Page 62 of Desperately Seeking Seduction

“No. It was I who wanted to. Unfortunately, wanting something isn’t always easy.”

“What does that mean?”

She linked her arm through his and drew him away from the house. “I have already discovered that living as a woman is not at all as easy as I had first assumed. The worst, of course, is learning not to stride about and throw myself into a chair. I have much more sympathy for the women of your class now. It’s only been an hour and there are so many restrictions placed on their behavior that my head already hurts with what I must remember. I never had to deal with any of that growing up.”

“Do you regret it? Dressing as a woman, I mean?”

“No. Because it means I will be able to see you again.”

“That would please me.” He released her hand and put his arm around her. “I shall have to think of a way to thank Amity for bringing you here. I was worried about my best friend running off alone.”

She stopped under a tree and turned to look up at him. “Are we friends now?”

“Indeed, we should be.” He took up her hand again and held it. “It will make our marriage easier.”

She blinked several times. “Marriage?”

“If you want me, I’m yours. It is something I had thought about even before the events of today.”

Winston did not rush to say yes. She nibbled on her lip, looking at him like he’d gone mad. “Stratford, you should know—I am still wearing breeches under this gown, even now. I can’t change everything about myself and become a proper bride for you.”

“I’m not asking you to change, but I do hope you consider the delight I’ll have in taking those breeches off you, again and again, for the rest of our lives, if that is an incentive to say yes,” he said, and then took a deep breath. “The other incentive is…I have the unexpected support of your father to marry you.”

She drew back, eyes wide. “What?”

He winced. “Your papa has offered to halve the debt owed to him if I were to make an expedient marriage to a lady of his choice.”

Win frowned. “Why would you want to marry his choice?”

“He saw you, and he saw the painting, too. He knows there is something between us. I can only assume with us married, he hopes to have the opportunity to see more of you. He told the duke he intends to stay at Ravenswood until the wedding takes place. However, his son will be sent away.” He took a deep breath. “So, what do you think? Knowing all that, could you still want to marry someone like me?”

It was a long, painful moment, but Winston finally smiled. “At least if we are married you’ll always be on time.”

“That’s true.” Stratford dropped a kiss on the back of her hand. “Win, my life only got more interesting when I met you, and I’ll not let you slip through my fingers ever again.”

He kissed her properly then, aware that behind them, somewhere in the house, a newly married couple were cheering him on. He led Win farther away from the house and put his arms around her again. Sharing the news about the celebratory dinner could wait until later that day. After all, it was probably for their wedding announcement, anyway.

EPILOGUE

Win fumbled with the reticule and fan; an oddly awkward pair of accessories she’d been told she must master to be considered fashionable. Separately, she could manage each well enough. But together, she kept getting tangled up. “Why did I think this would be easy?”

“You could always cry off,” a bored voice drawled from behind a nearby set of curtains.

“Stratford?”

“Definitely not,” came a curt reply, and the curtains fluttered. The man who emerged from behind them looked like Stratford, sounded a great deal like her betrothed, too, but that is where the similarity ended. Win faced a very unhappy man, judging by his sour expression. “I suppose you’re pleased with yourself.”

She faced him squarely. “Pleased how, exactly?”

He paused, one hand on his hip as he stared at her. “You bought your way into an important family.”

“Ah, you must be Jasper,” she murmured, wondering where the devil the man had been for the past month. He had disappeared the day Stratford had offered to marry her, worrying Stratford and his brothers. She looked for one of them now to come along and make a proper introduction, but they were all alone in the long gallery for the moment. “How do you do, Lord Jasper?”

“Not well,” he grumbled. “I’ve not the stomach for the level of blackmail that you must.”

She offered him a tight smile and decided to ignore his ill humor. Stratford had told her that Jasper was all bark and no bite. A scoundrel and rake but kind-hearted to family and small dogs. But he didn’t know about her yet since he’d been away for the whole of her engagement to Stratford. “Thank you for being here today. It will mean a lot to your brother.”

He raised a finger in her direction. “What would you know about—”