“No, I will not.”
“Then I will.”
“You will not either. You’ll sit right there. Keep on worryin’, if you like. Soon enough you’ll be told he said yes.”
“But that’s the trouble.” Reggie pounded her knees for emphasis. “He’s going to say no.”
Meg shook her head. “You won’t convince me that you want him, my girl, so you can stop tryin’.”
“But it’s true, Meg.”
“I know you too well, Reggie. You’re just puttin’ a good face on it, pretendin’ for your uncles’ sake, because this seems to be the only solution.”
“Stuff.” Reggie giggled, her humor breaking through. “You just won’t admit that I’m wicked and shameful in wanting a man I only just met.”
Meg looked up at her. “Now I see what you’re about. You’re for this because it will get you a husband quick and you won’t have to be lookin’ for one anymore. Admit it, my girl.”
Reggie grinned. “That’s an added bonus, yes.”
“A bonus!” Meg snorted. “That’s the only reason you want him. It must be.”
“You won’t say that after you get a look at him, Meg. I think I’m in love.”
“If I believed that, I would go down there and kiss his feet. But you’ve got more sense than to think you’re in love after one meeting.”
“I suppose so,” Reggie sighed, but her eyes twinkled. “It won’t take long, though, Meg, really it won’t. You wait and see.”
“I hope I don’t see it. I hope I don’t see you married to him. It will be the sorriest day for you and if it happens, mark my words.”
“Stuff,” Reggie retorted.
“Just remember, I warned you.”
“I won’t marry her.”
“Good.” Anthony’s smile was full of wicked pleasure. “I was against the idea from the start.”
“Be still, Anthony,” Edward warned him. “Nothing has been settled.”
“I repeat, I won’t marry her,” Nicholas said evenly, managing just barely to keep calm.
“You will be good enough to tell me why?” Edward’s voice was also a study in tranquillity.
Nicholas said the first thing that came to mind. “She deserves better.”
“Agreed,” Anthony put in smoothly. “Under normal circumstances, you would never be considered.”
Edward shot him a silencing look, then addressed Nicholas again. “If you are referring to your reputation, it precedes you. I am the first to admit it is unsavory. Yet such things must be overlooked now.”
“I would make the girl miserable,” Nicholas said quickly, with a bit more spirit.
“That is pure conjecture. You don’t know Regina well enough to know what would make her happy or unhappy.”
“You’re just hedging, scamp,” Rebecca said. “You have no good reason not to marry the girl, and you know it. And it’s high time you were married, high time indeed.”
“So I can produce your heir?” he replied.
“Now see here, Nicholas,” Edward broke in. “Do you deny that you have embroiled my niece in a scandal?”
