B005R3LZ90 EBOK (7 page)

Surely the chit would look favorably upon the prospect of becoming Lady Sedgewick. A woman of neither beauty nor fortune could never hope for a better offer.

And it wasn't as if he would be robbing her of a love match. It was doubtful any man would ever desire the outspoken, opinionated Miss Spenser for a wife. He would actually be rescuing her from spinsterhood.

Of course, he would have to make it clear to her that it wouldn't be a
real
marriage. Diana was the wife of his heart, and no woman could ever supplant her. Then, too, the prospect of bedding Miss Spenser held no allure whatsoever. In every other way, though, Miss Spenser would be treated with the honor and respect due his wife and due a woman of Miss Spenser's station.

Quite satisfied with himself, George decided to visit Blankenship House that very afternoon and present his proposal to Miss Spenser.

* * *

When he arrived at his sister's house, it was assumed he was calling for Blanks.

"No," George said to his sister, "it's Miss Spenser whom I should wish to see."

Glee glanced from him, past that dreadful young woman whose father was a sausage merchant or some such, to Sally Spenser.

Miss Spenser, who was not as pretty as the sausage merchant's daughter but infinitely more gracious, stepped forward.

"Would you do me the goodness of accompanying me to the Pump Room?" he asked her. No sooner were the words out of his mouth when he realized the impropriety of being unescorted with an unmarried lady. He had been away from the Marriage Mart for so long his brain had turned to porridge.

That odious sausage-maker's daughter, whatever her name was, came to stand beside Miss Spenser. "What a very good plan, my lord," she said.

A frown on his face, he realized he had to settle for escorting both women. Then Blanks decreed that he and his wife would accompany them. Therefore, five of them set off for the Pump Room, which was just blocks from Queen Square. George found himself in the ridiculous position of having a spinster on each arm. He also found himself being gushingly addressed by that upstart gel, Miss Johnson, he believed her name was.

"I had the pleasure of seeing your beautiful children not one hour past," the gel told him.

"Where, may I ask, did this meeting take place?" he asked.

"Miss Spenser was taking them for a walk to the Royal Crescent, and I had the good fortune to run into her."

He cast a grateful glance at Miss Spenser. He was touched that, despite his own abominable behavior the night before, she had still sought out his children and indulged them. How fortunate they were to have her. He smiled smugly. Thanks to him, his children would be indulged by Miss Spenser for the rest of their days. For surely she would accept his suit. "How kind of you, Miss Spenser, to offer the children another treat so soon after yesterday's trip to Sydney Gardens."

"They did so enjoy playing at Crescent Fields," Miss Johnson said. "They are such absolute darlings! And what a handsome fellow your little son is. I declare, you must have looked exactly the same when you were a lad of his age."

"So I've been told," George said, a look of distaste on his face. He had always been disappointed the boy did not favor his mother more. Like Georgette. Just thinking of his daughter warmed George's heart.

"I was just remarking to Miss Spenser," Miss Johnson said, "that it was time you married again, my lord."

"My feelings exactly," he answered.

A smile spread across Miss Johnson's fair face.

He cast a quick glance at Miss Spenser, and it seemed her usually tanned face had gone white. How very odd.

George hoped that when they reached the Pump Room his friends, Appleton and the twins, would be there. He would persuade one of them to relieve him of the Johnson chit so he could speak privately with Miss Spenser. More likely than not, though, they would not be there. They were far more comfortable with bloods than with young ladies. A most unsociable lot, to be sure. He tried to think of what amusements would compete for their attention today. No boxing matches. No cockfights. No horse racing. Perhaps in their boredom the threesome would be at the Pump Room.

"My Papa will arrive in Bath next week," Miss Johnson was babbling. Babbling to him, George realized. Why did the young lady suffer under the delusion he was remotely interested in anything she had to say? "He has expressed a profound interest in renewing his acquaintance with you, my lord," the sausage- maker's daughter continued.

