“First: you will leave my sister completely alone. No contact whatsoever. No threats, no manipulation, no attempts to use them against me. She is to be entirely off-limits to you.”
“Agreed,” Julian said easily. “I have no further use for Victoria.”
“Second,” Joan continued, “you will find a way to clean up the rumors about Victoria. I want it made publicly clear that it was I who was your lover all along, that you and I had been conducting a secret affair for months before your betrothal to Victoria was announced.”
Julian’s eyebrows rose. “You want me to make you look like the villain?”
“I want my sister’s reputation restored,” Joan said firmly. “The story should be that Victoria discovered our affair and fled out of heartbreak and betrayal. That she was the wronged party, not the coward who ran from marriage. Society will forgive her for being deceived. They might even sympathize with her.”
“And you don’t care that this makes you look like a scheming seductress?”
“I don’t care what society thinks of me,” Joan said. And she meant it. “I’m marrying you regardless. My reputation is already compromised. But Victoria deserves better. She deserves the chance to make a proper match someday, when enough time has passed.”
Julian considered this, his head tilted thoughtfully. “I suppose that narrative does have merit. It makes me look less like a villain and more like a man who fell prey to forbidden passion. Rather romantic, actually. Yes, I can work with that.”
“Third,” Joan said, “you will use your family’s influence and financial resources to help advance my brother’s position at Court. I want him appointed to a more senior role within the year.”
“Ah, now we come to the truly mercenary demands.” Julian’s smile widened. “What role did you have in mind?”
“That’s for you to determine. Something appropriate to his talents and education. Something with real authority and asubstantial income. You have connections in Parliament and access to those who make such appointments. Use them.”
Julian tapped his finger against his lips thoughtfully. “Your brother is competent, I’ll grant you that. And having a Sinclair in my debt would be useful. Very well. I’ll see what can be arranged.”
“In return for all of this,” Joan concluded, “I will marry you without further protest. I will work tirelessly on charitable causes and social functions to rehabilitate your image. I will play the role of the perfect countess, gracious, devoted, impeccably behaved. I will use my family’s connections to integrate you fully into aristocratic society. And I will never embarrass you publicly or give you cause to regret this alliance.”
She paused, letting the weight of her offer sink in.
“That is my proposal. Do you accept?”
Julian was quiet for a moment, studying her with an expression she couldn’t quite read. Then he leaned back against his desk again, his arms crossed.
“And what if I don’t agree?” he asked softly, dangerously. “What if I marry you tomorrow and simply lock you away in one of my country estates? I’d still have the Sinclair name and connections without having to fulfill any of your demands. I could keep you isolated and powerless, and there wouldn’t be a damn thing you could do about it.”
Joan smiled, a cold, razor-sharp expression that held no warmth whatsoever.
“Then you’re a fool,” she said flatly. “And you fundamentally misunderstand who I am.”
She took a step closer, her voice dropping but losing none of its steel.
“I, Joan Sinclair, could never be caged. You could lock me in the most remote estate in England, and within a week I would have escaped or found a way to communicate with the outside world. I’ve been surviving impossible situations since I was twelve years old. I’ve kept my family afloat through poverty, and grief. Do you honestly think I couldn’t outwit whatever guards you posted?”
Julian’s smirk had faded entirely now.
She leaned forward slightly, her eyes boring into his.
“You could kiss your reputation goodbye if you imprisoned a new wife. The scandal would be catastrophic. Far worse than a pregnant mistress. You would be branded a monster, a tyrant, an abuser of innocent women.”
Julian stared at her, and for the first time, Joan saw something like respect in his eyes. Perhaps even a hint of fear.
Then he laughed, but it sounded forced, uncertain.
“Beauty, there’s no need to be so serious!” He held up his hands in mock surrender, his usual swagger returning but not quite reaching his eyes. “You make excellent points. Very excellent points. I promise, I will do my part. We’ll have a mutually beneficial arrangement, just as you’ve outlined.”
His promises mean nothing, Joan thought coldly. A man like Julian has no honor, no integrity. But at least he knows I’m not helpless. At least he understands I can and will fight back.
“Then we have an understanding,” Joan said. She turned toward the door, her business concluded.
“Joan, wait.”
