Page 10 of Never Tempt a Widow

“Marrying me would give you security from what, exactly?”

Her head went down. “I can’t tell you. Not now, not yet. One day I will, I promise you.”

Or he could find out for himself. Despite keeping his activities confined to the locality of late, he was not without connections or influence.

“Why not tell me now? I’d be a fool to enter into such a bargain, knowing nothing about you.”

“It doesn’t matter. It won’t affect you—only me.”

He doubted that very much. If trouble sought out the wife, it generally affected the husband as well.

“You must tell me who you are. I insist upon it.”

Her eyes met his, reflecting the dancing glow of the fire. “Are you considering my proposition, then?”

He held her gaze, and his gut twisted once again, but not with laughter. Her eyes were blue—he could see that now. Despite the stubborn tilt of her chin, there was an air of vulnerability about her that tugged at him.

He sat back, disturbed by his response. “A marriage of convenience, you say? If it is to be convenient, am I to assume you have conditions in mind?”

She worried at her lower lip. “If we discover that life under the same roof is unbearable, and you need to send me away, I ask only that I be given a small house and an allowance. Somewhere I may not be found—perhaps in France. But I will do what I can to be a boon to you. And I’ll stay out of your way if you require me to.”

“Are you trying to evade your family? Wouldn’t it be better if they found you? No marriage would be necessary then—they’ll give you the security you need.”

“Not my family. I’m nothing to them. Less than a toad under a stone.”

It wasn’t her family she feared, then. So—who was it?

“Let me be clear on this—you would like to live separately if we don’t suit. But only once Edgar has been weaned?”

He was humouring her now, wondering what she’d come up with next. Nothing was further from his mind at this moment than marriage, especially to a mysterious woman who only represented another three months or so of usefulness. Nonetheless, he was intrigued. What an extraordinary person this new wetnurse was turning out to be!

“The whole idea of a marriage of convenience is that it should benefit both parties. If neither of us benefits, we can live apart. It would be preferable to have it in writing that you will provide for me—I presume you have a lawyer who can create a binding document to that end?”

Of course, he had a lawyer. “I have. But he won’t want to come out in this weather.”

He was subjected to an intense, blue-eyed stare. “I don’t think you’re taking me seriously.”

Did she honestly expect him to? He raised an eyebrow.

She huffed in annoyance. “I’ll get my cloak.”

“No, wait.” He caught at her arm as she stood to leave. “I’ll hear you out. But you must admit that your idea is madness.”

“Is it folly to want a mother for your son? In my experience, widowers with children generally prefer to marry again.”

He held her in front of him, his hands wrapped around the gracile bones of her elbows. She was as slender as a reed at the waist but full-breasted. Not tall, however. She had to crane her neck to look at him.

Her attempts to manipulate him while refusing to explain herself were exasperating.

He kept his voice low, but his tone was hard. “I may, one day, want a mother for my son, but that will be at a time of my choosing. Now—isn’t it about time that you admitted who you really are, and told me what you’re hiding from?”

She wriggled in his grasp, so he tightened it.

“I am Seraphina Hamilton,” she muttered. “That’s all you need to know.”

If that was her true name, investigations could be made. But he already had a good idea of what her circumstances must be.

“Will you tell me nothing further?”