Page 3 of A Lady by Chance

Stirling arched a brow. “You are certain?”

“On my honor, you have my word.”

Stirling raised a hand. “Not a price. Instead, I will be granting you something of much greater value than coin.”

“Granting me?”

“Aye, a boon for the debt-free lord of Baldain House.”

Patrick frowned. “You aren’t making sense, old friend.”

“Ah, but I am,” Stirling said. “I would see you wed to Lady Jessica Hamilton, the Duke of Roxburgh’s third daughter.”

Patrick stared. “You can’t be serious.”

“Never more so.” Stirling sipped his tea. “She is a fine lass. Beautiful, with glossy chestnut hair. Grass green eyes and—”

“I am in no position to marry.” Patrick shook his head. “I can hardly feed myself and Cobbs. How am I to support a duke’s daughter?”

Stirling leaned toward him. “The same way you will have your gardens cleaned up and landscaped.” He withdrew a folded paper from an inside coat pocket and set it down on the desk. “Another bank draught, this one wholly yours—a small but tidy sum to help you put things to right before you receive Lady Jessica’s three-thousand-pound dowry and thousand-pound yearly stipend her father is settling on her.”

Patrick stared. “Three-thousand-pound dowry—a thousand pounds a year?” He glanced at the bank draft. “How much is the draft?”

“A mere two thousand pounds.”

Patrick thought his head would explode. “This is insanity. What is this all about? Why are you playing at matchmaking? Christ, I cannot marry her—I cannot marry anyone.”

Stirling’s eyes glittered. “Did you no’ just give me your word?”

“Aye, but…” Patrick stared. “You scoundrel, you planned this all along.”

“Nae.” Stirling sat back again. “But I won’t argue that I seized the opportunity.” He laughed. “Don’t look as though you’re about to walk the plank. One day, you will thank me. Lady Jessica will make the perfect wife.”

“I am sure she will,” Patrick muttered.

Three thousand pounds? All his debts paid, Baldain saved, and a duke’s daughter as a bride…

Patrick didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He started to reach for the tea pot, then twisted round and grabbed the whisky decanter off a small table against the wall.