“Grandmama, what a pleasant surprise.” Thomas clasped his hands behind his back. “I had not expected to see you today.”
“You and I both know that is not true.” His grandmother settled herself in one of his plush armchairs and gestured toward his decanter of brandy with her walking stick. “Or were you hoping that I had not yet seen this morning’s copy of the Times? Or the Herald? Or any one of the six scandal sheets that reported on my grandson’s engagement.”
Thomas bit back a sigh. He had hoped to have at least a few hours before the woman heard the news, but clearly that was not to be.
“I know better than to hope anything will have escaped your keen eyes.” Thomas poured out two measures of brandy andoffered a glass to his grandmother. “Though I had not realized quite how heavily my engagement had been reported.”
“Yes. You really should be more careful about who you let overhear things, Thomas.” His grandmother sipped her brandy, her eyes full of mischief. “You know what sort of gossips and busybodies flock around our family.”
“Indeed. Though it is unlikely you will let anything slip through your net.” Thomas sat in the armchair across from her and studied the woman’s face as a sneaking suspicion formed in his mind. “You usually have a firm grip on such things.”
“I am not the one who let anything slip, dear boy. If you wished for things to remain private, then perhaps do not propose to someone who is the talk of theton.” His grandmother peered at him over the top of her glasses. “You have certainly made an interesting choice. Though how interesting remains to be seen. I will get the measure of this girl when you bring her around for dinner.”
So that is why she is here.
He waved a hand. “That will not be necessary. I am not marrying for love. This is a practical arrangement and nothing more. We will go our separate ways after the honeymoon.”
His grandmother’s eyes widened, and she clutched a hand dramatically to her chest. “You know how I feel about such things, Thomas. One should never marry for anything less thanlove. And I know a thing or two about such things. After all, I have been married thrice now.”
“And yet I suspect you are not at all surprised at my announcement.” Thomas sipped his own brandy.
“Hardly. But that does not mean I must accept it.” She tapped her walking stick on the ground and sniffed disparagingly.
“Then why allow news of my engagement to spread to the press?” Thomas arched an eyebrow at her. “You must have known this was no love match.”
“I hoped I was wrong. Besides, I like a little drama every now and then.” She made a motion with her hand as though she were a conductor in front of an orchestra. “But with that being said, I am still your grandmother, and you know my feelings on marriages of convenience. I do not wish to see you miserable.”
“Which is why I have no intention of being miserable. Lady Vivian will give me the credibility of marriage, which will mean my business dealings will improve and my finances will grow, all of which will make me deliriously happy.” He leaned back in the armchair and folded his arms across his chest.
Unsurprisingly, his grandmother rolled her eyes, her every word dripping with sarcasm. “Ah, yes, everyone knows that it is money that makes one’s heart sing and the poets weep for want of understanding it.”
“Well, you certainly have plenty of it,” Thomas pointed out.
It was well known that his grandmother was one of the wealthiest women in England, let alone theton.
“And it is the least interesting thing about me.” She made a dismissive gesture with her hands. “Love is what makes life worth living. It is what drives us, what inspires us. You are hardly a pauper, Thomas; you need not marry only to improve your financial situation.”
“I have no wish to marry for any other reason.” He said flatly. “It is either this or I remain a bachelor for the rest of my days.”
His grandmother pouted. “But it is such a common thing to do, and you are anything but common. After all, you are my third favorite grandson.”
“And yet just last week, you insisted I was your first favorite.” Thomas teased; he was used to his grandmother adjusting such things when she felt like it, but he knew that he, Frederick, and Dominic all held a special place in her heart.
“That was before you decided to marry someone to improve your fortune.” His grandmother replied, narrowing her eyes at him. “Marry for another reason, and I might bump you up to second.”
“Blackmail, grandmama? Come now, you have wanted me to marry for years, and now I am giving you that gift.” He massaged his neck. “Can we not simply be happy about that?”
“No.” His grandmother cracked her neck. “I am not the type of woman who settles for crumbs, Thomas. I want my grandchildren to find love, not business partners.
“Love is far too inconvenient.” Thomas shook his head.
“Life is inconvenient, dear boy; that is rather the point. A life of convenience would be utterly dull!” His grandmother shook her head and clicked her tongue.
“And yet it could be argued that you live one of the most convenient lives of anyone in theton,and I doubt any man or woman would dare suggest your life was dull.” He let the corners of his mouth quirk upward.
“Because it is full of love. Besides, I am old. I can do as I wish.” She gestured to him with the head of her cane. “You are in the prime of life. A strapping young man like you—you could have your pick of women—and yet you seem determined to throw away your good looks, your charm. What is the point of it all if you will not use any of it?”
“You of all people should understand how chaotic love can be.” Thomas gave his grandmother a meaningful look, and her lips thinned.
