Authors: Kate Worth
She turned to the door and breathed in sharply when a hand darted out from the darkness to grasp hers.
“Miss Gray,” Lord Wallace acknowledged from the shadows. As always, his rich baritone jangled her nerves.
“You startled me!” Jane said with a high, nervous laugh as she settled onto the seat across from him, arranging her skirts to avoid looking at him.
“That wasn’t my intention, Miss Gray. Please forgive me, but I could think of no other way to steal a private moment. The minute you walk through the door Pip demands your full attention and there is a matter of some urgency I wish to discuss. A proposition, if you will.”
Jane’s heart hitched a beat at the words ‘steal a private moment’, but she remained silent, waiting for Lord Wallace to explain himself.
“As you know, when I left you this morning it was my intention to persuade the
Times’
publisher to kill the story. Unfortunately, the publisher is out of the country and I had to deal with the editor. He seems determined to follow through with it, regardless of my objections.”
“He intends to print bald-faced lies? Even after you explained that I’m not Pip’s birth mother? Did you inform him that, other than Maura, I had not met anyone in your family until a few weeks ago?”
Finn drew in a deep breath. “I did not. I simply listened to what he believed to be the truth. He is convinced Pip is the Duke’s love child.
Yours
and the Duke’s, I should say.”
Jane paled. “Did you set him straight?”
He shook his head.
“Why ever not?” she squeaked.
“Miss Gray, I wish to protect my family’s good name. That includes Maura.”
“And what of
my
good name?” she asked angrily. “Am I to be thrown to the wolves, to be depicted as having loose morals to preserve the reputation of a dead woman?” The words came out much more harshly than Jane had intended and her hand flew up to cover her mouth. “Forgive me, my lord. That was cruel.”
“I understand your frustration, and you are entitled to it. If it comes down to it, I will explain Pip’s parentage. Your love and generosity deserves to be repaid in kind. However, I am hoping you’ll look upon my plan favorably and together we will outfox them.”
“Outfox them?” she tilted her head.
“There is an elegantly simple way for us to neutralize this story… to cut them off at the pass, so to speak,” Finn leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. He wove his fingers together and regarded her intently with his gorgeous blue eyes.
“Miss Gray, we have come to the proposition part.”
“Go on,” she whispered.
“I have never been tempted to marry, have never even come close to asking a woman for her hand. To be entirely frank, until today I had intended to remain a bachelor for the rest of my life. I’m not philosophically opposed to marriage, mind, it’s just that I…” his voice trailed off and he ran an exasperated hand through his hair. How could he tactfully explain that he was easily bored, that he enjoyed sexual variety?
“Please excuse my rambling. What I mean to say, Miss Gray, is that I am a man of considerable means. I can offer you abundance, stability, and the protection of my name,” he paused as if searching for the right words.
Jane’s listened with a confused frown. She glanced out the window as Carlisle House sped past. Perceiving the question in her eyes, Finn explained, “I directed Simmons to circle the park until I give a signal.”
“I see,” she said, even though she didn’t see at all.
Why was he telling her such personal things? What did he mean when he said he “could offer her abundance,” for heaven’s sake? His deep voice had a wonderful resonance; it hummed like the strings of a cello. Her eyes were drawn to his firm, masculine lips. Jane had never noticed a man’s mouth in such detail before. It was very distracting. She stifled a powerful urge to trace the fullness of his lower lip with her fingertips. He was speaking, but the words wouldn’t register.
He paused as if waiting for her to respond, but she looked at him blankly. Finn steepled his fingers and tapped them against his chin as if contemplating what to say next. His elegant hands were as lean and long as the rest of him. Jane wondered what they would feel like caressing her body. Suddenly she felt like she was standing too close to a fire.
Good heavens, what is wrong with me?
She forced herself to focus.
“Miss Gray,” he said, “I don’t pretend to know the entirety of your circumstances, but it is evident to me that you work very hard but have little to show for it in terms of material comfort. You are an excellent mother and I assume you would welcome the opportunity to spend more time with Pip. We would not have to live at Carlisle House, if you wanted to be mistress of your own home. I would be amenable to purchasing something nearby, perhaps in Mayfair. Consider this — Pip would have a mother
and
a father. Children can be cruel, but with a more traditional family, she would be protected from the worst of it.”
The silence between them grew, magnifying the sounds of the city that seeped into the coach. What had he said? She played back the last few sentences and the word “mistress” sounded louder than the others. Surely he hadn’t suggested
that
.
“Well? What do you think?” he asked after an uncomfortable interval. His wavy black hair was brushed clean back from his temples and he studied her with an air of determination.
“What do I think of what? I do not understand what you are trying to say, my lord. Do you want me to quit my job? Move to Mayfair? Become Pip’s nanny?” Jane was perplexed.
Finn expelled all the air from his lungs.
“Marry me, Miss Gray. I am proposing that you
marry
me.”
Marry him? She must have missed something in the train of conversation while she was busy admiring his lips. He was joking. Yes, that must be it!
“That’s ridiculous!” she blurted.
Not the reaction he expected. Or hoped for. He retrenched.
“To be clear, what I propose is a marriage of convenience. It’s done all the time. Most
ton
marriages are little more than business arrangements to consolidate wealth, to merge estates, to forge family alliances, even for social advancement. We would have a better reason than all of those combined… for the love and welfare of a child.”
“And the preservation of your family’s reputation,” Jane pointed out dryly.
“There is that.” Finn looked sheepish.
“Marriage is a rather drastic solution and one I’m sure your mother and brother would object to in the extreme. I assume you have yet to discuss this with them?”
