Page 38 of The Right to Remain Single

“I didn’t lure her,” James retorted. “I helped her avoid a life of misery with that pompous dolt. Do you know what he intended? He meant to cut her off from all her relations for fear of the Warren taint. He would have forbidden her to see Colin and Bridget, Lord Garrison and his family, and Sir Julian and Daisy, and I don’t know who else besides. Is that what you wanted for her?”

Mr. Warren reddened. “Taint? There’s no damned taint! How dare you suggest such a thing? By God, I’ll—”

“I didn’t suggest it. Tilson brought it up and expressed concern.”

“Because she was flirting with you, no doubt.”

“Yes, I expect that was what started it. I kissed her a couple of times under the mistletoe and prevented Tilson from doing so.”

“Why, damn you? She was his betrothed!”

“Because she didn’t want him to kiss her.” James paused, trying to muster his patience. “And she was not his betrothed, as I have explained already.”

“She didn’t object to you,” Walt Warren wheezed.

“Because she didn’t see me as a threat. A few harmless kisses, and Tilson drew some rather startling conclusions. You’re well rid of him. He would have made her very unhappy.”

Warren slumped back into his chair. “It would have been wrong to keep her from seeing her family. They’re good people, apart from sowing their wild oats in public.” He rubbed his face. “But he would have taken care of her, damn you.”

“I beg your pardon, sir, but Miss Warren is well able to take care of herself. She’s intelligent and reasonable and decisive.” He tried a smile. “She would have refused in the end anyway, you know. She loves you dearly and wants to please you, but not to the extent of destroying her own chance of happiness.”

“Happiness?” her father cried. “As a spinster, with no man to guide her, the prey of every fortune hunter for miles around!”

“She’s not a fool, and she has many male relatives to advise her if the necessity arises,” James said.

“Oh, no, you don’t,” Mr. Warren roared, his complexion purple. “You won’t get out of this so easily. You ruptured her engagement, and in all honor you are now obliged to marry her yourself.”

Damn. Was Thomasina lurking outside the door? That wouldn’t surprise James in the least. If she heard this ridiculous ultimatum, she would never believe he actually wanted to marry her.

“No, sir, I am not.” He placed his hands on the desk and glared down at the old man. “Substitute one forced marriage for another? Honor forbids me to do so.”

“Why, you weasel, I never did like your father. I should have known the son would be no better.” He wheezed and gasped, and spoke in querulous bursts. “What am I to do with her?” Pause. “I’m not long for this world.” Wheeze. “When I die, she’ll be adrift without a man to take care of her, and it’s all your fault.”

James waited until the old fellow recovered his breath. Gently, he said, “I will take care of her, sir.”

Mr. Warren raised his head. “What the devil is that supposed to mean? You just said you won’t marry her.”

“I will take responsibility for her well-being. I will remain close by, I will protect her from Furbelow, and I will drive off the fortune hunters. I will advise her if she so desires, and I will protect her from any and every danger.”

The old man sniffed. “Fine words, but for how long will you play this noble role? You’re a young man. You won’t kick your heels here forever.”

“Yes, I will, Mr. Warren,” James said. “If Thomasina chooses never to marry, I’ll take care of her for the rest of my life. I swear it.”

“But you won’t ask her to marry you.”

“No, for she has told me she doesn’t wish to marry. How unkind to put her in exactly the same position as before—courted by an unwelcome suitor whom you’ll try to force her to wed. How insulting to assume that I know what she wants better than she does.”

“What a farrago of nonsense,” Mr. Warren said disgustedly. “Nothing but excuses.”

“Make no mistake, sir—I care for your daughter, but caring doesn’t mean forcing her into marriage. It means giving her what she truly wants.”

“Which is what?”

“The right to remain single.”

Chapter Eight

The door to Papa’s study was ajar. Thomasina hovered behind it, her heart thudding. Why had James made such absurd promises to her father? He couldn’t stay nearby forever. That made no sense at all.