She spoke over him. “How could you even consider such a thing?” she asked. “The horse farm is profitable, and you could use the income to buy more land. You don’t need to sell it.”
Mr. Dandridge let out a deep sigh. “I know you are attached to the horse farm, but this is just a business decision. It isn’t personal.”
“It feels personal,” Elinor muttered.
“If we were wed, you could continue to run the horsefarm until it sells,” Mr. Dandridge said. He said his words as if he were dangling a treat in front of her.
Elinor couldn’t quite believe what Mr. Dandridge had revealed. How could he even consider selling the horse farm? This was her home. Her sanctuary. And he wanted to take it away from her. She couldn’t let that happen. Lady Edith would be furious to know of Alden’s intentions. She loved this horse farm almost as much as Lady Edith did.
“No,” Elinor said.
Mr. Dandridge furrowed his brows. “No?”
Elinor pressed her lips together before saying, “I won’t marry you.”
“Whyever not?” Mr. Dandridge asked. “It is the perfect solution for both of us.”
“It may be a solution foryou, but not for me,” Elinor said. “You seem to forget that I ran away from a marriage of convenience.”
“Yes, but I would be a fair and generous husband.”
Elinor shook her head. “I don’t want a ‘fair and generous’ husband,” she responded. “If I marry, it will be for love.”
“Love?” Mr. Dandridge scoffed. “Not this again.”
“You don’t seem to believe in love, but I do,” Elinor declared. “And you would be the last man I would ever consider marrying.”
“Surely you can’t be serious. Think of your future. What would you do once I sell the horse farm?” Mr. Dandridge pressed.
Elinor shrugged. “I don’t rightly know, but I will figure it out,” she said.
“All right, if you really feel that way, then I take back my offer,” Mr. Dandridge responded.
“Thank you,” Elinor said.
“But you are wrong to dismiss me so easily,” Mr. Dandridge remarked. “Loads of women would want to marry me, given the chance.”
“I have no doubt.”
Mr. Dandridge glanced out the window before saying, “It is true. In London, I am considered one of the most eligible bachelors.”
Elinor didn’t know why Mr. Dandridge was trying to press his point. She could care less about how many women would want to marry him. He had offered her a marriage of convenience and she refused to even entertain it. But he was still the great-nephew of Lady Edith- who she owed so much. She should at least attempt to be civil with Mr. Dandridge.
“I hope I did not offend you…” Elinor started.
Mr. Dandridge put his hand up. “You did no such thing.”
“Good, because I hope we can still be… friends,” she said, tripping over the last word. She needed to pretend to get along with him for the sake of the ruse. But once he failed to marry by the Twelfth Night, she would evict him. Not the other way around.
He smiled. “I would like that.”
“As would I,” she replied, forcing a smile to her lips.
“And in the spirit of friendship, I should note that you aren’t the usual type of young woman I would be interested in,” Mr. Dandridge said.
Elinor reared back slightly. “I beg your pardon?”
Mr. Dandridge’s smile grew smug. “You are pretty enough to tempt me, but my interest lies elsewhere.”
