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There was a profound silence. Amanda felt all the colour draining from her face as she stared at him.
Eventually, she said, ’That’s impossible.‘
‘On the contrary.’ Malory strolled across the room, and resumed his seat opposite her. ‘Special licences can be obtained with relative ease.’
‘I—I didn’t mean that.’ As he well knew, she thought, her pulses going crazy. ‘Oh, I shouldn’t have come here. I’ll go.’ As she tried to rise, he halted her with a gesture.
‘Stop running, Amanda, and start thinking. What have you got against the idea?’
‘Well, I should have thought that was obvious,’ she said warmly. She spread her hands, palms upwards. ‘A pretend engagement is bad enough, but marriage is something else again. I mean, you can’t think that I... You haven’t considered all the implications.’
Malory’s face was expressionless. ‘Well, I certainly have no difficulty in considering the implication at the forefront of your mind,’ he said coldly. ‘Stop beating about the bush, Amanda. What you mean is, you don’t want to sleep with me.’
Amanda stared down at her hands twisted together in her lap, praying he wouldn’t make any edged remarks about her response to him the previous night. ‘Well—yes,’ she agreed in a stifled voice.
He sounded almost bored. ‘Correct me if I’m wrong, but I have no recollection of ever asking you to go to bed with me. In fact,’ he added, his mouth twisting, ‘on the sole occasion we spent the night together, it was at your invitation.’ He shrugged. ‘So, what’s the problem?’
Amanda was blushing all over. He didn’t have to sound so—so bloody dismissive about it, she thought savagely. In spite of her mortification, she decided to try and retrieve the situation.
‘But you must want a—a normal life,’ she protested. She cast round wildly in her mind. ‘Children, for example.’
Malory shrugged again. ‘Perhaps I’m not very paternally minded,’ he countered evenly. ‘And I don’t pass my life consumed by uncontrollable lust, either. You really have nothing to worry about, Amanda. I’ve never forced myself on any woman.’ He leaned forward, making her look him in the eyes. ‘I give you my solemn word that I won’t make a move towards you without your express invitation.’
She said shakily, ‘Then you’re going to lead a very celibate life.’
‘Not,’ he said calmly, ‘necessarily.’
She stared at him. ‘You mean you’d find someone else?’
‘That,’ he said, ‘is hardly any of your business, Amanda,’ and she blushed again.
She was silent for a moment. Then, ‘But you can’t be marrying me for pure philanthropy,’ she protested. ‘Just to save me from Nigel.’
‘By no means,’ he said. I’m in dire need of a hostess—someone to help me with my business entertaining, particularly. Unfortunately, I have no convenient female relations I can call on.‘
Amanda swallowed. ‘Is that all?’ she asked in a hollow voice.
Malory considered for a moment. ‘Well, if you could exercise Harv for me, I’d be grateful. He doesn’t always behave very well for Mrs Priddy, although she does her best with him.’
Amanda worked this out. ‘You’d want me to give up my job?’
‘I’d prefer it,’ he said, ‘but it isn’t a condition.’
She said, ‘This has to be the most bizarre proposal ever.’
The firm mouth relaxed into a faint smile. ‘Probably.’ He paused. ‘Remember, Amanda, once you’re my wife, you’ll be safe from Nigel’s manoeuvres.’
‘It’s possible. But if this non-marriage palls on either of us, we can always make other arrangements. After all, divorce has never been easier.’
‘No,’ she admitted in a small voice. She bit her lip. ‘But this can’t be the kind of relationship you ever visualised—ever wanted for yourself?’
‘No. But when what you want is out of reach, it’s sensible to settle for what you can get.’
How could he sound so matter of fact? she wondered, swallowing. He was turning both their lives upside-down, after all.
She jumped nervously as the drawing-room door opened and Mrs Priddy appeared with a tea tray.
‘It’s nice to see you here again, Miss Conroy.’ She managed to invest the words with a faint re’George and I were both wondering when you’d be here for another visit.‘
‘She’s here to stay this time, Mrs Priddy,’ Malory said, before Amanda could open her mouth. He sent her a swift smile. ‘We’ve decided to avoid any further publicity by being married very quietly next week, and Miss Conroy will be living here until the ceremony.’ He turned to Amanda. ‘When you’ve finished your tea, darling, go upstairs with Mrs Priddy and decide which bedroom you’d like.’
