Of course, she would insert herself where she wasn’t needed. Just like she had gone and pulled that girl from the brothel and how she had decided to expose the dark side of gentleman’s entertainments to all of polite society. Caroline had no boundaries when it came to doing whatever she saw fit. He admired that about her. That is, until she turned her focus on him.
Caroline frowned up at him. “And stop calling me duchess. It makes no sense, and I don’t appreciate your tone,Lord Wrotham.”
“I don’t want to get wrapped up in another one of your schemes,LadyCaroline.” He crossed his arms on his chest. This was a crazy idea. He didn’t need to get further involved with Caroline Langdon. She was far too tempting with her clever wit and piercing blue eyes. He was no fool. He had years of practice listening to his instincts when they warned of danger.
He repeated, “Where is Grace?”
“She is safe. She is staying with William’s sister.” Caroline rose and came to stand in front of him. She tilted her head to one side. “Morgan, last night, I was lying in bed thinking about what a conundrum you are.”
She thought of him while she lay in bed? He couldn’t keep from grinning at the possibilities involved in that scenario. “Really…tell me all about what you were thinking.”
Her cheeks turned a fetching pink. “What I meant is that I remembered you from when Vivian was kidnapped. You were in the room that day with Lord Winters and Jack. I know Jack worked for many years as a spy. Are you also a spy? Do you work for the Foreign Office too? Does your job have something to do with Mrs. Gwyn’s brothel?” Her questions came out rapid-fire.
He carefully schooled his features. “You must know that if I was an agent of the crown, which I am not, I could not answer any of those questions.”
She peered up at him, and a small furrow appeared between her eyebrows. “Well, perhaps I should direct my questions to Lord Winters. I’m sure he would be happy to satisfy my curiosity.” She brushed at the lace on her wrist. Then her gaze met his once more. “What do you think his response would be? I dare say you know him better.”
Cage frowned. Damn this woman. Was she trying to blackmail him? This was undoubtedly a bluff. Caroline stood with her arms crossed, a mirror of his own stance. Calm and poised as ever, she gazed at him coolly.
He would be in serious hot water if Winters learned he had blown his cover. Not to mention that he had accompanied the duke’s sister to an infamous house party, taking any number of risks with her reputation. Winters had tasked him to keep her safe from harm, not lead her into the lion’s den. Caroline wouldn’t go to Winters with her questions,would she?
She uncrossed her arms and held out her hands palms up. “Morgan, think about Grace. She needs time and space to settle. You need time to find a home. I need to buy some time away from my family’s meddling. We all can get what we need if we help each other. Do you even know what your sister wants? Perhaps I can get her to talk to me. Sometimes a woman needs another woman to talk with.”
He hadn’t a clue what Grace needed right now. He would never know what she needed if she refused to speak with him. Grace was the only family he had. In all his years of pretending, of slipping in and out of various characters, Grace was the one person who knew his true self. He would do anything for Grace.
“A temporary engagement?”
She nodded, “Just until my birthday at the end of June.” Caroline gazed up at him with what looked suspiciously liked triumph in her eyes.
He pushed a hand through his hair. “You promise to call it off?” He certainly would not be able to call off an engagement to the sister of a duke. The king would order his head on a pike, and Jack would probably do the honors.
“Yes, I will end it. You needn’t sound so worried.” The furrow between her eyebrows reappeared. “I won’t shackle you to me forever.”
He laughed out loud at her annoyed tone. Any man in Mayfair and beyond would leap at the chance to be shackled to this vibrant woman. She collected men like moths to a flame, twelve to be exact. But she was insulted that he was reluctant to be strong-armed into a faux engagement? That he was reluctant to be a pawn in her game? If he agreed, it would be for a fresh start with Grace. He needed to make it clear what the parameters of their agreement would be.
“I didn’t mean it that way. I’m sure you would make any other man a fine wife. I decided a long time ago that marriage is not for me…” Her expression darkened as he bungled his explanation. At this moment, silence was golden.
“Well, rest easy, I decided a long time ago that I would not belong to any man. So, we are in complete agreement about marriage.” Caroline reached for the corner of her shawl and tugged the silky fabric up onto her shoulder. She looked beautiful with her cheeks flushed in annoyance and her plum-colored lips pursed. However, he preferred her lips when they curled up in a smile or, better yet, when they were soft and warm under his own.
She glanced over her shoulder at the door. “My mother will be joining us for tea at any moment.” She stepped forward, shrinking the distance between them. “Can you pretend to be a charming suitor?”
“I can pretend to be anything you want.” He reached out to run his thumb across her full bottom lip. Her sharp gasp was followed by a slow exhale of warm breath that raced over his skin.
It wouldn’t be necessary to feign interest in her. Caroline had captured his full attention from the moment he’d met her. Agreeing to this fake engagement was going to be a mistake, complicating his already complicated life. He knew it. But he would do whatever it took to have his sister back, even if it meantwalking a very dangerous line between reality and fantasy with the woman in front of him.
“We have a deal, duchess.” He placed a kiss on her lips, sealing their agreement. He meant for it to be quick and causal. But her lips enticed him to take more time.
He nipped at that full lower lip, savoring the sweetness it held. Caroline sighed and melted against him. Unable to resist her surrender, he dipped his tongue into her mouth, tangling with hers. God, the fire that she possessed could burn him alive. He pulled her against him, her tall, lithe form the perfect fit. Her hands clutched the lapels of his coat. He grasped the back of her head, changing the angle of the kiss, exploring, and tasting. Lost in her embrace, he could hardly remember the purpose of their agreement. A faux engagement? There was nothing false about the fire between them.
“Caroline!” a voice rang out.
Cage tore himself from her lips. The door was open, and the Dowager Duchess of Gilchrest stood mouth hanging open in the threshold. Behind her stood the Duke and his wife, their expressions equally shocked. He glanced down at Caroline, still standing in the circle of his arms, her eyes wide, her bottom lip caught in her teeth. Had she meant for them to be caught in an embrace? There was no backing out of their agreement now.
Cage stepped back, and grabbing hold of one of Caroline’s hands, turned her to face her family. “Good morning, Your Graces. I’ve just convinced Lady Caroline to accept my offer of marriage.”
Chapter 24
Caroline giggled. She couldn’t hold it in. Her family stood frozen in shock in the doorway. What would they think? What had she just gotten herself into? How would she handle this man who scrambled her wits with every flirtation and every kiss? Lord help her. She took a long gulp of air to calm her racing thoughts and squeezed Morgan’s hand. No, this was a good plan. Six weeks of pretending to be besotted, and then she would have her freedom and the money to support a life of her choosing.
