Page 23 of The Rake’s Convenient Bride

Langston blinked in surprise.

“You know she is not that kind of woman,” Jasper bit out. “No matter the kind of man you think me to be, you know your daughter.”

Langston nodded, having the good grace to at least appeared shamefaced. “The expediency of the engagement had left me afeared…”

“Pressure.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“We have both felt the pressure of our families to marry,” Jasper replied easily. “Viscount Scorbridge cannot propose to Lady Elizabeth’s sister until she is set for marriage herself. And my own grandmother has insisted I find a bride. No sooner had I made the promise to find a woman to marry than the gossip spread like fire. I could scarce move at Lady Gentry’s ball for the debutantes and their mamas. Truly, why all women are not hunters, I do not understand. They would put us men to shame with their innate ability to stalk even the most elusive prey.”

Langston snorted a humorless laugh. “Ah, yes, because you are the bachelor of the season.”

Jasper grimaced, hating the pomp of how ridiculous the title sounded in such a tense setting.

“So, you proposed to my daughter to avoid having to deal with debutantes and their mothers,” Langston surmised.

“I knew the woman I wanted,” Jasper replied in all earnestness. Because he had always wanted Lady Elizabeth.

Even if he knew he would never allow himself to have her.

“You are correct.” Langston drew on his pipe and settled a hard look at Jasper. “You aren’t good enough for my daughter. But I believe your intentions are pure.”

A knot of guilt squeezed in Jasper’s gut.

“Therefore, I will give you my permission to wed her.” Langston nodded. “Not that you have given me much choice. I’ll not ruin her by refusing you.”

“Thank you, sir.” Jasper forced a smile to his lips and wished that he was an innocently besotted suitor who had come to ask for Lady Elizabeth’s hand in marriage. That he was a different person, and this entire situation could be in earnest.

He pushed to standing and approached the door.

“And Darington?”

Jasper paused and turned back to Langston.

Smoke coiled up from the pipe, adding a particularly vicious note of malice to the earl’s voice. “If you hurt her, I will call you out.”

That marked the second threat on Jasper’s life he had received in as many days.

Still, those threats were nothing compared to the pressure he put on himself. For even though this engagement was not to last, Jasper was determined not to hurt Lady Elizabeth.

Even if it meant casting the expense upon himself.

6

The scenery flew by faster than usual as the carriage made its way to Darington Place.

“Do stop fidgeting, Elizabeth,” Mama admonished.

Elizabeth froze even as ants of anxiety continued to wriggle under her skin. “Why did you make me wear white?” A quiver sounded in her voice, a reminder of how barely composed she was.

The day of the dinner arrived far too quickly for Elizabeth’s liking.

Much like the carriage.

Truly, why was it going so fast?

“White is a becoming color on you.” Mama turned to glance over Elizabeth and smiled in approval.