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She fisted her hands.“You could be lying to me.”
“Alice, if you know about theDaily Informer, then you know about many of my other interests.And whatever you think I might be worth, you can believe it is ten-fold that amount.”
“Do you think you can outplay me?”Alice said, pacing to the other side of the room.Matthew wasn’t sure if she was furious or wildly intrigued.
“Would you rather we cut a deck?”he asked.
She pounded her fist on the table near him.“I will not have a young pup come into my home to tell me how to run my business.”Oh, she was furious then...
“I understand the game and can play by the rules.We can concoct some reason why I would be the most suitable match for her.”Alice squinted and clenched her jaw.“I understand it’s important that Her Grace hear of my unfortunate dilemma and need to marry.Truly, Alice, what is the difference between what you normally do and what I am offering, other than double the money plus whatever I lose at your tables?”
“What rules?Why all the subterfuge?”she asked.
Matthew had to give her credit—she was as reticent as some of his best newspaper sources.“Because I want it to happen quickly before word of Her Grace’s dilemma becomes public knowledge.”Or worse, before she married one of the Leviathans who ran in her circle.
“You are not suitable for such a woman.I do have standards.And so does she.”
“Oh, must you?Insults don’t become such a distinguished businesswoman.Suffice it to say, I want Rose Elliston and I’m willing to pay for her.”Just saying it aloud made Matthew a little breathless.He was entitled to such a woman but making it actually happen had never really seemed possible.
“Knock on her door, then.Propose to her and see what she says.”
It was Matthew’s turn to laugh.“Should I shame her by telling her Lord Nothing begs her hand in marriage?I need to be seen as her savior, not as an albatross.”
“If you have money, as you say...”
“Everyone tells me you are an intelligent woman.I think you can guess why I couldn’t do such a thing.Not every desperate woman is poor, and not every poor woman is desperate.When are you expecting her return?”Matthew wasn’t sure he could tempt the duchess, even with all his money.
“A week or so.”
“Fine.I will be prepared the moment the duchess is ready to marry.”Alice said nothing.“And once that is complete, I will have another opportunity for you involving the new Duke of Sandhurst and your gaming tables.”
Her brows rose high; she tapped a finger against her lips.“The duke?Go on.I’m listening.”
“In time.He’s no paragon, if you feel inclined to worry.”
“I never worry about such things.”She flicked her hand, then toyed with a ribbon on her bodice, already thinking of possibilities.
“I’ll have a written agreement to you tomorrow, along with a deposit toward my ultimate goal,” Matthew said.
“The duchess will have the opportunity to decline your tempting offer,” Alice said, dripping sarcasm.
“You needn’t worry.If I can’t convince her to be my wife, Anne VanLandingham will see the worth I bring to the table and do the talking for me.”
“Such cockiness.I want to present this too-good-to-be-true offer to the duchess just so I can see her laugh in your face.Whatever will you tell her?”
“My presentation will be of my own making.You don’t need to tell her anything other than I meet her requirements.”
“She won’t like it that you own theDaily Informer.”
There was not a noble in London who would like that he owned theDaily Informer, but if he didn’t, someone else would because those same nobles devoured such news.
“Or that I’m not titled,” he added, as if it weren’t the most obvious disqualification to marrying a widowed duchess.
“Certainly that.”
“The least of her worries.As I said, don’t tell her.I will wish to meet with her privately before any agreement is made.”
“Naturally.Now, if you will excuse me, I wish to be abed.You wouldn’t want to join me, would you?”Alice asked, a sparkle in her eye now that the business was concluded.It was no surprise she would make such an offer, though he understood she no longer tookinamoratosprofessionally.She might have been angry with him, but she wasn’t one to walk away from a young, virile bedmate.She had her own secrets; that wasn’t one of them.
