Page 45 of Maid for the Duke

‘What do you want, Lady Elizabeth?’ he said bluntly. ‘I appreciate your concern about the rumours that are swirling around us, but why are you here?’

Lady Elizabeth smiled, looking at her companion for a moment before turning back to Will. ‘You are a direct man, Lord Beescroft; it is an attribute I value. I do not believe in avoiding the crux of the matter, even if it spares someone’s feelings.’

He inclined his head, waiting for her to continue.

‘I think we have been presented with a wonderful opportunity,’ she said, looking earnestly back and forth between Will and Amelie. Amelie was completely silent, as if she had retreated into herself and he hated that he could not comfort her.

‘An opportunity?’

‘Yes. Long ago, our fathers agreed that our families should be joined together through marriage. As far as I know, there was no contract signed, but it was understood that at an appropriate time you would propose and I would accept. Two of the great families of the realm would unite and secure the future for generations to come.’

Will inclined his head. It was his understanding of the matter too.

‘Now, I am the only daughter of the Earl of Warwick. Although the land and title will go to some distant cousin, my father has settled an obscene amount of money on me, during his lifetime and even more when he dies. Of course, he wishes me to be settled before then, perhaps with a child or two—grandsons he can dote on and play the role of benevolent grandfather.’

Coming from Lady Elizabeth, it all seemed very practical and emotionless. It was the plan everyone had agreed on, but these last few weeks Will had felt something more. The happiness he had with Amelie would never be reproduced, but perhaps he had been a fool to agree to a loveless marriage just because two old men had agreed to the idea years earlier.

‘My father is keen for the matter to be settled,’ she said, sitting up a little straighter.

‘And you? I cannot imagine the rumours you have heard have made you want to rush down the aisle.’

She gave a dismissive wave of her hand and Will frowned. This was not how he had expected this meeting to go. When Lady Elizabeth had appeared on his doorstep, he had thought there would be high drama and recriminations, but the earl’s daughter did not seem overly bothered by his indiscretion.

‘I think you will be the perfect husband for me,’ she said, looking him straight in the eye. ‘But I want you to listen to my proposition before we decide how to move forward.’

‘You have a proposition for me?’

‘I do. I want us to marry. I do not really care when or where, but some time in the next year would be ideal. Once we are married, I ask for discretion.’ She grimaced. ‘More discretion than you have displayed here, but I give you my blessing for you to continue your entanglement with Amelie.’

‘You wish to start our marriage with one of the parties planning to be unfaithful?’

Lady Elizabeth sighed and then reached out and took her companion’s hand.

‘Both parties will be unfaithful. I wish to have a marriage in name only. Once a suitable period has passed, I propose we keep separate households, lead separate lives. An agreement can be reached about a minimum number of events we attend together, but on the whole I do not want to be where you are.’

‘Why would you do this? I know I am a duke, but you said yourself you do not need the money. It would not matter if you married an earl or a viscount. Why not wait for a love match, or at least someone you are not encouraging to keep a mistress from the start of the marriage?’

‘Will,’ Amelie said, so softly that at first he was not certain she had spoken. He glanced at her and she held out a hand, gesturing to the two women in front of him.

‘In return for my discretion and tolerance, I would ask the same of you,’ Lady Elizabeth said.

Understanding dawned and Will’s eyes widened.

‘I debated coming here today, but it seemed too good an opportunity to miss for us all. We may not know one another well, Your Grace, but I have been curious about the man I may one day marry. I know this episode is completely out of character. As far as I know, you have never had a mistress before, never been rumoured to be entangled with anyone. Your reputation until now is unblemished. It makes me think that something very special indeed must have happened to make you do something so out of character.’

Lady Elizabeth smiled warmly at Amelie. ‘I have made a lot of assumptions, and I may be incorrect, but I do not think so. I see the concern you have for Amelie.’

Will felt completely stunned. He had expected recriminations, shouting, hysterics. He had thought Lady Elizabeth would be enraged. Instead she spoke as if they were discussing a business arrangement.

‘Amelie could remain in one of your properties in the countryside,’ Lady Elizabeth said calmly. ‘I have no wish to cross her path unnecessarily, but I will not begrudge you her company. She would live quietly, under your protection, and I would establish my own residence in one of your distant properties, with Miss Flint as my companion. I think, with a little discretion, the arrangement would not raise too many eyebrows.’

He glanced across at Amelie and saw her hands tightened in her lap, her knuckles white. Her eyes never left the carpet.

‘And what of children?’ Will asked, uncertain whether he wanted to hear the answer.

Lady Elizabeth gave him a small, steady smile. ‘If you desire heirs, then for that purpose alone I would consent to intimacy. A practical arrangement. Afterwards, we would resume our separate lives. Given my inclination, you do not need to worry about any children being conceived that are not yours.’

Amelie raised her head then, her expression unreadable, but her voice was quiet. ‘And if he doesn’t want heirs?’