‘Well…’ she said and remembered just in time that she’d intended to sparkle. Monosyllables would not do the job. ‘It might be unfair, but it is hardly a surprise. Grandfather was quite clear about what would happen if I did not make a match.’
‘Bonham’s right, Lou,’ her brother insisted. ‘The old screw has no right to the money our parents set aside for you. I am sure they never intended for him to keep it if you did not get hitched.’ Percy reached to pat her hand.
She gave him what she hoped was a plucky smile and pretended that she was not bothered by it, silently praying that Bonham had not come just to pity her.
He was nodding in sympathy with her brother and at risk of ruining everything. ‘If you are not interested in marriage, you should not be forced to seek it out just to receive something which was intended for you all along.’
Not interested in marriage? Did he seriously think that she had been turning down offers for her hand just so she could sit home and read? ‘I… Well…’ There were those monosyllables again.
She took a breath. ‘I am not at all uninterested in marriage. It is just that…’
No one wants me. Why would they? If anyone looked at me twice, I managed to say something stupid or be clumsy and ruin it for myself. For three straight years!
That might be true but she would go to her grave without saying it aloud. Better stop at half a sentence and let them write their own end to her story.
‘I hope you understand, I am saying this not out of a desire to meddle in your personal affairs,’ the duke said, with an earnest expression that gave a boyish cast to his exceptionally handsome face. ‘It is just that, I have known Percy for so long, I view you both as family. He has been at my side through many of life’s hardships. I wish to repay the debt, now.’
He could not possibly be saying what she was imagining. It would be too wonderful. Like something from a Minerva novel. Dukes did not come to the rescue of wallflowers. When they married, they picked diamonds of the first water. Only a girl who could sparkle was fit to be a duchess. She was not a diamond. She was paste. Good at pretending, but not much else.
All the same, her heart hammered, waiting for his next words.
There was a moment of silence. Then, Percy erupted into laughter. ‘You want to marry my sister?’
‘Of course not,’ the duke replied, laughing as well.
Of course not.
Louisa joined in, though it came out as a hysterical titter. If one could not laugh at oneself, one should not laugh at all.
Percy sobered. ‘I do not think you quite understand the situation, then. My sister needs to marry if she is to have Grandfather’s favour and receive her inheritance. But the Season is over. We are out of time. You are not planning to produce a fiancé from out of your pocket, are you? Because that is what we need.’
‘Not exactly,’ the duke said mysteriously, smiling again.
The answer should have been no. Marrying a stranger would be bad. It would be even worse if the Duke of Bonham had ordered that stranger to court her just because he felt sorry for her.
He went on. ‘What you really need is not a marriage, but your grandfather to loosen his purse strings.’
‘That is not likely to happen,’ Percy said with a shake of his head. ‘He is as tight-fisted a miser as you are ever likely to meet.’
‘A recluse as well,’ the duke reminded them. ‘Do you think him likely to come to the wedding?’
Percy laughed again. ‘Not even if he is invited.’
Louisa managed a smile. It was a little amusing to think that Grandfather would suddenly care enough to celebrate her good fortune. They’d never even met him before their parents’ deaths. He had not taken a step out of his way to comfort them afterwards. If she ever did marry, she was sure she would never see him again.
‘He has not stirred from the manor in close to ten years,’ Percy affirmed.
‘Then all you need is an announcement inThe Times,’ the duke said, holding out his hands as if presenting the idea on a platter.
‘He wouldn’t believe it,’ Percy said, shaking his head.
‘And perhaps a convincing visit from a gentleman who seems to have good intentions,’ the duke said.
‘A sham engagement, complete with a sham fiancé?’ Percy said.
When Louisa turned to look at Percy, she saw that his expression had grown thoughtful, as if he was giving the idea far more consideration than he should.
She was so shocked, she looked at the duke and managed an entire sentence without hesitation. ‘You are suggesting we lie?’
