Catriona stilled. She didn’t dare allow any of the conflicting emotions clouding her chest to touch her face. “Would you truly do such a thing?”
“It would only be natural as their brother-in-law,” he stated. “I understand your hesitation, Catriona. Like you said, we only met yesterday. And while there are many who are content to marry someone they’ve never met before for the mutual benefit of themarriage, I have never been one to take such a risk. But I do not think it is a risk with you. I truly believe that we would both gain much from our union.”
“Then what will you stand to gain?”
“Other than a wife? A female figure in Dorothea’s life. That is all I truly want.”
And how could her heart not soften at the affectionate display of a man who wanted the best for his daughter?
“You hesitate still,” he observed.
There was no point in hiding it. “I’ll admit that your assistance with Ava and Maisie’s Seasons has swayed my mind a bit.”
“By the looks of it,” he said, gesturing to the vases of flowers that littered the drawing room, “they will fare quite well under your guidance, but being connected to me will greatly increase their success.”
She didn’t doubt it for a second. Last night’s ball had showed her just how influential he was in those weak moments when she couldn’t stop herself from looking in his direction. Nearly all the eligible ladies were hoping to secure a match with the Duke of Irvin, and here he was trying to convince her to marry her.
The doubt began to clear. She knew her decision now though it pained her to know that she had been so easily convinced.
That smile appeared, the one that stuttered her heart and shuttered her mind. “Well?”
Catriona hesitated—but only for a second. “Very well. I will marry you.”
CHAPTER 5
The screams of the Wallace sisters could certainly be heard all throughout Mayfair. Though Joseph doubted Catriona, his future wife, had joined in. Based on the tense knit of her brows before she left the drawing room, he doubted she was overly ecstatic about their new arrangement, but her sisters clearly were.
The screams came five minutes into the uncomfortable stare down with the Earl of Heaton. Joseph tried not to shift awkwardly in his chair, not looking away from the older man. He seemed unperturbed by the loud sound though Joseph couldn’t tell if it was because he was apparently hard of hearing or simply used to it.
“They seem quite happy to hear of the news,” Joseph said, breaking the silence at last.
Lord Heaton didn’t even blink though he tightened his crossed arms against his chest. “Don’t mind them.”
The happy screams finally died down, so doing so was a little easier. Though Joseph had been happy for something else to focus on other than the Earl’s scrutiny. He’d attempted to broach the topic of having Catriona’s hand in marriage as soon as she left the room, but the Earl had simply held up a hand and said, “Give me one moment.”
“How many more moments do you need, My Lord?” Joseph finally asked. “At this rate, we will be sitting here all day.”
“Ah, he shows his true colors.” Lord Heaton inclined his head to the side. “I had wondered why a man like yourself could possibly want to marry my niece. Other than the fact that she is a beautiful young lady and any man with half a brain should be jumping at the chance, I had assumed that you would be smart enough to know that Catriona is not like the other ladies in London.”
“I can see that she is not,” Joseph agreed. “And I can even see where she gets it from.”
Lord Heaton’s serious facade cracked at that, and he chuckled. “She doesn’t get it from me, I assure you. She’s strong, frustratingly independent, and she always thinks she is right. It will take a certain kind of gentleman to match her wit.”
“I am that gentleman.”
“You don’t know that. Just like you don’t know her. Which leads me back to my question of why you want to marry her.”
Joseph raised one brow. “I hadn’t realized that you’d overheard our conversation.”
“I didn’t,” the Earl said with ease. “But when you requested to speak with me in private, I simply assumed. And I guess I assumed correctly.”
Joseph nodded. There was no use beating around the bush. The quicker they got this conversation out of the way, the quicker they could move this entire process along. “Yes, I wish to marry Miss Wallace.”
“Why?”
“I need a wife, and I believe she will be a good fit. And I think she will benefit nicely from this arrangement.”
“And has she agreed to this?”
