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She knew better. “Yet … last week, only last week, Miss Parker was the one …” She shook her head. When she was sixteen, she’d had a maddening crush on Warren and watched as he flirted with every lovely woman in their circle, keeping her always in tow. She had long grown out of the infatuation and saw it exactly for what it was—folly.
She was not about to fall for Warren all over again. She simply knew better.
“Serena, my circumstances dictate my future …” he said morosely. “We … you and I are so close, that I know you understand I simply believed I had to make a marriage of convenience to bring my estate around.”
“Of course, I understand, and I wish you well,” Serena replied earnestly. “I am only glad that we, you and I, can remain friends.”
“Don’t do this to me. Friends? When I want so much more from you. You know I can’t bear it when you turn me up cold, which is what you are doing now with your amused politeness. It wasn’t so very long ago when you looked at me quite differently.”
Serena almost choked before she was able to say, “Warren, not so long ago was years ago.”
“Nevertheless,” he said, brushing away the facts, “I believe I can win you back.”
She tugged at her reins and got a hold of them. “And I am afraid friendship is all I shall offer you, take it or leave it. Your decision, sir.”
“Serena … you know I can make you happy,” he tried.
“I know that you cannot,” she answered as she looked meaningfully into his hazel eyes.
His lips set angrily before he blustered, “No doubt, Lord Frederick Radburn dangling his title and his wealth has given you other notions … grander notions.”
“Warren!” She said his name as a warning and arched a brow as she continued to control her temper. She took a deep breath before she spoke. “You are quite out—do not make me withdraw my offer of continued friendship.”
He contemplated her for a long moment. “You know … you do fit the part. I can see you as Lady Radburn. Look at you in your fine riding ensemble. Blue suits you so well, your gold curls cascading down your back … of course the boy is bewitched.”
“Careful,” she said quietly.
“You know I shall not give up. In spite of the fact that my financial situation dictates I look to an heiress … I have decided you are the only woman I can live with.”
“Can you, Warren? I doubt that. I am far too wayward for you. You need a woman who will be biddable and always be in love with you. Your ego requires that at the very least if you are to have a happy life. I am not for you.”
“I understand what you are saying, but you are the one—”
“No, I am not. With my dowry you would keep yourself out of debtor’s prison and lead a quiet, country life. That isn’t what you want. You want to live the robust life you have been enjoying, and my income just might not give you that.” Serena eyed him meaningfully.
“Serena, don’t speak thusly—it is most unbecoming,” he answered on a frustrated note.
“Is it? The truth I have found very often is.”
“Serena, could we not … strike up a bargain?”
She shuddered. “Again, you overstep.”
“We have known one another a long time. There is another solution to our problem,” he said slowly.
“Is there? I did not realize I had a problem,” she almost snapped.
“Well, you are not getting any younger, are you? And beauty isn’t everything. I could, in fact, marry the Parker chit. You could marry young Frederick … and then perhaps you and I could find a way to each other.”
She didn’t speak. She couldn’t speak.
She had to breathe, she told herself. He didn’t realize what he had j
ust said. She had to answer him calmly.
She had to find a way to assuage the sudden hurt she felt. How could he think such a thing? She took a moment to collect herself, and still the words were snapped at him. “You are a dreadful man, Warren. You are without scruples, ethics, or manners. Even in jest, that is an outrageous suggestion.”
“Don’t be angry with me Serena … I am in trouble. As it happens, I am in love with you, but my debt goes way beyond anything you could imagine. I must marry well. We would barely get by with your trust once my debts were paid, but I would be willing to do that to have you …”