So nervous was he over his impending interview with Miss Spenser, he could scarcely attend to Miss Johnson's words. As she spoke uninterrupted, he slid a glance at Miss Spenser. Her hair was curled today, and he thought she looked almost pretty. There was a grace about her that made her outshine a woman like Miss Johnson. And when he smiled at Miss Spenser, she favored him with a soft smile that revealed her deep dimples. When she smiled like that, she really was pretty.

Once they arrived at the Pump Room, his sister ordered her husband to escort her on a turn about the room. That left George with one woman too many. A quick glance around the lofty chamber confirmed that his bachelor friends were not there. Which assured George of being stuck with the obnoxious Miss Johnson. "Ladies, allow me to fetch you the water," he said.

He left them and went to the attendant to procure the cups of the nasty-tasting water. From the corner of his eye, he saw Appleton and the twins stroll into the room. This was even better! Taking the cups from the attendant and balancing them, George went straight to his friends and spoke to Appleton. "Do me the goodness of relieving me of Miss Johnson."

Appleton glanced toward the two ladies. "You are referring to the pretty blonde standing with the plain Miss Spenser?"

If he did not have these cups of water in his hand, George might have sent a fist into Appleton's face. How dare he call Miss Spenser plain! How could anyone with such delectable dimples be plain? And how could one actually prefer Miss Johnson over Miss Spenser? "I am," George said curtly.

"Then it shall be my pleasure," Appleton said as he walked directly to Miss Johnson and begged to be allowed to escort her around the perimeter of the chamber. George held his breath as he watched her set a hand on Appleton's forearm, then he came up to Miss Spenser and offered her the cup of water. "I seem to have an extra," he said, offering it one of the twins, who declined it.

"Didn't know Miss Johnson was in town," Melvin said.

"She arrived only last night," Miss Spenser answered.

The other twin, Elvin, was following Blanks and Glee with his eyes. "Pix must be delighted to have Blanks at the ready today," he said.

"Pix?" George asked.

"Your sister. We call her Pix 'cause she's so little."

"Oh, so you do," George conceded. He knew Blanks detested the familiar practice.

Although it was impolite to leave the twins, George looked into Miss Spenser's chocolate-colored eyes and said, "May I have the pleasure of walking with you, Miss Spenser?" as he offered her his crooked arm.

He sighed when she finally set a gentle hand on his forearm. The two of them began to stroll the chamber. With every step he took, his heartbeat accelerated. Good lord, what if the chit laughed at him! Or refused him? He reminded himself that he was prepared to shed his pride for the sake of his children's happiness. He had only to think of the bitter Hortense, knowing his children deserved better, to resolve anew to offer for Miss Spenser.

"It was most considerate of you to seek out my children today," he began.

"I did not seek them out to be considerate. I sought them because they bring me joy."

It was the same with him! At least with his precious Georgette. Every time he laid eyes on his sweet daughter, it brought him happiness. Oh yes, he had made an excellent decision. There was no better woman than Miss Spenser to be stepmother to his children. He rather swelled with pride when he thought of making her the new viscountess. His children had suffered long enough. "I am gratified that you feel as you do."

They walked in silence for a moment when he said, "Miss Spenser, I wish to apologize for my appalling behavior last night. I've come to realize the wisdom of your words when you chided me. In fact, I deserved a better tongue-lashing than I received."

Her slim hand tightened upon his arm, and she turned to gaze upon him with those great brown eyes of hers. "I care too deeply for you to receive any gratification from your words, my lord."

His stomach vaulted. She made him extremely uncomfortable. Why did it hurt her when he showed poor judgment as he had last night? It would be so much easier for him if she did not care for him, yet he had to admit she would make a fine wife. A loyal wife, too, he'd wager.

Whether she realized it or not, she did care for him as one would for a brother. And, come to think of it, he cared for her in the same way he cared for Felicity and Glee.

"I am flattered, my lord, that you are most likely speaking so prettily to me in order to secure me for your children."

His pulse accelerated, and he swallowed hard. He placed a firm hand on top of hers. "Yes, I do want you, Miss Spenser. But I want you for my wife."

