AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I still think you are being exceedingly foolish,” the chit had the audacity to say. “I don’t know your mother, of course, as we only met very briefly at the wedding, but I really don’t see that your apparent interest in me would be enough to get her to reduce her pressure upon you to wed.” She paused for a moment as though in reflection. “I probably ought to be offended that you would even consider it possible,” she added with a slight huff of air that might have passed for a laugh. “I am not normally so secure that I wouldn’t be hurt by such a suggestion, but in this case it really does seem laughable.”
“I am relieved that you are not injured, as that was not my intention.”
“But don’t you see?” she interrupted. “Because it isn’t a questionable match, it isn’t likely to work for either of us. Eligible gentlemen would consider that I am no longer available. And as I am an eligiblepartiyour mother will, in fact, be delighted to get you safely wed. We will both be in the suds, and we’ll face scandal or marriage,” she concluded with a firm nod, turning away from him and facing forward. “No, my lord, I think you need to rethink your plot after you have returned me home.”
“Don’t you think this is for me to know?” Cam asked firmly. “I know my mother very well. I know how she’ll see this. She has someone already picked out for me, you see. This will be perfect. I assure you. And the drama she will create will demonstrate that you aren’t so completely attached yet, so there will be attention drawn to you. The good kind, the kind that you would want. The kind that brings gentlemen up to scratch in a hurry for fear of losing out on the opportunity of catching your hand in marriage with theirs.”
He had regained her attention with his explanation, but now Cam had to fight not to squirm under her steady gaze. She looked far more intelligent than he had taken her for when they had met on the few previous occasions. He had the impression that she was studying him as though he were some sort of specimen in a laboratory. He didn’t care for the sensation. But he endured it as best he could.
“How long would you expect this charade to last?” she asked, and Cam brightened to note that she was perhaps considering it.
“It shouldn’t take more than a couple of weeks, I would expect.”
“So, what exactly do you think to take place in these weeks? Are we to announce our betrothal immediately? I wouldn’t think anyone would accept that, as we’ve just met.”
“No, you’re right, I would have to court you, I suppose. I could be quite pointed in my attentions. Turning up every day to drive you about. Sending flowers. Escorting you to the theatre. All that rot that goes into courting.”
Suddenly the girl laughed, and Cam was almost led to believe it was a different young lady in the carriage with him. She lit up for the briefest moment before sobering once more.
“All that rot is what makes women’s hearts go pitter pat, surely you realize, Eastwood.”
He shrugged. “Whatever is the norm when courting, that’s what we’d do. It would cause all the tongues to wag. The gentlemen will come sniffing around for you, and my mother will come running for me. It’ll be perfect.”
Lady Hilaria was back to scrutinizing him. “There’s one major flaw in your plan, though, Eastwood.”
“What do you think that is?” he scoffed.
“We don’t even like each other. How are we going to spend all this time together and appear as though we are falling in love? Or at least sufficiently in like as to be believable? Have you aspirations to being an actor? Because I’m fairly certain I don’t have that level of skill at dissemblance.”
Cam grinned. “Well, you certainly don’t beat around the bush, do you?”
Her lips twitched and a flush stained her cheeks, making her appear young all of a sudden. “I rather thought we were sharing in plain speaking.”
“And I appreciate that. In fact, I’m relieved you haven’t started screeching at me and causing a scene.”
“That would hardly further my aims, would it?”
Cam grinned again. “I suppose not,” he agreed. “So, will you consider my proposal?”
Hilaria frowned and stared off into the distance, leaving Cam to wait anxiously. “I suppose it cannot hurt to try. If we aren’t to announce a betrothal, then I shan’t be labelled a jilt. If it doesn’t happen as you expect, then we can just let it be known that we decided we wouldn’t suit and we won’t actually be any worse off.”
“I’m certain it will work, for both of us.”
“I still think you’re a strange man, Lord Eastwood. But I do like driving in the park. And my mother will be thrilled that someone is paying me some attention. So, I don’t see any reason not to give it a try.” Suddenly she narrowed her eyes on him and scolded, “But you had better not try anything underhanded. I shall be keeping an eye on you.”
Cam grinned. “What made you such a cynic?”
