Page 13 of A Marriage of Necessity

“You and your family are welcome to spend as much time there as you like.”

Anne’s stomach knotted. Was he going to send them away? Mr. Spector said otherwise, but…

They reached the church and entered the foyer. Anne glimpsed only four people sitting in the pews before a young woman ushered her mother and sister into the chapel, leaving Anne alone in the foyer with the viscount.

“Very clever,” he said in a low voice once they were out of earshot.

He didn’t have to explain, she knew exactly what he meant. “I had no idea you were the man I met at Lady Peddington’s ball,” she said.

He gave a mirthless laugh. “The coincidence is too much of a, well, coincidence. I do no’ believe you.”

She let out a frustrated breath. “How could I possibly have arranged this? Your father contacted me. I never met him.”

Doubt flickered in his eyes. “Do you know Sir Stirling James?” he demanded.

She frowned. “Who?”

“Never mind,” he said. “I supposed it doesn’t matter.”

His tone said it did matter. The murmur of voices echoed back to them from the chapel. “When I saw you at the ball, you did not appear to be a man desperate to marry,” she said.

“How does a man act who is desperate to marry?” he asked. “Any desire to marry had little to do with me being at that ball.”

She snorted again. “That, I believe.”

He gave her a critical look. “Your actions were not those of a woman interested in marriage.”

“You’re basing that on vicious gossip.”

“Hardly. I am basing that on the fact that you negotiated with me for a night in your bed.”

She lifted her brows. “I thought it was a night in your bed.”

His mouth twitched in what she realized was amusement, but the mood vanished almost as quickly as it came. “Let me be very clear on one important point. You will take no lovers until I have an heir and a spare.”

Fury whipped through her. “I assume the same rule does not apply to you?”

A cool smile spread across his face. “A man’s by blows will never be mistaken for his heirs.”

“Then the vows we are about to take mean nothing to you.”

“On the contrary, they mean a great deal to me. You and our children will have my protection and my support.”

“But not your loyalty,” she retorted.

“Make no mistake, my lady, real loyalty takes place outside the bedroom.”

* * *

The priest entered the foyer, and Kennedy turned to face him.

“If you are ready, my lord, my lady,” he said.

Kennedy nodded and the priest returned to the chapel.

Kennedy looked at his wife-to-be. “Shall we? He winged his arm toward her.

She slipped her hand into the crook of his arm, then he led her into the sanctuary and up to the altar. Only half a dozen people sat in the pews, including Anne’s sister and mother. His father’s solicitor sat beside Jacqueline in the left front pew. Kennedy wouldn’t be surprised to find her outside their bed chambers with her ear pressed against the door, so that she could confirm the consummation of the marriage. One other man sat in the third pew. Sir Stirling James. Stirling gave him an almost imperceptible nod as they passed. After the ceremony, Kennedy would speak with him. He wanted to know how Stirling knew of Anne—and got word to his father about her existence.