Joanna jumped up. “Sir, am I to understand that you wish my sister to marry you when you barely know her? Have you even asked to court her?”
Feeling the need to defend him, she held her hand up to her sister. “You mean as Lord Northwick did with you?”
Joanna sat again. “Well, he did.”
“Not until after you had already agreed to marry him, correct?”
When Joanna stubbornly refused to answer, she turned back to Andrew and smiled. “Please excuse my sister. She isn’t that proper; she just wants to be sure I have a choice in the matter.”
His shoulders relaxed. “I understand and am grateful for that. Would you allow me to ask your father for your hand?”
This was it. This was what she’d dreaded from the start, but no longer dreaded. In fact, she was very curious about her future life as Lady Sommerset.
His gaze softened and his tawny eyes filled with warmth. “If you would grant me that boon, I would like to have the banns posted this Sunday.”
“In the winter?” Joanna jumped in again. “Surely you can wait until spring.”
Mariel finally stepped in. “Joanna, perhaps you could locate Father while Amelia contemplates whatshewould like to do.”
Joanna flushed and slowly rose. “Of course. I believe he’s in the library.” She started toward the open doors then looked back. “Amelia, I—I’ll find Father.” With that she strode out of the room.
With her sister gone, she turned back to Andrew. “You wish to marry me soon then?”
“I do.” He ran his hand through his hair before continuing. “I know it may be sooner than you expected, but this past summer has been difficult, making the winter harder. Our marriage would help greatly.”
Confused, she lowered her brows. How would getting married in a few weeks help the weather? “I’m not sure I understand.” She glanced toward the doorway to be sure no one was about. “You haven’t even seen the painting yet.”
His gaze glowed with excitement. “I am anxious to see it and bring it home to Lyonsmere Hall. You have amazing talent.”
She found his answer disappointing. Did he not care if the painting had lived up to its beginnings? “So because the painting is now complete, you wish to marry posthaste.”
“I do. I cannot wait to bring you home as my wife. The winter will be made easier by your presence. The harvest was minimal as your father probably shared with you. Tenants barely brought in enough to feed themselves. I allowed mine to keep what they would usually pay in rent so they can stay and provide for us next year.”
He’d never spoken about his estate before, so the sudden focus confused her. “I think I understand, but I’m confused why getting married in three weeks would matter.”
When he looked at Mariel, she felt a shiver of dread crawl up her spine. “Andrew, why do you want to get married right away?”
He took her hand, despite the impropriety of it. “Amelia, I need your dowry to keep everyone in comfort until spring.”
“What?” She snatched her hand back, her heart starting to thump hard in her chest. “Why do you need my dowry for that?”
“I have told no one but Lord Harewood. My father left many debts when he died. He was sick for a long time and did not take care of things as he should.”
She opened her mouth to protest, but he held up his hand. “Please, I need to tell you. I paid all the debts and still had some to invest, which would rebuild our wealth by springtime. However, this weather has not just plagued us here, but in Europe and America too, and trade has trickled to a halt. Once it resumes, all will be well again, but in the meantime—”
Her chest felt as if a horse sat upon her, but that didn’t stop the heat of her anger from getting through. “In the meantime you need my dowry. That’s why you wished to marry me. Just for my dowry.”
He reached for her hand again, but she moved it away.
“No, that’s not why. Amelia, I love you. You are more than I dreamed I could ever have in a wife. You are talented and caring, beautiful and humble, funny and passionate. I want you beside me for the rest of my life.”
She shook her head, unwilling to believe anything he said now. “You never said this before, but now because you need my dowry, you love me? How can I trust you? You lied to me.”
He sat back in the chair. “I did not lie to you. You never asked about my finances. I haven’t even told my mother. I could not bear to see her image of my father ruined. My circumstances are not for public knowledge. I understand that you would never marry a man in a difficult situation, but I am not Lord Blanford.”
His affront was genuine, but she didn’t care about—Lord Blanford? Why did he bring up—oh. The conversation in the parlor of his London home rushed back. His mother had said,Lord Blanford squandered his money at the gambling hells and desperately needed a rich dowry if he was to save his estate. His father had cut him off completely.Lady Hester was to marry him.
In that conversation, she’d stated quite clearly that she would never marry a man who needed her for her dowry, but here he was, in the form of Andrew Crauford, Earl of Sommerset. And he knew! Her fingers curled into fists at her sides as hurt and fury filled her. “That may be, but you kept this information from me purposefully, even knowing how I felt.”
