AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“We are engaged,” he pointed out mildly. “So why not?”
CHAPTER4
And that waswhen Gina decided she was going to kill Mr. Stanton.
Because, damn him, he was right. She was going to walk back into the ballroom at his side. She put her hand onto his arm—warm and solid—ignored his handsome smirking face, and they walked through the romantically shadowed garden, perfumed with lavender and roses, to the terrace where heads turned in curiosity.
“Gina!” Duke burst out as he emerged from the shadows. He took in Mr. Stanton and her, and her hand on his arm, and his mouth fell open in shock.
“No further than the terrace, Emmett,” Duke growled. “I was quite clear.”
“Sorry about that, old chap. Miss Bains was terribly upset and I felt I should go to her.”
Duke narrowed his eyes. “What is your game here?”
“Matrimony, as it happens,” Mr. Stanton replied smoothly.
“What?” Duke’s attention snapped to her. “You agreed to this?” he said incredulously. “Gina, this will ruin all your plans. And he’s a rake. This is not a good idea. What happened in the garden? Emmett, if you compromised my sister I’ll have your guts spilling out of you at dawn.”
“I’m pretty certain twenty minutes ago we were best friends,” Mr. Stanton said mildly. “And now we shall be brothers. I fail to see the problem here.”
“You want to marry my sister?” Duke asked in the way one asked,you’re going to buy that ugly hat?
“What can I say? She took my breath away.”
“Duke, it’s not what it seems…” Gina hastened to say. She checked around them. Although a few people were watching, mostly they were attending to their own conversations. “It’s a fake engagement,” she whispered.
“That wasn’t the sort of honesty I had in mind, Miss Bains,” Mr. Stanton murmured into her ear.
Even as Duke scowled, the warmth of his breath on the shell of her ear sent a thrill down her spine.
“Have the two of you lost hold of your senses?” Duke stared at them in horror. “Mother is going to—”
“Mrs. Bains is going to be delighted that her daughter is engaged to the son of an Earl,” Mr. Stanton finished smoothly. “And countless foot injuries will be saved. This is fundamentally a public service I am doing.”
“Do you think this is a joke?” Duke snapped.
“On the contrary, I think foot injuries are very serious indeed.”
“I won’t be any part of this.” Duke folded his arms and scowled.
“You already are.” Mr. Stanton’s hand covered hers on his arm as Mother appeared at the French doors to the ballroom.
“Stop it, the both of you!” Gina hissed.
“Mrs. Bains.” Mr. Stanton was all smiles. “Just the person I was desirous of seeing. I would like to ask you an important question.”
And that was when she really got irate. Because as she watched, helpless, Mr. Stanton asked to marry her.
He just didn’t askher.
He made an excellent show of asking her mother and brother’s permission, using all sorts of formal words. All the time he kept her hand captured on his arm, his thumb caressing her knuckles idly. But she couldn’t make a scene, and she wasn’t going to wreck Audrey’s chance of happiness next season. Her orphaned cousin deserved better than to be ruined by association. Much better that Gina play along, and then next season she’d “fall ill” and be unable to come to town, while in fact she’d be somewhere in Europe, Africa, or Asia.
She had to just take whatever Mr. Stanton said. The absolute ratbag.
Her mother was totally in his thrall, no doubt seeing all her social aspirations coming true and anticipating tickets for Almack’s next season, as well as invitations to all the most fashionable parties of the ton.
“And when, pray, is the happy event to occur? We could arrange something within the month.” Her mother’s gaze finally rested on Gina’s face. She made herself smile.
