“Well, it seems she does not wish for me to compete unless I can prove that I have intentions of being a family man. After all, if I die without an heir, the duchy and her fortune will likely go to the crown.” Dominic just managed to keep the frustration from his voice.
Lady Charlotte clearly picked up on it and asked suspiciously, “So what exactly are you proposing?”
“Pretend to be my fiancée. Only for the games, and we shall be engaged in name alone. Once we have won the Dabbles, we can dissolve the engagement and never have to speak to one another again,” Dominic explained, moving his lips as little as possible, barely speaking above a whisper.
“And why would I do this?”
“Because I will share the winnings with you.”
“What, a few hundred pounds?” Lady Charlotte scoffed.
“Seventy thousand pounds.” He said the sum and knew he had her. It was more money than most people could even dream of. It would be enough for anything she wanted for herself and her family.
Lady Charlotte gaped at him. “Seventy thousand pounds.”
“Yes. That money would be yours. Think what you could do with such a sum. Think what it could do for your family. For your sisters.” Dominic watched as Lady Charlotte glanced towards her sister and then back at him.
“And all I would have to do is pretend to be your fiancée? How long will I have to keep this pretence?”
“Only as long as it takes to win. I do not imagine it will be overly long.” Dominic shrugged.
There was a pause as Charlotte appeared to mull things over. Dominic forced himself not to press her for an answer.These things cannot be rushed. You have laid out the snare; now, you must wait.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Lady Charlotte’s green eyes found his. They searched his face as though looking for some kind of joke or trick.
“I assure you, I am telling you the truth. Pretend you are my fiancée, speak to any of my family, and they will confirm to you what I have just said about the Dowager Dabbles.” He willed her to see the truth of his words.
“The Dabbles are in a fortnight, and we will be staying at her estate. Knowing my grandmother, they will not last overly long. And would it not be worth it for your chance at such a fortune?” Dominic murmured.
“I am thinking of my sisters. If this scheme is to be of benefit to them, we cannot officially end our engagement until they are both married.” Lady Charlotte looked at him seriously. “Though I suppose we can be engaged with minimal interaction between us.”
There was another pause and then, Lady Charlotte said, “Bring me a contract to sign, and we will win these games together.”
And just like that, Dominic had found himself a fiancée.
Chapter Four
DINNER WITH A RAKE
“Icannot believe you are engaged, and you did not think to tell us!” Philippa exclaimed as she looked at Charlotte from across the room.
“I… It slipped my mind.” Charlotte tugged at an imagined bit of fluff on her dress and avoided her sister’s accusatory stare.
This was made somewhat easier by the fact that both Philippa and Evelyn were having their hair done in preparation for that evening’s dinner with the Duke.My fiancé.
She still could not believe she had agreed to the ridiculous affair.The amount of money is unthinkable; surely doing the unthinkable is justified?Think of your sisters.Charlotte glanced at her sisters and regretted it instantly.
Philippa was staring at her, mouth agape, as was Evelyn. Charlotte tried not to smile; she knew the twins hated being told they were identical.
“It slipped your mind? How on Earth can that sort of thing slip your mind?” Philippa demanded, exchanging a bewildered look with her twin.
Philippa absentmindedly stroked the top of her arm. Charlotte clenched her fist.Do not be ridiculous, there isn’t even a mark.
That was what their stepmother had said when Philippa had yelped in pain at her grip. Charlotte forced the image from her mind.I must protect them — the sooner I can have them gone from this house, and away from that woman, the better. I’m doing this for them.
“Tell us more about your engagement,” Philippa insisted.
“There’s not much to tell. It just…happened.” Charlotte shrugged.
