Price of Desire (37 page)

“I think we should put off announcing the betrothal,” Rose said.

That was expected
.
She wanted to be sure of the earldom before she committed.

“I don’t think that would be wise.”

“Why
ever not?”

She moved into the periphery of his vision the light of the fire shining through her gown, outlining her lush curves
.
He squeezed his fist tight.

“I think your guests will find our marriage shocking enough.”

“I am not sure I take your meaning.”

“Given the weather, I imagine it will be several days before they all depart
.
I certainly can’t imagine Lady Smyth-Burke or Lady Clarington traveling before the roads are dry.”

“I still don’t see your point
.
What difference does a day or two make?”

Other than giving her a chance to be sure the title was secure
.
And to think he’d believed her sympathy about Peter
.
Thought she’d understood the magnitude of his loss
.
She’d probably been wondering what the Falmouth jewels were like.

His thoughts made his tone cold
.
“The difference, my lady, is that I thought you’d like to announce the betrothal before the wedding.”

“I beg to differ.”

“If we marry tomorrow or the day after, surely it is better to announce our plans tonight.”

“Marry tomorrow?
”

Her jaw drooped and he could see her pearly teeth, remember how they’d nipped . . . God, what sort of fool did she turn him into that he lusted after her teeth
?
Even knowing what she was, he couldn’t help dreaming, wishing.

“I thought that would be most sensible under the circumstances.”

“But, the banns . . .”

He could hear the desperation in her voice.

“I am arranging for a special license
.
I took the liberty of sending one of the stable lads over to Blythemoor
.
I am sure
Westlake
can take care of the matter shortly.”

“Special license
?
Westlake
?
”

If he hadn’t been in such a foul mood, so trapped by circumstance, her confusion would have been delightful.

“Yes,
Westlake
owes me a favor
.
I am sure he’ll consider this repayment.”

She shook her head back and forth
.
Was she trying to clear her head or deny his words?

“I know you and Wimberley talked of
Westlake
this morning,
but I hadn’t realized that the relationship was this close.”

Wulf clenched his jaw
.
He didn’t like to dwell to long on the subject
.
Still, she deserved to know
.
She had agreed to marry him, no matter what the circumstance.”

“Tris, Wimberly that is,
Westlake
and I were great companions in school and then when we first came to London we went about together
.
I was still my uncle’s heir when we first met and we fit together like peas in a pod
.
Westlake
was already, well he was already
Westlake
, can’t imagine him any other way, but Tris and I were just lads of great expectations
.
We ran around like the young lords we knew we were.”

“If you’re so close I am surprised you haven’t been over to see
Westlake
during your stay
.
Blythemoor is quite close if you ride directly instead of following the road.”

She was obviously trying to deflect the conversation from their impending nuptials
.
If only the subject she’d chosen were a little less tender.

“I said we
were
close
.
I attempted to abduct his duchess last year, almost caused the death of her son, and then shot her first husband’s brother
.
I am afraid it has led to slightly strained relations.”

“Oh.”

Well, that had silenced her
.
Her mouth gaped slightly.

“Do you have any other questions?”

“A dozen.
”
She paused and chewed her plump, lower lip
.
“But, I imagine that this is not the time for them
.
I am sure you will explain it all in detail at some later date
.
I am sure you exaggerate.”

“I wouldn’t be too sure of that, my lady
.
But, you are right we have other things to discuss
.
Do you want to make the announcement this evening or should I
?
It is your house and you are the hostess, but it is more tr
aditional for the man to . . . o
r perhaps we could have Tris do it
?
Nothing like having a marquess on call.”

“I still don’t see why we need to rush
.
Even if we wait a few days to announce the betrothal and then have the banns read it would still only amount to a few weeks.”

“A few weeks I may not have, or do you forget
?
I want this wedding over before there is any talk
.
Let us have it done with before we receive the news, whatever it is
.
Everyone will assume it a hurried love match.”

Chapter
Thirteen

“A love match?”

The phase spun around inside her head even as she spoke the words
.
It should have sent her doubling over in gales of laughter, but instead it touched some chord deep inside.

A love match
.
Four years ago it could have been
.
For the first time Rose felt truly disloyal to John
.
For a moment she had remembered what it had been like to feel that first wave of passion for a brave young soldier, to imagine herself a carefree girl
.
If all that had been true, could it have been a love match?

