Accidental Fiancee (2 page)

“Definitely an apology.”

“Is that not what I just said? I completely bungled what happened earlier, but if you think I am going to take
all
the blame for this fiasco, you are fair and far off the mark.” She paced in front of the fire, then stopped and stared at him. “What could have possibly possessed you to announce we were betrothed? For all you know I may already be married with five children!”

She crossed her arms over her chest as he burst out in laughter.

“Perhaps, madam,” he responded, “it was because we were holding hands and staring into each other’s eyes in front of witnesses in a backwoods inn! I cannot entirely dismiss the fact that I have a certain, ah, reputation that does not help in this situation. But before we decide where to lay the blame, perhaps you would kindly recall that you were the one to first step forward and impose yourself on me.”

“Oh, dear, it is all so complicated, and will you please stop calling me ‘madam’ in that odious way?” She stopped pacing and said, “Will you please sit down? I have already expressed that your intimidation tactics are working splendidly.”

Lord Weston walked toward her, causing her a moment of fear. However, he moved past her and went to the chair in front of the fireplace, where he settled himself. “I realize it is very rude to sit while you stand, but as you will not sit first, I will obey your order. Only because I have been on the road a long time today. I am hungry, tired
and,
it seems, betrothed.”

“Why, my lord, would you ever have said that? We were in a public place. There was nothing clandestine about it.”

He made himself comfortable and looked up at her. “It is precisely
because
we were in a public room, my dear. Anyone was free to see you approach me with no hesitation, and lead me immediately into a private conversation. Wicked minds need little encouragement to draw the worst and most damaging conclusions even from innocent behavior.” He stopped and stared at her for a moment. “You know, when I came into this room and saw you against the backdrop of the fire, I certainly wondered
why
you were not married. No doubt I will discover the reason soon enough.”

He was smiling at her! Was he teasing her? She could not tell.

“And since calling you madam seems to offend you, despite the politeness with which I have offered it, I will remind you that I actually have no idea
what
your name is. Should you grace me with that information, I will be able to address you as such.”

She smiled at him. “Grace, my lord.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“My name
is
Grace, Lady Grace.” She spoke each word slowly.

He looked at her in the oddest fashion and then they both burst into laughter, letting go of the tension that surrounded them.

“My lord,” she said, trying once again to look severe, “this is getting us nowhere. We must consider how to go on. And we must be quiet about it. As you now know, these walls are very thin and the entire inn could hear our conversation.”

He had a wicked glint in his eyes as he asked, “Who are you?”

“I am Grace Endicott and I am taking my sister to London for her presentation this Season.”

“Endicott?” he asked. “Where do I know that name? Who are your parents?”

“My mother passed away some time ago. My father is Robert Endicott, Lord Pennington.” She was surprised when Lord Weston covered his eyes with his hands and began to shake his head.

She jumped when he growled, “Great guns! I have compromised the daughter of an
earl!
”

“Do not be absurd! You have compromised no one. Just tell me how we may extricate ourselves from this and we need never see each other again.”

He looked at her in a peculiar way. She stood still as he rose and came to stand before her. “Never see each other again? I am afraid, Lady Grace, that far from never seeing me again, you will soon be my wife!”

Chapter Two

H
e lifted her chin with his finger and turned his most dazzling smile on her. “I believe we will take London by storm.”

“My lord, are you never serious? Could you please speak sensibly for a few moments?” Her frustration was palpable, yet while they were far from being out of danger, he had to admit he was beginning to like her even though he had only known her this hour or more.

He was brought back to the subject at hand as she stood staring at him with her arms akimbo. “My apologies,” he said, falsely contrite. “Lord Pennington...the family seat is in Essex, is it not? He studies rare tapestries and something else I cannot think of at the moment.”

“Perhaps we will get to the problem at hand tomorrow!” she said nonchalantly. “You are the most frustrating man. Oh, what is the use? The estate is in Ware, more specifically, and my father
is
interested in artifacts, but his particular interest is suits of armor. My mother was the one who loved antique tapestries. They used to travel extensively, but he rarely leaves the estate anymore.” She bit her lip and he could almost hear her mind at work. He waited for the inevitable. “Do you
know
my father, sir?”

There! She was finally beginning to understand there was more to this situation than playacting. Their positions in Society meant that any news of an engagement between them could not be brushed aside or ignored. If he did not unravel this mess as soon as possible, they were all doomed to serious repercussions.

“Your father and I have never met, but we are members of the same club. I have read several papers he has published. I believe his last was on the Elgin Marbles.” He mumbled as an aside, “Will that debate never end?”

“Good,” she said, relieved. “If you do not know him, there should be no problem in that regard.”

He did not tell her that, on the contrary, it might complicate matters tremendously.

She began to pace and wring her hands again, a habit he now recognized as signaling her agitation. “I did not have time to formulate a particularly
good
plan.”

“Ah, I see understatement is your forte,” he said with a straight face.

“I only thought to keep an innocent man from being forced into marriage.” He could not restrain his laughter at her description of him. She continued in spite of it. “I can see now that I...misjudged the victim.”

