laying on of leeches whenever someone in the house took ill. Memories of her last illness and the pain of the bloodsuckers were too fresh in her mind for Leah to seriously consider that drastic a measure. Besides, it would only delay the inevitable.
She and Guy would both be in attendance at a society ball on Tuesday night. It would be her last chance to help change his mind about offering for her hand.
As she sat up in bed, she wracked her brains. There had to be something she could do to scupper his plans to make her his wife. What would be enough to have a gentleman decide he no longer wished to marry a young miss?