“Yes, a love match
.
They’ll think we’re simply besotted with each other
.
Hard as that might be to believe.
”
He cocked a brow at her, but his words rang bitter.

Did he really have to make it clear how little he wanted this wedding
?
She wasn’t even sure why he desired her
.
Even without the earldom he was such a magnificent example of a man
.
What woman could resist those broadly muscled shoulders
?
And so brave and honorable, and that softness she’d seen pe
e
king through with Anna, and two nights ago in the garden, and his smile . . . No, it was no wonder he was not overjoyed at being trapped into wedding an overly plump, faded rose.

“All the more reason to wait a couple of days
.
We can build up people’s expectations a little, flirt
.
Then when we announce our betrothal, or even our wedding, they will understand.”

Couldn’t he give her a little room
?
She wasn’t sure why it was so important, but she needed to know he could compromise
.
He closed his eyes and for a moment she thought he really considered, that perhaps he understood more was on the line here than a couple of days time.

“No, it is not possible
.
The wedding must take place with all speed
.
Even now news of Falmouth could be on the way
.
We will make the announcement tonight and tomorrow we will be wed
.
I think I will have Tris make the toast.”

She turned from him trying to hide her feelings
.
What had she been thinking a moment ago about how it might have been a love match
?
What a fool
.
How could she even consider marrying a man who didn’t listen to her?

She turned back to him, and looking him straight in the eye let loose with a list of colorful and vivid curses she’d been holding back since his arrival.

“. . .
and that’s what I think of our wedding tomorrow!”

A loud chuckle escaped him, surprising them both.

“Ah
,
yes, you will make a fine countess.”

Well, at least she could look a countess
.
Rose pirouetted before the mirror, trying to decide if the dark green silk did the trick
.
She’d had the maid pull her laces tighter than usual and although she still was far from slender she thought she’d look presentable, maybe even better than presentable.

The color did bring out a flush in her cheeks, deepen her eyes
.
At least she could pretend it was the color of the dress and not the past hours she’d spent thinking about marriage and all it entailed
.

She brushed her palms down the front of the gown, enjoying the way the latest cut hugged her breasts before draping over her more generous hips
.
It suggested rather than revealed
.
She studied the neckline, there were some things it revealed more than adequately
.
Still she was an older widow, and it did fall within the realm of respectability
.
She’d have to ask Marguerite’s opinion.

Marguerite, she’d asked her sister to stop by after dressing so they could discuss the night’s announcement
.
She didn’
t want Marguerite taken unaware
.
If they were going to put an appearance of affection it would look odd if her sister was not in the know.

As if on cue, there was a light rap on the door and her sister entered.

“Oh
,
dearest, you look beautiful.
”
And it was true, dressed in the lightest of blush pinks Marguerite shimmered like an angel
.
Her golden hair was dressed in loose curls and matching ribbons
.
The high waist, which Rose had thought flattering on her own figure, was truly stunning on Marguerite’s slender frame
.
Her sister was breathtaking.

“I must say the same,” Marguerite said
.
“I don’t know what it is about you, but the last week you’ve grown more beautiful yourself, and tonight
– t
onight, Sir Barton won’t be the only one with his tongue hanging out
.
You really will have a dozen proposals by dawn, unless . . .”

“Unless, what?”

“Oh Rose, please tell me you’ve decided who to marry
.
When you called me here I was convinced that was it, and now that I see the high color on your cheeks I am even more convinced
.
So tell me, am I right?”

Oh dear, Marguerite was so excited by this all
.
She practically danced upon her tiptoes
.
How disappointed would she be to learn that Rose had put aside all her suitors to chose Wulf
.
Although how any woman, or girl, could feel disappointment when thinking of those shoulders, those thighs . . . She had to get her mind out of the gutter.

“Well, yes, I have chosen.”

“Oh, how delightful.
”
Marguerite danced over to her
.
“Do tell.”

“Actually, well, I’ve decided . . . that is  . .
.
M
ajor
Huntington has asked me to wed and I’ve accepted.”

“M
ajor
Huntington?
”
For a moment Marguerite’s face clouded and then a wide smile spread across it
.
“How perfect
.
He is much better than any of the others, although perhaps a little forceful.
”
Her brow pinched again
.
“Not, I would have thought, what you were looking for, but then again . . . Oh, Rose is it a love match after all
?
I can’t think why else you’d have chosen him
.
He is a bit brutish, not at all mannerly like Wimb . . . Well, he is a bit big, if you take my meaning.”