Page 11 of The Lady’s Sweet Revenge

“I wouldn’t say that is uncommon. Many women pass over the early offers if they are waiting for one in particular, do they not?” It was not surprising Harlow would be discerning. She seemed to have a steady head on her shoulders.

“Perhaps. Though I wasn’t waiting for anyone particular, and it may have been a little more than a few.”

He tilted his head, curiosity taking over.

“How many?” he leaned closer and whispered. She did the same to answer.

“Twenty-six.”

“Twenty-six offers of marriage in your first season?” he all but shouted in surprise. “Whatever could have been wrong with all of them?”

“That’s a fair question. One I have been asking myself again throughout this endeavor. I trusted my brothers to guide me. They assured me they would tell me who would make a proper husband and who would not.”

Reese couldn’t help it. He laughed.

Her eyes narrowed on him. Of course, a woman as fierce as she wouldn’t appreciate his laughing.

“Forgive me, but despite not being a brother myself, I can almost assuredly say that they found no man suitable for their dear sister.”

“I should have seen it sooner, I suppose. You must think me a lackwit.”

He shook his head and offered his most sincere expression.

“Anyone would be a fool to think you so. You have been incredibly clever in your escape and have kept your wits when many of the lords of the ton would have trembled in such circumstances.” Not him, of course. He’d faced danger and death and lived to tell about it. Not that he could tell anyone about it because it had been a secret mission. One he’d never finished, thanks to Captain Merrick.

“The relationships between siblings is quite odd if you consider it,” she said. “They were quite horrid to me when I was a little girl. Leaving me to play by myself if I didn’t prove myself worthy with impossible feats of loyalty. But then they are so protective as well. I imagined now that we are adults they would have put their foolishness aside to see me happy with someone. But they still toy with me.”

He reached out as if to place his hand over hers but pulled back when he remembered it would be inappropriate. Not that his being in the room alone with her wasn’t already greatly improper.

“There is great risk when one embarks on finding a suitable partner. I’m sure they only wished to keep you from being hurt. Even the noblest of us can still be an insensitive lout occasionally.” How many of those young misses being forced upon him this season had wished for a happy match with a kind man? And he’d run in the opposite direction without giving them a second of his interest or time.

“If I’m able to get back to Mayfair with my reputation intact, I plan to find my own match. Without any comments from them. After all, shouldn’t I be responsible for my own happiness?”

“Ye wish to marry?” Reese swallowed, feeling the familiar instinct of flight.

She smiled. “You may relax, my lord. I’m certainly not considering it at the moment. I only meant to say that I have relied too much on others to make decisions for me and my wellbeing. And I plan to put an end to it. I must learn to trust my own judgment.”

“If you determine how one might do that, would you mind sharing it with me?”

“I will certainly keep you apprised.” She smiled, seeming pleased with her plan.

“The strange thing is that my best friends fairly stumbled into the best of matches with their wives. Lily and Thea were both in a bit of a predicament, and Finn and Shay—that is Ellis—stepped up and offered marriage to save them.” He blinked at Harlow who was most assuredly in the same situation.

Perhaps this was his chance to find a bride he would find happiness with. She was certainly beautiful and smart and while her humor was strained at the moment, he’d detected a bit of mirth.

He stepped closer and took her hand.

“Lady Harl—”

“No, please don’t.”

“You don’t even know what I was to say.”

“I do. Or rather, I don’t wish to.”

He let out a breath.

“Did you just sigh in relief?” She frowned. “My, but, I’m glad to have saved you from such a heinous match,” she said with a bit of affront.