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“Now see here, dear—” Turning to the doorway, he attempted to placate his wife. He failed.
“Lord Moreland, anearlwants to marry your niece. I suggest you hear him out!” The viscountess was magnificent in her demands as she swept into the room. Richard mused that this was becoming a glorious muddle, but it was acceptable to him if he wound up betrothed.
“Christiana, he is a notorious rake!” The viscount was not yet defeated, it would seem.
“Lord Moreland, I suggest you hear what the earl has to say.” The lady’s voice was steely.
The viscount turned to Richard and demanded in a surly tone, “Are you not a rake? Why should I even consider allowing my niece to marry you?”
“A reformed rake, my lord.” Although Richard outranked the man, he decided discretion was the better part of valor in this instance, so he acted as the man’s inferior. “Your niece has captivated me from the start, and I have been putting my affairs in order.”
“Affairs!” The man responded with something between a snort and a sound of disgust. Richard could not blame him.
“Perhaps affairs is a poor choice of words. I stand before you, a reformed man, seeking your niece’s hand in marriage.”
“What kind of reformation results in a man taking advantage of a woman under her guardian’s roof?”
Richard was stuck for words. He could not very well reveal Sophia had flung herself into his arms. “I … I was … overcome.”
“Lord Saunton was overcome when I accepted his proposal, Uncle Hugh.”
Lord Moreland looked slightly mollified by Sophia’s announcement. “Is this true?”
Richard inclined his head in agreement.
“Is this about her dowry?”
“No, my lord. Whatever funds Miss Hayward brings to the marriage can be settled on her and our future children. I would be more than happy to settle additional funds in the marriage contracts for her future and to provide her with pin money out of my estates.”
Moreland relaxed further. The subject of funds appeared to be a sore point. Richard vaguely recollected that Sophia’s father had been an unwise gambler, which was rumored to have led to the premature death of Moreland’s younger sister.
“Lord Saunton should arrange a special license while the two of you negotiate the contracts,” Sophia advised. Richard shot a look at her. She shrugged at him with an innocent look on her face. “There is no choice but to see this through as soon as possible. Now that his lordship has engaged in such scandalous behavior!”
Lord Moreland humphed.
“You have no choice, husband. It is what Sophia wants,” a pleased Lady Moreland piped in. It appeared she supported the union wholeheartedly, which was fortunate because Lord Moreland was seriously considering ejecting Richard from his home, if his expression was anything to go by.
“Niece, is this what you want? There is no need to worry about a scandal, and I will not require you to marry this reprobate just to avoid gossip.”
“I am certain, Uncle Hugh. I wish to marry Lord Saunton,” Sophia reassured her uncle before muttering something under her breath. It sounded like she said, ‘forthwith,’ which gave Richard pause. He wondered why she was so eager to tie the knot after trying her best to get rid of him on earlier occasions.
“Then Saunton and I best go to my study to discuss terms.”
Richard’s heart hammered in fearful excitement. He had not expected matters to proceed so rapidly, but it appeared he would be married to the lovely Sophia before the week was out. Doing his best to look repentant, he followed Lord Moreland from the room, but not before winking at Sophia to express his agreement with her manipulation of events and enjoying the answering smile that spread across her face in acknowledgment.
* * *
By the timeRichard returned home to meet with his man of business, he was trembling with nervous elation. He was finally getting married to an invigorating and intelligent young woman, with a sharp tongue to act as his moral compass. The fact that she made his pulse race was a delightful discovery that settled any lingering doubts about his monogamous future.
He poured himself a drink from the crystal decanter. “I have been most fortunate thus far, Johnson.” He raised his glass in a toast. “Here is to good fortune holding out.” He turned around.
Trepidation assailed him when he saw the nervous expression in Johnson’s darting eyes.
“What is it?” he groaned. “Don’t tell me good fortune has not prevailed?”
“Her name was Kitty. Kitty Smith,” Johnson croaked.
“Was?”
