“Are … are you serious?” he managed to croak out.
“I said I should like something in return,” she repeated sternly, though he sensed she was pleased with herself for surprising him. “And you’re not going to like it.”
“Name it,” he said quickly, hurrying to her side. “Any price, I promise.” She knew he was more than prepared to begenerous—but offers of money had never swayed her before. What had changed?
She smiled the same way that his aunt had when she demanded he and his cousins stop playing and take a bath when they were children.
“Well, this would be an exorbitant price, but not measured in gold. Her name is Hope. Hope Sharpe, and I’d like it very much if you marry her.”
Graham gaped at Lady Belle for a moment before letting out a bark of laughter. But when she didn’t move to join him in laughter at her joke, he frowned.
“Excuse me? Are you serious?”
“Oh, I’m quite serious.”
“Who is she?” Graham demanded. And then, “I mean, I can’t marry a lass I don’t know.”
“Well,Iknow her, and I’m an excellent judge of character,” Lady Belle stated, waving her emerald clad hand as she refocused her attention on her tea, causing the carved jade bracelets to clang together. The varying gemstones rather clashed with each other, but Lady Belle was an eclectic woman, having become more so in her old age. It mattered little to her whether her jewelry matched or not. She wore her favorite pieces often and in defiance of complimenting style.
She took a sip before acknowledging Graham’s frozen stance. “Yes? Is there something wrong?”
“Aye, there is,” he said slowly, his temper rising. “I just told you that I can’t marry a woman I’ve never met before.”
“Oh, I see,” she said, setting down her cup. Taking up a linen napkin, she gently wiped the corners of her crinkled mouth. “Because you are in love with someone else?”
“No, I—”
“Well then, I see no obstacle in your way that would keep you from marrying my Hope.”
“Look harder,” he growled. “I’ll not have my conjugal life managed by some ancient Englishwoman.”
“It doesn’t matter what you will or will not do,” she said pointedly. “Because you do not understand what I’m saying.”
“And what are you saying?”
“You have to marry Hope to get Lismore Hall.”
“And why is that?”
“Because I’m leaving it to her,” Lady Belle said.
For the first time in a long time, Graham’s cheeks heated uncomfortably. He usually had better self-control, but he felt genuinely hurt at being deceived. He had assumed that after years of friendly banter and conversation, Lady Belle would eventually concede and leave Lismore Hall to him in her will. She had alluded to that once or twice, and now she was telling him it wouldn’t happen. This Hope woman was going to inherit what should have been his.
“Mealladh nathair!” he bit out, both glad and disappointed she didn’t speak Scottish.
“I know nathair means snake, so I can only imagine what mealladh means, but I won’t hold it against you,” she said, twirling one of her large emerald rings around her finger. “I know this has come as a bit of a shock.”
“A shock?”
“She is a lovely girl, and I know you will suit very well together.”
“I’ll not be match-made, so you can forget it.”
“No, you’ll be foolhardy instead. Very well,” she said, focusing her attention back to the dish before her, though she didn’t seem too interested in eating the tiny sandwich. “If you’re so incensed about it, we won’t discuss it further.”
“Then I don’t have to marry her?” Graham asked, his mood as foul as the weather.
“Of course not. No one is holding you hostage.”