“My dear woman, I wonder how you suppose I got to be the age of five and thirty and unwed without your help,” he said in wonder. “I have been avoiding scheming chits for the last fifteen years, and now I am in the basket because I had help! You must allow me a
slight
vexation.” His look dared her to deny him.

“Sir,” she began quietly, “you are the most insufferable man I have ever met!”

“We shall start a list, shall we? Each time you think of a new description of me, we will write it down and keep it handy.”

She put her head in her hands and groaned.

“I know! Stubborn might be the next one.”

“My lord,” she said through clenched teeth, with fists at her sides, “obviously, I misheard the part of the conversation that indicated you were such a catch! Indeed, that hordes of women are actually
trying
to marry you!”

He grinned. He believed he might have finally met a woman with whom he could match wits!

“My sole thought was to approach you before that woman could get you alone with her. I thought to explain what we had heard, and warn you to beware of her. How was I to know you go about kissing the hands of complete strangers?”

He sat back down and smiled.

She paced again. “Lydia warned me to leave well enough alone. Did I listen? No, and now I am talking to a madman.” She put up her hand to stop him from speaking. “No! Do not talk about a list. Just tell me why you said we were betrothed.” He noticed her blush as she remembered their very slight intimacy, and was again touched. She was a determined champion of chivalry one moment and a green girl the next. But he would be who he was...it was most entertaining.

He steepled his fingers and added, “I am afraid, my lady, that I did overstep my bounds with the kiss to your hands. I should have been more circumspect, especially with the knowledge that my actions were in plain view. And yet everything would be fine had Charlotte Marchmont not witnessed the scene. The Marchmonts have been on the Town for two or three Seasons. They are not only on the catch for a rich, titled husband for Lady Charlotte, they are also the biggest gossipmongers in all of London.

“The minute I realized she had witnessed our exchange in an out-of-the-way inn, I had no choice in the matter. I had compromised your reputation. So I indicated we were betrothed, for your protection.”

He stopped and looked into the fire pensively. “Hard to believe, I know, but even the rake in me could not hurt such a green girl.” He could not tell her the ramifications this day might cause. She’d thought she was helping him, but with one sentence, he may have jeopardized all he had worked for the previous two years.

Brandon’s wild escapades had been curbed considerably over that time, as his mentor gave his life real purpose. Lord Langdon had become more like a father to him than his own, and his lordship might withdraw his support
and
his voice in high places should Brandon become involved in a scandal. More importantly, he might withdraw his friendship.

He came back to the present as she began to speak. “No one knows us in London. What if we delayed our arrival a week. Would any fervor not have died down?” She paused, possibly answering her own question in her mind. “In any event, who would believe Lady Charlotte’s insinuations about us when we arrived in London? I am long on the shelf and I am certainly too managing by half to tempt you. Only witness our current situation!”

He was completely thrown off guard by her response. She could not possibly believe that! Long on the shelf? She was the beautiful daughter of an earl and the most engaging woman he had met in a long time. He wished he had by the neck the miscreant who made her feel such an antidote.

“My dear, this story will be all over Town by morning. And if you think being secluded with a well-known rake without the protection of an engagement would not stop your sister’s presentation before it ever started, then I think whoever sent you to London on your own ought to be horsewhipped. You are no more prepared to face it than a newborn babe.” He stopped, turned toward her and looked directly into those green orbs. “I am afraid, my dear, that I will not be a part of your ruination.”

“Do all the women you know stand by and let you insult them to their face? Indeed, I understand the damage gossip could do to my sister. That is why I wish to see this situation resolved before that gossip can spread. Just tell me how we might fix this, and then we may go on our way.”

He looked at her in amazement. “Madam, the only ‘fix’ is to continue with the engagement. We
are
betrothed and my next step is to go see your father.”

He supposed it must happen at some point; but in his mind’s eye he had never envisioned this!

* * *

How had things to come to this?

She stood before a gentleman she had known for the space of an hour, who was telling her they had no choice but to wed. “My lord, I believe you may be overreacting. We cannot deny the engagement without risking my reputation—very well. But there is no reason to continue it. If the Marchmonts claim we are betrothed, all we have to do is decide we do not suit,” she said, practically. “I believe engagements are broken all the time.”

It was not a falsehood—engagements did not always last. But she was too practical not to realize that she couldn’t end the engagement immediately without consequence to her reputation. If nothing else, she would be the talk of the Town for having an engagement announced and ended within the span of an evening. No, it could and should end at some point—but that was unlikely to happen right away.

No matter how little she liked the idea, she was veritably trapped in this arrangement...at least for now.

* * *

“Lady Grace, as relieved as I am that you wish this marriage as little as I,” Lord Weston said casually, “I am afraid I know not the correct etiquette for breaking engagements these days. Do you have a plan as to how that might be done?”

She was saved from answering by the landlord knocking at the door. He entered with several footmen bearing trays of food and drink, which were laid on the large table in the center of the room. “Will there be anything else, yer lordship, sir?”