“I thought it best to speak with you first,” he admitted. “I can assure you with a fair degree of confidence that my mother will be ecstatic after she has had time to think on it. She’s done her best to herd me toward the altar for years. Mother likes you a great deal, Miss Gray. I have no doubt she’ll warm to the idea once I’ve explained my reasoning. Her father was a commoner, after all. A very, very rich businessman, but of common origins nonetheless.”
“Your mother has been very gracious to me, but I am a baker, Lord Wallace. A
baker
. It is one thing to like me, entirely another to welcome me as her daughter-in-law.”
“She will accept you if I wish it,” Finn said confidently.
“I’m sorry, my lord, but I don’t see how this solves our problem. There will still be speculation. Even if the
Times
postpones the story, the gossip is all over the street… that dreadful reporter saw to it. Other papers will take up the mantle.”
“Not after we wed tomorrow and send out…”
“Tomorrow! You can’t be serious!”
“But I am, entirely serious. With Cameron’s help we could obtain a special license tonight, be married tomorrow, and deliver an announcement to the
Times
in time for the evening edition. In it we will declare that Pip is your ward. Once we are wed, I will see to the legal formalities. She will lawfully belong to the mother who raised her and have permanent legal ties to the rest of her family. There will be no reason for anyone to question her parentage at that point.”
Jane mulled it over. It was a rather large understatement to say that the idea of becoming his wife was not without appeal. She set aside her unruly attraction to Lord Wallace for the moment and considered more important aspects of his proposition. Spending her days with Pip. Experiencing a life of leisure and, as he so succinctly put it, “abundance.” They had gotten off to a bad start, true, but he had redeemed himself.
And she could come out of hiding. How she longed to live without fear of discovery! Lord Wallace made her feel safe, protected. She was weary of having to be strong all the time. Alone all the time.
“Lord Wallace, I simply do not know what to say.”
“Then say yes,” he took her hand, absently rubbing his thumb over the back of her knuckles as he searched her face. “I am aware this seems sudden and rash, but it addresses a concern that had plagued me ever since I became aware of Pip’s existence.”
“Such as?” Jane asked.
“At five she is not aware of what it means to be illegitimate. If we wed while she is young, she’ll think of us as her natural parents. It will be easier for Society to accept her as well.”
Jane looked out the window as she weighed her options.
“What if we dislike each other upon closer acquaintance?”
“I’m confident that will not happen,” he said firmly. “You have my admiration and respect, Miss Gray. I see no reason we would not suit as well as any other couple. Although our knowledge of one another is limited, I have come to hold you in high esteem. Surely that is a good foundation for marriage.”
Flattered by his words, Jane smiled shyly. “You referred to it as a marriage of convenience, but what does that mean exactly?”
“You and Pip would have the protection of my name, a home, servants, material comforts…” he said.
“And you? I see quite plainly how this would benefit me, but how will your interests be served? Surely avoiding a scandal is not so important,” she arched a brow. “How do you know you will not meet the woman of your dreams and regret that you tied yourself to me.”
How to tell her
she
was the woman of his dreams? At least the rather naughty dreams he’d been having lately. Better to avoid that topic altogether. If he told the woman what he wanted to do to her, she’d leap from the carriage.
“That has never happened, nor do I expect it to. As I said, I had planned to remain a bachelor the rest of my days. The idea of being Pip’s father appeals to me and, frankly, I would also find it gratifying to provide you with a better life.”
Jane was surprised. “Me? Why?”
“You and Pip arouse my protective instincts. I want to take care of you. Both of you.” Jane didn’t need to know she aroused other instincts as well.
Oblivious to the nuances, his words settled around Jane’s heart like a warm blanket. He wanted to protect her, but what form would their marriage take? They would share a house, but would they also share a bed? She took a deep breath for courage and decided to be as direct as he.
“I would like to have children. Not now, perhaps, but at some point in the future… a brother or sister for Pip. How would you feel about that?” Her face turned scarlet to discuss such a personal thing. She might as well have asked if he was willing to impregnate her. “I don’t mean right away, mind. We don’t know each other well enough to… well, you know. I am speaking theoretically. Hypothetically.
In the future.
And only if we suit, of course,” she stammered awkwardly.
Tomorrow is the future, Finn thought.
“I’m glad you raised the subject. Yes, I would like to have children. It isn’t something I ever wanted until I met Pip. She has changed the way I feel about becoming a father. I love her quite hopelessly.”
“Pip is irresistible,” Jane agreed.
“While we are on the subject of children, we should probably discuss a closely related matter. Please rest assured that I have no intention of placing any unwanted physical demands upon you. We haven’t had the luxury of a courtship. These things take time,” he said to ease any maidenly worries she might have.
Jane flushed again. She was not sure what he meant by
“these things take time,”
but she had been melting into a puddle around him from the moment she first laid eyes on him. She couldn’t imagine any woman being immune to him. He probably had a lover or mistress —several, if the papers were to be believed. She was not brave enough to ask and it was really none of her business. It wasn’t a love match.
Finn leaned back against the squabs and crossed his arms. Through narrowed eyes he asked, “What is your answer, Miss Gray?”
“A tentative yes, contingent on your family’s approval. There are some things I should tell you about myself, but I’ll wait until your mother and the Duke have given their approval.” She didn’t see the advantage of unburdening herself if Rutledge put his foot down.
Finn exhaled as if he had been holding his breath, then rapped his knuckles on the roof of the carriage. Jane heard a whip crack through the air and they picked up speed. Neither spoke. He thought about how he would sell the idea to his mother while Jane tried to make sense of the pendulum of emotions swinging through her. Giddy excitement. Gut-wrenching anxiety. Overwhelming joy. Paralyzing doubt.