“Let’s go,” she said. “I don’t want to keep Lord Hennington waiting. He doesn’t deserve that.”
“I’ll enjoy having him as a brother,” Edwina said. “I like Lord Hennington.”
“Yes,” Lavinia agreed. “I imagine he’ll make a good brother.” The trouble was that she couldn’t imagine feeling anything beyond brotherly affection for him. If he were to somehow becomeherbrother, she knew she would be perfectly happy about it. That would be a lovely turn of events. But, of course, that wasn’t going to happen.
And I’m never going to fall in love. Not with him. Not while my heart belongs so firmly to someone else.
Not for the first time, she wondered whether the final kiss she had shared with the duke might have been a mistake. She’d meant to get him out of her head, but that clearly hadn’t happened. If anything, he was more on her mind than ever before.
The two ladies made their way down to the sitting room. Lord Hennington had already been served a cup of tea, but he jumped to his feet when he saw Lavinia. After a moment, Lavinia’s father rose as well. Lavinia supposed he felt foolish being the only one sitting down.
“Lady Lavinia,” Lord Hennington said warmly. “It’s so wonderful to see you again.”
“It’s very nice to see you too, Lord Hennington.” It would have been true under different circumstances. If only they were just going to spend a bit of time together without all this worry aboutproposals and engagements and weddings—if only they really could have just been friends. That would have made her happy.
“I trust you’re well?” he asked.
“Very well.” That wasn’t true at all, and lying to him made her feel unpleasant and nauseous. She didn’t want to do it, and yet it was going to have to continue if today’s events were to happen as planned.
For that matter, she might have to spend the rest of her life lying to him. Suddenly, that felt like a daunting prospect. How could she spend a lifetime deceiving this kind gentleman?
Matthew sat across from her—he hadn’t stood up when she had come into the room. He watched her, his eyes slightly narrowed. She wondered what he saw, and what he was thinking. Was he remembering that kiss? Was he thinking about it now? What did he think of her, watching her about to accept a proposal from a gentleman other than the one he had seen her kissing?
What could she possibly think of herself?
They all sat back down. Lord Hennington was smiling. “I’ve discussed all the details with your father, and he’s agreed to everything,” he told Lavinia. “I told him that I didn’t want to finalize our agreement until you and I had spoken, though—as we said at Harbeck, I want you to agree to this marriage. I know everything has happened very quickly, but I’m quite taken with you, Lady Lavinia, and I would love to make you my wife.”
He watched her expectantly.
“Perhaps we shouldn’t decide this today,” Matthew cut in.
Everyone turned to look at him. “What are you talking about?” Lord Feverton demanded. “Lord Hennington has come all this way. Of course we’re going to make our decision today. Lavinia is ready, aren’t you, Lavinia?”
“I think it would be good if we gave her a little more time to think about what she really wants,” Matthew insisted. “After all, this might be one of the biggest decisions of her life.”
“Matthew,” their father said, “Lord Hennington is asking Lavinia for her opinion as a courtesy. It’s a kindness, and we are grateful. But this decision has already been made. I’m sure you realize that. I’m not going to permit my daughter to turn down a perfectly good proposal, not when I’ve waited this long for her to find herself a match. This is a good arrangement. She’s not going to do any better than this.”
“I’m not saying she should try to find someone better,” Matthew argued. “I’m just saying…we have Lord Hennington’s proposal. Perhaps we could take a day and discuss it as a family before answering. That would be all right, wouldn’t it, Lord Hennington?”
Lord Hennington looked only mildly perturbed at the suggestion. “If you need some time, I have no objection,” he said. “I can return tomorrow for your answer, Lady Lavinia.”
“There’s no need for this,” her father insisted. “The answer is yes. Lavinia, tell him. Tell him now.”
Lavinia drew a breath.
She didn’t want to lie to Lord Hennington.
She could marry him. She knew she could. But she didn’t want that marriage to be built on a lie.
“The answer is yes,” she said to Lord Hennington. “Yes, I’ll marry you. But before I do…there’s something you need to know.”
“What are you doing?” her father hissed.
Lavinia ignored him.
“I’m flattered by your declaration of love for me,” she said. “It means a great deal. And I’m very fond of you, Lord Hennington. I’ve enjoyed all the time we’ve spent together, and I feel sure that if we marry, there will be more good times ahead. But I have to be honest with you, because I would want to know the truth about a person I was going to marry. I would want you to tell me this truth.” She steeled herself. “I can’t return your feelings.”
“Lavinia!” her father barked.
