‘But where is the sport in that? And besides, I already have forced you. We have been alone in my carriage, so you are compromised.’
‘I am not. There has been no seduction of any kind.’
He smirked. ‘Oh, I see. You find me wanting, Grace. That can be remedied easily enough. Should I seduce you, then? I have no objection to performing the deed if you do not. And like it or not, you are as good as ruined.’
‘But you kidnapped me, you villain.’
He shrugged. ‘What difference does it make? Is it not often the fashion of you young ladies to lure a man into a compromising position and arrange discovery so that you may force the poor fellow to wed, thus preserving your honour?’
‘Some may do that, but I do not, and I will not succumb to this…this….’
‘Marriage that will save you from poverty,’ he interrupted. ‘I admit that I am not the best prospect in terms of character, but I am all you have unless you wish to become Caville Sharp’s mistress. Now he is a nasty fellow.’
‘He cannot be nastier than you.’
Rawden ignored her. ‘Wed to me, you will rarely be troubled. We will live separate lives. Or you could settle for poverty, a soot-crusted blacksmith, or maybe a red-faced baker as a husband. Think about it tonight. I will call tomorrow and offer my hand formally. I suppose it is the done thing, but now I have disgraced you with my very presence, I could just dispense with that. It is done. Squirm all you like on the hook, but I will make you my wife, Grace, and thus do my duty by my brother.’
‘Duty. Is that all I am to you?’
He frowned, and there was a flash of sadness in his eyes, a fleeting vulnerability. ‘What else could you possibly be? I mean no offence, Grace, truly, but we are both in a bind and have the solution before us. I swear, if you marry me, you will be safe.’
‘And you will uphold your vow not to touch me.’
‘Not unless you ask me to. I owe William that, at least. So is your answer yes?’
‘Do I have a choice?’
He gave her a broad smile, waiting for her to confirm his triumph. What else was she to do?
‘Yes. I will marry you, Earl Voss.’
‘As my betrothed, you may call me Rawden.’ He turned away and banged the carriage roof, and it lurched onwards.
‘Tell me. Why did your father not provide for you, Grace?’
He may as well know the worst of it. ‘He lost his fortune when he married my mother. His father did not approve of the match, nor did my uncle, so he was cut from the family. We lived in genteel poverty until his death.’
‘Why did your uncle not approve of your father’s bride?’
‘Her lowly birth. She was the daughter of a country clergyman. So if you marry me, you will get only half a lady.’ Grace smiled bitterly, hoping that would hurt him, but Rawden just shrugged.
‘I can’t think of anything worse than being married to a lady,’ he scoffed.
After that, Rawden said nothing more, and Grace hoped she might have changed his mind. But when they got to Uncle Charles’ house, he took her hand as she alighted from the carriage and looked at her solemnly.
‘Damned if I will wait until tomorrow. It is time to face your Uncle Charles and tell him of our impending nuptials.’
Chapter Twenty
Charles Howden paced the drawing room, breathless and red-faced, for Rawden had not put his proposal to Grace in gentlemanly terms.
‘How dare you come in here and make such a demand on me? I have guardianship of my niece, and you shall not have her.’
‘I only require your consent, Howden, but I will wed without it. I have been alone in a carriage for hours with your niece, where all manner of wickedness occurred between us.’
‘It did not,’ cried Grace.
Rawden turned to her and winked. He was rather enjoying torturing Charles Howden. From what he had heard of the man, the oaf thoroughly deserved it. And Rawden was unexpectedly happy about the prospect of having Grace Howden as his wife, and he was eager to get on with it.
