He blinked. “Cam wants to marry? This is news to me.”
He wasn’t sure he liked the notion.
“It would seem that a number of rakish dukes are eager to make matches suddenly,” she added. “It’s almost as if marriage is catching.”
“Like a lung infection,” he grumbled.
None of the members of the Wicked Dukes Society had married. They had all vowed to avoid carrying on their rotten family lines.
She chuckled. “Don’t sound so enthused.”
“I’m glad my misery is cause for such amusement.”
“Why should you be miserable? No one is forcing your hand and making you marry.”
He felt heat creep up his throat, his ears going hot. He tugged at his necktie again, glaring out the window at the lashing rains.
“Oh,” she said, so much in that lone word. “I begin to think I understand.”
“Leave it,” he snapped, not wanting to be poked and prodded for her diversion any longer.
“Are you funds to let?” she asked softly.
“No, madam.”
“Your grandmother, Mrs. Carrington-Smythe, then,” she guessed correctly. “Is she pressing you to marry?”
He plucked off his hat and raked his fingers through his hair, feeling unaccountably weary. “That’s something of the way of it.”
“I must admit, I admire her daring.”
“How lovely for her,” he drawled, and not without a hint of bitterness.
“Have you settled upon a lady yet?” she asked, tilting her head curiously.
He resisted the urge to point out that he had already done so and she had soundly turned him down. “Not yet.”
“I could help you.”
If he’d just taken a sip of something, he would have spat it everywhere, so great was his shock at her offer.
“You?”
He didn’t bother to hide his incredulity.
“Me.” She smiled brightly. “I have a tremendously large circle of friends and acquaintances, you know. Why, I’ve just playedmatchmaker for Hyacinth and Sidmouth, haven’t I? Only think of how well I would do for you.”
“That is rather a different beast. Sidmouth and his new wife are hideously in love.”
“They are, aren’t they?” Her smile turned wistful. “I am glad for her. Hyacinth deserves nothing but happiness. But you aren’t looking to fall in love with your prospective bride, are you?”
“Christ no.” He shuddered. “I don’t even want a bride. Her role will be to appease my grandmother.”
“As I thought.” She tapped her chin, her quick mind clearly at work. “What of Pandy? Will your future bride be expected to take a role in her life, or are you intending to send her away to avoid scandal?”
The very notion of sending his daughter away had something seizing within his chest.
“She will remain with me. The woman I marry will need to accept her presence in the household.”
