Christopher was not paying his friends any attention.
A shame that, as these daytime rides were a weekly tradition between himself and his friends, and it was one of the few occasions in his life where Christopher could be almost himself. He still had to present a certain air of strictness, and he couldn’t be free completely, but it was close enough.
Besides, Christopher was so used to living a double life by now that he hardly even noticed it.
Unfortunately, on today of all days, Christopher was having a hard time concentrating and keeping up the facade. And where his friends thought they knew the reason, they couldn’t have been more wrong.
“Never mind him,” Theodore drawled. “The man is lovestruck.”
Alistair scoffed. “Christopher, if you don’t mind joining us?”
Christopher vaguely heard his name mentioned, which was enough to force him back into the moment where he found his two friends looking at him. And neither looked impressed.
“Sorry, gentlemen.” He gave his head a shake. “My mind is elsewhere.”
“Is that right?” Theodore snorted. “We could not have guessed.”
“Business,” Christopher confirmed. “Nothing to concern yourselves with.”
“Business?” Alistair looked down his short nose. “Is that what they are calling it these days?”
“He is right, Christopher,” Theodore laughed. “If that is your attempt at a lie, you really need to try harder. And to be honest,I am a little hurt.” Theodore pretended to look upset. “We’re supposed to be your friends, and you think to lie to us?”
“Bad form,” Alistair agreed.
Christopher curled his lips at Theodore and Alistair.
Theodore burst into laughter. “Although if you do tell us what is on your mind, we are likely to mock you mercilessly. It’s a lose-lose, isn’t it?”
“When is the date?” Alistair said. “Two weeks, yes? Cheers up, old boy, it’s about time you wed. We’ve both been saying it, haven’t we, Theodore?”
“Something to that effect,” Theodore said. “And might I add, I did have the honor of seeing Miss. Marianne Drayton, with my own two eyes, earlier this Season, and there are worse women to be married to. Far too pretty for the likes of you, Christopher.”
“I wonder if she knows what she is in for,” Alistair added. “Is she aware of how much of a prick you can be when the mood strikes? Perhaps we should warn her?”
Theodore laughed at the jest, and even Alistair allowed himself a satisfied smile. All Christopher could do was squirm in his saddle because things were nowhere near as simple as his two friends seemed to think.
This marriage was turning out to be even more of a problem than Christopher had originally foreseen.
Christopher had been furious when the contract was first brought to him. So enraged that he had very nearly said some things and done some things that might have ruined his reputation completely. And as far as Christropher was concerned, his reputation was all that mattered.
It was his late father who had made the arrangements, signing the contract with Lord Strathvale behind Christopher’s back. Christopher knew the reason that his father had done so… just as he knew how necessary it was. But that did not mean he had to be happy about it.
His placid acceptance of the marriage was necessary, and Christopher came to accept that it was for the greater good. If not to help mask his secret fromthe Ton, then to further improve his perception in society and the business circles that he both roamed and dominated.
When he first met Miss Marianne, Christopher had breathed a sigh of relief. She was indeed pretty, but that did not concern him. She was subservient, meek in temperament, and the type who would not cause a fuss or give Christopher a reason to worry. Not the most ideal situation, but nothing about this was ideal.
And then came her sister…
“There is something I need to tell you both.” Christopher cleared his throat and braced himself. “Before I do, I want you both to promise me,” He looked between his two friends. “That you will not make a big deal of this.”
“Oh-ho!” Theodore’s eyes widened. “How tantalizing.”
“We can’t make that promise,” Alistair said. “I would hate to do such a thing and then break it. Don’t put me in that position, Christopher.
“I mean it.” He allowed a growl to touch his voice, which both his friends took note of. “What I am about to tell you both, the only matter you need to concern yourself with is that I did it for the right reasons. There is nothing to dig into. Nothing to ponder further on. As in all things, it was a business decision, and that is the end of it.”
“Just tell us already,” Theodore sighed. “Before we grow bored.”
