Reggie sighed. “You’re right, of course. I don’t know why I’ve been resisting the idea so.”
He raised a suspicious brow. “No tricks, Reggie.”
“No tricks. You will see that he marries me. That is the only thing to be done.”
“Bloody hell!” Anthony shot to his feet in full fury. “He’s not good enough for you!”
“Nevertheless—”
“No! And no again! And don’t think I’m not on to you, Regina Ashton. You think this will solve your other problem, and you won’t have to look for a husband anymore.”
“Now that you mention it…oh, Tony, I really wouldn’t mind having him for a husband, really I wouldn’t. And he reminds me of you.”
“He is too much like me, which is exactly why he’s not for you!”
“But he reminds me of Uncle Edward, too. And there’s also a touch of Uncle Jason in him. Why, he was quite put out when I suggested that what he had done would ruin me and he would have to marry me.”
“You said that?”
“I was in that kind of mood. And he got angry. He acted just as Uncle Jason would have.”
“Why, that—”
“No, no, Tony. He’s perfect, don’t you see? A little like all of you—just what I have been looking for. And besides, it will be a challenge to reform him.”
“He’ll never change, Reggie,” Tony insisted. “He’ll never settle down.”
“Oh, I don’t know.” She grinned. “We might make that statement about you, but we don’t know for sure about him. And he did like me. That’s a start.”
“Don’t let’s put a nice face on it,” Anthony said. “He wanted you. But he’ll want other women, too, and he’ll go after them. He won’t be a faithful husband.”
“I think I know that,” she said quietly.
“And you still want him?”
She didn’t want him dead. That was the alternative. “After all,” she said quietly, “he should make things right. He has involved me in a scandal, so he should be the one to get me out of it. This is a peaceful solution, and I’m sure Uncle Jason will wholeheartedly agree.”
“This is not what I would call Montieth getting his just deserts.” Anthony glowered. “He’ll be getting you into the bargain, while you will go on suffering.”
“He won’t see it that way, Tony. In fact, I’m positive he’ll refuse.”
“Good.” Anthony smiled and went back to cleaning his pistol.
“Oh, no,” Reggie said. “You must promise me you’ll do your best to convince him, Tony.”
“All right,” he agreed.
He was smiling in a way that made her want to hit him. She knew that smile too well.
“I want Uncle Edward to be with you when you speak to him,” she said suspiciously.
“But your Viscount will be here soon, puss,” he reminded her.
“Then come with me to see Uncle Edward now. Leave a message for Lord Montieth to return this evening. And Tony,” she added slowly, untying her scarf, “I think Uncle Edward should see this, to impress on him the importance of getting Montieth’s consent.”
Anthony’s face darkened. “You said he only kissed you!”
She tied the scarf again, her look quite innocent. “Well, thatwascaused by a kiss, Tony.”
