“Indeed.” Lord Paxton took the cup from his bedside table and drank deeply from it. “You need funds to catch the attention of theton. You need influence in the form of connections. I can provide you with both.”
Lord Paxton was one of the wealthiest men of my acquaintance, but even so, men of his caliber did not simply grant funds to non-relations. He had the future of five children to consider, in addition to his wife.
“I’m afraid I cannot understand how, my lord,” I said.
Lord Paxton chuckled. “Let’s dispense with themy lord, please. Do call me Theo when not in company. After all, if everything goes according to plan, you’ll be my new son-in-law.”
“What?” I spluttered. “Your…but, my lord—”
“Theo, remember?”
I could not call the viscount Theo. I simply could not. Nor could I form any other words, shocked as I was at present.
Lord Paxton clasped his hands over his stomach, unconcerned by the way I gaped. “Allow me to put it bluntly. I will see to it you have the funds you require if you convince my Annette to marry you.”
Chapter four
Edward
WereInotalonewith Lord Paxton, I might have been embarrassed by the way my mouth hung open. As it stood, my shock prevented me from feeling much of anything else. Surely, I had not heard him properly.
“F-forgive me, Lord Paxton—”
“Theo.”
I cleared my throat. “Forgive me…Theo, but I cannot have heard you correctly. You wish for me to marry your daughter? She is far above my station.”
The viscount laughed heartily. “Why not? You are a man of means from decent stock. Your father is like a brother to me. I like you considerably, and we share the same political views.”
As if those were the only things important for a suitable marriage. Although, I supposed, many had married with far less.
“I am flattered you find me worthy, but I’m not certain Miss Apsley shares your opinion.”
Lord Paxton swatted the concern away. “Annette is a stubborn one. She is blinded by that stubbornness. You forget, I watched the two of you interact, and when I couldn’t, my wife provided the details of your courtship. You are just the sort of man who can handle a woman like my Annette, and there’s clearly a spark between the two of you.”
A spark? Yes, there was certainly that. One that might burn the entire country down if left unattended. Hatred had that kind of power.
Not that I hated Miss Apsley. In truth, I found her spirit wildly attractive. I enjoyed time in her company and the battle of wits that inevitably ensued. And then there was the woman beneath the surface. She had made only one full appearance in London, the setting a dark alley during a heated argument. An argument that led tomore. The passion infused in that kiss haunted me, and I could no sooner forget the exchange than I could give up my pursuit of abolition.
Did Lord Paxton know of our shared time together? Of our kiss? I imagined not. Annette had likely kept that information to herself. After all, revealing it would risk her father demanding we wed, and there were two things of which I was now quite sure: Annette Apsley had no desire for marriage, and her father very much wanted it.
Enough so that he would bribe me to marry her.
I released a slow breath and leaned forward to rest my arms on my knees. “You will forgive me, my lord, for I fear my head is reeling too much to respond.”
Lord Paxton chuckled. “I assumed my offer might have that effect. While your mind settles, allow me to lay out my stipulations in full. You will spend time with my Annette. Woo her. Fall dramatically in love. And wed. In exchange, I will double the value of her dowry, and that sum will be paid to you following the marriage. You may use the extra portion of the funds for whatever purpose you find deserving. A dip into politics, perhaps?”
One of his red brows rose, an expectant gleam in his eyes. The viscount knew precisely what I would use the funds for. Our political ambitions aligned, nearly point for point. I had believed that having his support of my endeavors was a good place to start on this journey for change, but to have it funded as well? I could not fathom a better deal.
Or, at least, I assumed I could not. I did not know the precise value of Annette’s dowry. Given how wealthy her father was, I had reason to believe it well-padded.
Lord Paxton grinned as if reading my thoughts. “You’re wondering how much of a dowry Annette has, no? Well—and I tell you this in confidence, you understand. We have kept that information secret for good reason—Annette’s dowry is twenty thousand pounds.”
My eyes threatened to bulge out of my skull.Twenty thousand pounds.The work I could do with such a sum, the good I could do, was beyond anything my imagination could presently concoct. That money would change the lives of many.
It wouldsavethe lives of many.
Only a fool would turn away from such an offer, and yet…
