“That’s all I ask. You can let me know your decision within a few days.”
With that settled, some of the tension dissipated. It was a reasonable response, and he hoped Margaret would agree to the marriage.
Amelia sat down upon a settee, while her older sister departed the room. Before he could follow, she blurted out, “That was the worst proposal I’ve ever heard in my life. She ought to turn you down.”
No one could accuse Amelia of veiling her true beliefs. David stopped short and turned back to her. “And how do you think I should have proposed?”
“You should have spoken kind words to her, telling her what a wonderful young woman she is. Every woman wants to believe that a man loves her, even if it isn’t true. And some flowers wouldn’t have been amiss.”
“I think you have enough flowers,” he said, eyeing the numerous bouquets around the room.
“Well, offering for her across the table wasn’t the best way to get her attention.”
He knew that. But neither did he intend to lead Margaret astray, letting her believe there was hope for a love match. This would be an arrangement, nothing more.
“Were you hoping she would refuse?” Amelia asked suddenly. Her tone had gone softer, and though he was about to say no, he wondered if perhaps she was right. Hedidn’twant to marry again, though he’d agreed to do so, on Christine’s behalf.
“You and I both know the reason for this marriage. It’s meant to be a sensible arrangement to benefit both parties. She would get all the freedom and wealth she desires, and my daughter would get a mother.”
“And you would withhold yourself, keeping far away from her, would you not?”
“We would be friends,” he insisted. Surely they could have a pleasant existence together, particularly if Margaret developed an affection for Christine.
“And what of future children?” she asked.
The moment she spoke of it, he tried to imagine himself sharing Margaret’s bed. The image wouldn’t fit at all, but his wayward imagination conjured up the vision of Amelia lying upon tangled sheets, her hair covering her naked skin.
Where in God’s name had that come from?Too young, too young, too young, his mind repeated.
But there was a fire in Amelia, and he didn’t doubt that she would be a sensual creature who would love every minute of bed play. Heat flared within him, and he forced the thought away.
“I don’t have to answer that,” he told her. Just because Amelia was Margaret’s sister didn’t give her the right to pry. Whether or not he had any more children was his own business, not hers.
“You want to begin a new marriage with my sister, when you don’t ever intend to be anything more than the purse strings, is that it?” She glared at him, her frustration evident.
“We’ll be friends,” he repeated. “It will be more than enough for a good marriage.”
“It could be more than that, if you’d try.”
But he didn’t want to try. She needed to abandon this line of questioning, for it would lead nowhere. David crossed the room and sat beside her. “You’re so young, Miss Andrews. You believe that love is about flowers and poetry.”
“Just because you don’t intend to fall in love again doesn’t mean it can’t happen,” she said, resting her hands in her lap.
“It won’t,” he corrected her. “When Katherine died, she took everything with her.”
“Then you don’t plan on making this a true marriage. You plan to sacrifice my sister, using her for your own means, thinking nothing of what she wants.” Amelia eyed him as if he were a monster offering for Margaret’s hand.
He stood and turned his back. No, he couldn’t feel anything again. For there was nothing left of his heart.
“I intend to give her a good marriage, and she’ll likely be happier than most of the other women of the ton. That will have to be enough.” David stood, keeping his posture stiff as he moved toward the door.
“Then I hope she says no,” Amelia replied softly. “For both of your sakes.”
Margaret stood near her mother at Lady Rumford’s ball, fanning herself lightly. The gathering of people was one of many events of the Season, and yet, she couldn’t bring herself to dance or make merry.
She hadn’t given Lord Castledon an answer yet, though she was seriously considering it. His honesty was welcome, and she didn’t delude herself into thinking it would be a love match. He did possess all the qualities she wanted in a husband, and that ought to be enough for her.
Even so, she questioned whether it was the right thing to do. She’d seen the way Amelia looked at the earl when he wasn’t aware of it. A few days ago, when he’d issued the proposal, she’d noted her sister’s strong response. Whether or not Amelia knew it, Margaret suspected that her sister would be a better match for Lord Castledon. The pair of them were like oil and fire, and although the earl kept a calm demeanor around everyone else, with Amelia, he was different.