“Would you like more tea?” Lord Weston asked Grace. “I believe yours was interrupted quite a while ago.”

“No, thank you.”

“You know,” he said, pouring himself a cup of hot coffee, “you have the most expressive eyes of any woman I have ever met. They are flashing emeralds one minute, and the next they are cool pools of sea green. You should know, in the event none of the clodpoles from Essex have told you, they tell of your thoughts, though you say not a word.”

“No matter what my eyes
say,
my lord, I doubt very seriously you know what I am thinking at this moment.” Sarcasm; he noticed she resorted to it often when she was embarrassed. His compliments seemed to discommode her, fitting though they were.

He laughed again and sat down at the table. “Lady Grace, I assure you I know exactly what you are thinking.”

She held her hands out in anticipation.

After taking a bite of pigeon pie, he said, “First, you are wondering how on earth I can eat at a time like this. For some reason, women always seem to find it abnormal that men can eat in times of duress.” He took a few more bites, laid down his fork and carried his coffee back to the chair before the fire. He continued in the same vein. “Secondly, you are wondering why I am being so blasé about this affair.”

Her mouth opened in surprise and then she shut it and took up pacing again.

He chuckled.

“Very well, my lord, you excel at mind reading. Perhaps you also know sleight of hand and can make our circumstances disappear?” she quipped sarcastically.

“My dear, you are certainly not dull, which is fortunate. I abhor dull women.” He crossed his legs before saying, “Shall we calmly talk this through?”

“Yes. We need to come to some kind of decision before we reach London tomorrow. This cannot tarnish Lydia in any way. If you think a temporary betrothal is the only way to accomplish that, then I will agree. But a broken engagement must be included in the plan.”

“Lady Grace, much of my fear was dispelled when you indicated your wish to be rid of me. I am thankful that you do not want this marriage, either, though to be honest, I do fear that when you get to London and find out what a coup it is for you, you might well change your mind.” He said it with a straight face, and watched as she stared at him, stunned. Then she laughed despite herself—just as he’d intended.

“Humble, too, I see.
You
may consider marriage to you a coup, but I do not.”

“No, Grace,
I
do not consider myself a prize. I was speaking of the fortune hunters and title seekers. Oh, and their mothers, of course.” He did not want her to see the bitterness he felt at that part of his life, so he finished with flair. “Now fathers, they are a different story altogether!”

This time she did not take the bait.

“Despite the prize,” she went on, “I have no desire to be married to you or anyone else. I am perfectly content running my father’s estate and household. This Season is for my sister. You need not fear I will back out of any agreement we come to on breaking our ties.”

“The problem, my dear, is that we cannot go to London tomorrow and immediately cry off. With the Marchmont harpies spreading their tales, it would only add to the gossip surrounding you and your sister. I believe we shall have to play along for some period of time.”

He smiled at her. “Believe it or not, if you think about it for a moment, our betrothal may even benefit both of us, for as long as it stands.”

She looked at him with furrowed brows. “My lord, it will be a lie. Whether it benefits us or not, I cannot live a lie before all of London.”

“Grace, it is not a lie. We
are
engaged.” He wondered if he wished to convince himself as much as her.

Before she began an indignant reply, he put up his hand to stop her. “Hear me out. I
do
have entrées into some of the highest circles of the
haute ton,
despite my reputation, which could be of help to you and your sister.
And,
being already betrothed, I need have no fear of the matchmaking mamas. It may surprise you, I know, but there are more than enough people in Town who dislike me. When you do jilt me, you will be considered quite the heroine!” He looked at her with a decided twinkle in his eye. “I know it is hard to believe, but there it is.”

“How absurd you are. Are you never serious?”

His whole manner changed. “I am being quite serious now. I will not mislead you, my dear—my reputation as a rake is well earned. Though my position carries with it some advantages, there will be many who will want to put you on your guard with stories about me, and a few who will give you the cut direct for your connection to me.”

“I see. Hmm, a rake who becomes betrothed because he thinks—merely
thinks,
mind you—that he has compromised a lady, and then warns her about what she will face at his hands? You are a fearsome creature indeed. I am beginning to wonder if you simply enjoy making people
think
you are a rogue.”

“You have discovered my secret, my lady.”

“Very well, Lord Weston,” she said. “Enough teasing. The engagement is settled, so the only thing left to do is to become acquainted with a few details of our lives. Perhaps we may do that on the journey to London, assuming you will join us in our coach?”

She paused, then looked him in the eyes. “My lord, I
am
truly sorry for the trouble I have caused you.” The sincerity in her voice was heartfelt.

He turned away from her. He wished he did not have to share this part of his past, but he preferred that she hear it from him. He would ponder the reason for that another time. “You may tell me about your youth while we travel, but I would prefer it if your sister and your maid did
not
hear about a particular incident from mine. At least, not in my presence. They will hear it soon enough when we are in Town. Truth to tell, I would prefer
you
not hear it, but some gabster will be only too happy to repeat the story, so you might as well hear it from me.”