Chapter 6

Her heart leapt in her chest and pounded in her ears. At first she had thought that in her love for George she had imagined that he said he wanted her for
his wife
. She could not trust her ears. Lord George Sedgewick would never wish to make her his wife.

She was aware that he was looking down upon her, but she could not bring herself to make eye contact with him, nor was she able to speak. She was too embarrassed to speak, actually. For to respond to him was to admit she was deserving of being the Viscountess Sedgewick. She, Sally Spenser, who was on the threshold of becoming a schoolmistress at Miss Worth's School for Young Ladies.

Just as she was about to ask him to repeat himself, she realized that the Viscount Sedgewick had indeed asked for her hand in marriage. And she completely understood why.

Quite simply put, he wanted her for his children's stepmother. With his simple declaration, Sally held him in higher regard than she had in the twelve years she had known him. She had been previously unaware of the depths of his love for his children. For his children, he was willing to sacrifice himself on the altar. It was the noblest thing he had ever done.

Her first inclination was to emphatically turn him down. She had always vowed to die a spinster rather than marry where there was no love. But just because Lord Sedgewick did not love her did not mean there was no love. She possessed enough for both of them.

How sweet that he would even contemplate allowing her—skinny, plain, dowryless, outspoken Sally Spenser—to attempt to fill his beloved Diana's shoes. All for the love of his children. For Sally had no delusions that he had any love or desire for her.

She respected him even more in view of the fact he merely wanted a stepmother for his children, he could have secured the hand of a lady in possession of far more beauty and fortune than she. But he was not seeking the best wife for himself but rather the best mother for his children. How completely unselfish he was being!

She looked at his hand covering hers. In her whole life she had never felt closer to another being. His very touch sent her heart soaring. She knew he would never love her. At least not as a man loves a woman. But she loved him so thoroughly, she could not deny herself this fleeting chance to grasp the next best thing to possessing his heart, to possess his respect and his name. It was more than she had ever thought to secure in a lifetime.

There were so many reasons to accept his suit, not the least of which was the intoxicating prospect of being mother to Georgette and Sam. How she would love spoiling them! By marrying their father she could also ensure that they would never have to suffer a mean-spirited nurse or an unfeeling stepmother.

Also, there was the heady vision of a future in which she and George could intertwine their lives in a common purpose. From his apology, she realized that she might even wield some influence over him. Would that she could put a stop to his self- destruction.

Already, the bond of the children was a stronger one than that with which most married couples began their marriages.

Oh yes, even without a chance of owning his heart, she would be happy to be George's wife. She gently squeezed his arm. It was the most intimate gesture toward an unrelated man of her entire two and twenty years. "You honor me, my lord," she finally managed.

"What? No tart words, Miss Spenser?"

She wondered that she could even hear him for her heart was pounding so furiously. "No, my lord. I confess you've left me speechless—for once."

"Then am I given to believe you will honor me by becoming my viscountess?"

My viscountess
! The very thought robbed her of breath. "I care for your children—and for you, my lord—far too much to deny you." Oh goodness, why had she made herself seem such a foolish, adoring featherbrain?

"And I care for you too much to mislead you, Miss Spenser. You realize the marriage will be . . ."

"Unconsummated," she answered.

"Exactly, though I'm surprised a maiden such as you understands the meaning of the word."

The liquid warmth that had filled her since hearing his proposal spread to center between her thighs. Oh, she understood much more than that. Lord Sedgewick had a most disturbing effect upon her! "Actually, I learned that word
in Romeo and Juliet
when I was twelve. Because it was then unfamiliar to me, I had to look it up. One can learn a great deal from reading, my lord, and I read a great deal."

He burst out laughing as he continued to pat her hand. "You know, Miss Spenser, I believe we will deal very well together."

She smiled up at him. "I believe we shall. First, though, you must call me Sally."

He lowered his voice. "And you are to call me George."

She took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled. "Do we tell the others now?"