They hadn’t had a wager to begin with, but Henry went along. “Yes. By the time Mother’s ball has concluded, gentlemen will come to realize that they’d much rather court intelligence than fluff for brains.” He demonstrated by stirring a finger around his head. “I’d rather face a life with a female I actually enjoyed speaking to than just, well…” His face began to heat. “...just for heirs. Once you have those, what is left? But, with an intelligent woman, there will still be interesting and entertaining conversations long after the children are gone.”
Perhaps that was the reason he planned to remain a bachelor his entire life, as he’d yet to meet a woman who wouldn’t bore him to tears within a year. He could have married any of the debutants his mother favored, bedded them when necessary to beget an heir, but there would be nothing else in the marriage. Now that he was responsible for continuing the family line, Henry was determined not to thrust such a miserable fate upon himself until absolutely necessary.
Miss Doyle studied him, a shrewdness he’d not noticed before coming to her green eyes. “What’s in it for me?”
“Admiration of gentlemen and you will be able to marry where you please.”
She snorted. This was a difficult undertaking, to change the thoughts of gentlemen when they’d been raised to want something so, well, empty.
“Very well, if you don’t find a husband, you’ll be known for your intelligence and breeding and by the time you’ve reached your majority, could probably pick in which household you’d like to become a governess.” There, that should do it.
“Or, families won’t want me near their precious daughters for fear I might put unnatural thoughts into their delicate brains,” Miss Doyle retorted.
Ah, there was that. Society was so fickle in what they admired, yet would not accept for themselves, which could be exactly what happened to Eve. “Let’s see how this experiment goes, shall we. In one month, if it’s not working as it should, we’ll abandon it.”
“Ye, only care about winning yer bet, whereas I could be ruined.”
Well, not exactly ruined, but sometimes an intelligent woman was avoided as much as those who’d been caught doing things she shouldn’t prior to marriage.
It also stung that Miss Doyle believed him to be so cold. However, it was better for them both if she considered him heartless. “In that, you are quite correct.”
“Then, if I am ta help ye win this bet, I want somethin’ I can enjoy now.”
Of course she did. Promises of a future she couldn’t yet appreciate held little appeal. Her brother had lost her in a game of chance and her clothing when she arrived was quite distasteful, in complete contrast to the lavender gown she currently wore.
“Why don’t you try for a week, Miss Doyle, and see how it goes?” Pickmore suggested. “Then we’ll take it from there.”
“I don’t need a week. I need a month,” Henry argued.
Her green eyes lit with calculation. “I’ll try it for two weeks, but I want somethin’ in return.”
“You have a roof over your head, a bed to sleep in, new clothing to wear and food to eat. What else could you possibly need?”
“Those are thin’s yer givin’ ta me. I did not ask for any of it,” Miss Doyle pointed out.
“Then perhaps I should send you to a corner in the kitchen and you can clean for your food,” Henry threatened.
“I’ve been in worst situations.” Miss Doyle stood. “I’ll inform Mrs. Peade of my reduced circumstances.”
“Oh, do sit back down,” Henry ordered. Eve Doyle was the most exasperating female of his acquaintance and he liked that about her far too much. She’d also gotten around him as she well knew. Blast, he hated when someone got the better of him, but Miss Doyle had done exactly that.
“If you go along for two weeks, what do you wish for in return?” Irritation laced his tone.
Miss Doyle slowly smiled. “Ascot.”
Damn and blast. He had Pickmore to blame for this trouble. If Henry didn’t grant Miss Doyle Ascot now, she’d not go along withanyof his plans. “Very well,” he ground out. “But you are not to speak to anyone but me or Pickmore.”
She blinked at him. “Not speak at all.”
“Well, not where anyone can hear you. We want them to be curious and to leave us alone. Build the suspense as to who you are, so to speak.”
Miss Doyle studied him as she cocked her head to the side. What would she demand for each additional week, once she’d gained Ascot? After all, they’d still need to work on correcting her pronunciation for two weeks, before the ball.
Blast, Henry had no intention of engaging in the same battle over and over. Unless he offered her something she couldn’t possibly resist, Miss Doyle would fight him at every turn. And, he had a very good idea of what might bring her into line and do as she’s told.
“I will not bargain with you again, Miss Doyle.” He reached back and opened the desk drawer. “You will go to Ascot and you will not speak. Further, for this next month you will do as you are told, with no argument, and study hard. At the end of the month, after my mother’s ball, if you’ve been successful in making Society curious about you and unable to determine from where you came, this will be yours.” By that time, he’d also know if she’d suit his purpose for spying amongst theton. Henry lifted the sapphire and diamond necklace from the desk drawer.
Miss Doyle gasped as her eyes rounded.
