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She continued to frown.
He took a deep breath. “In a few days I must attend my cousin’s wedding at her family’s estate. It is a five-day affair.”Wrong word. “Until a couple of months ago, I was betrothed. For various reasons, we decided we did not suit and called the engagement off. My mother was beside herself with grief and took to her bed for a week. Since then, she has made it her life’s work to see me betrothed once again.”
Mrs. Shaw stood. “If you will excuse me, I think I hear my daughter calling me.”
He reached out and took her hand. “Please, let me finish, and then you can slap me in the face, stomp on my foot or, if it is your preference, hit me with a right hook.”
To his utter amazement, she burst into laughter and sat back down. “You may continue, Lord St. John.”
“My mother plans on hauling as many unmarried women as she can in front of me, making the wedding embarrassing for everyone. Especially me.” He ran his finger around the inside of his collar. “To avoid that, I told her I would be engaged by the wedding; that I was getting ready to propose.”
She raised her hand, leaving him wondering if she did intend to plant a facer on him. Instead, she once again stood. “I have no intention of ever marrying again. So, as much as I am sympathetic with your problem, I’m afraid I cannot help you.”
Once more he grabbed her hand. “Please. Just let me finish and then you can walk off.”
“I am in need of a woman to pretend to be my fiancée. For the five days of the wedding.” When she didn’t punch him or get up to run again, he continued. “It will all be proper. You will have your own room in the ladies’ section of the Manor. You will enjoy a few days of no work, meeting new people, enjoying fine food and wine, and generally taking a nice break from your daily routine.”
She continued to stare at him, and he could almost hear her mind working. “You say my brother-in-law approved this?”
“Yes. I assured him there would be no impropriety, and you were under no danger of being seduced.” He wanted to add unless she wanted to, but—considering how things were going right now—thought it was in his best interest to leave that off.
She studied him, tapping her fingertip to her lips. “What would be required of me?”
“You, of course, would have to play the part of my devoted fiancée. We would spend time together and enjoy the wedding festivities.”
“What about your mother? Won’t she be surprised that you have become engaged to a woman who is not a member of your circle?”
“Believe me, Mrs. Shaw, if my mother sees that I am happily engaged, she won’t care—not much, anyway—who the woman is. Don’t forget you are Lord Sterling’s sister-by-marriage. That, my dear, would carry a lot of weight among theton.”
She placed her hands in her lap and stared at her feet for a while. “Since this is a pretend engagement, we will part ways, and won’t that upset your mother even more?”
“Not necessarily so. If we find we enjoy each other’s company, there is no reason to inevitably go our separate ways immediately following the wedding. You said yourself you have a nonexistent social life. I would be glad to escort you to the assemblies and the theater and museums. A stroll in Parade Park, with refreshments at Sally Lunn’s occasionally. Enough to keep Mother off my back until I can think of something to appease her.”
She smirked. “I think—from what you’ve told me—the only thing that would appease your mother is watching you recite your vows.”
He held his breath as she continued to consider his offer. There was no doubt in his mind that, if Mrs. Shaw turned him down, Vivian’s wedding would be a nightmare.
She took a deep breath and looked at him. “I do not wish to consider marriage again. Without going into unnecessary details, I will say my experience with the wedded state was anything but blissful. I have my daughter, Annalise, and intend to keep my life just so.”
She stopped for a minute, then said. “If it is clear that this is a pretend betrothal, then the idea of having a few days at a celebration sounds like a fine adventure.” She grinned.
Actually grinned.
Unable to help himself, Alex picked her up and spun her around until they were both overcome with laughter.
CHAPTER4
“Idon’t know why I said yes to this preposterous scheme. I must have been out of my mind.” Natalie slumped in the chair in her bedchamber and waved toward her wardrobe. “I don’t have any appropriate clothes for this venture.”
Rayne walked to her sister and took both her hands and pulled her up. “I told you before. I have gowns that might not be in the first state of fashion, but they are certainly suitable for a wedding party.” She grinned. “I am forced by my loving husband to—on occasion—present myself as Lady Sterling and attend one of these balls or othertonevents. Or even—horrors—do some entertaining myself.”
“Do you think I should contact Lord St. John and tell him I have the ague? Or a megrim, or a toothache?”
Her sister had the nerve to laugh. “Sister, calm yourself. This will be fun. The most fun you’ve had in years. Don’t panic and leave St. John in a lurch. He will arrive tomorrow to escort you to a lovely country estate where you will have entertainment, fine food, and drink.” She pushed back a strand of hair and cupped Natalie’s cheeks with her palms. “Let me put it this way. As your doctor, I am prescribing this weekend for your health.”
Natalie hugged her sister, tears rimming her eyes. With her father’s inattention to her and Mary Beth all the years of their childhood, and Milton tearing her down every day, having someone who cared still moved her. She wiped her eyes and stepped back. “Very well, then. Let’s have some fun trying on your gowns.”
After hours of gowns on and off, different hair styles, and Rayne providing Natalie with pieces of her own jewelry, the sisters sat in Rayne’s sitting room, enjoying tea and sandwiches.
