“I can’t work her out,” Tessa said.“On the one hand she insists I meet her visitors, telling me I need to see if I could work for any of them as a hired companion—but then she introduces me as an honored guest.”
“Which you are.”
She dismissed that with a wave of her hand.“And yet in private, she heaps scorn on the idea of my finding a position as a companion, listing all kinds of reasons why I would not be at all suitable for that kind of employment.”
“What does she suggest you should do, then?”
A blush colored her pale cheeks and she looked away.The silence stretched.
“Lady Hewitt?”he prompted.
She just shook her head again and looked away.“It’s nothing.”
He took a deep breath.“I gather she’s told you about our little problem.”
She looked up, frowning.“Problem?”
“The unfortunate gossip?”
She bit her lip.
“About you and me—all nonsense of course, but I’m afraid it’s quite widespread.”
She swallowed.“I’m sorry.I didn’t mean to cause any trouble for you.”
He made a dismissive gesture.“You didn’t cause any trouble and, if anything ,it was my impetuous actions that caused the gossip.We both know the gossip is untrue, and quite ridiculous.But ...”
“It affects your reputation.”
He blinked.“What?Mine?No, not at all.”
“But you’re an earl, and a member of the House of Lords.”
He shook his head.“Makes no difference.It’s your reputation I’m concerned about.”
“Mine?But I have no reputation—at least, not one that needs protecting.It’s too late for me.You, on the other hand—”
“It’s not too late at all, don’t talk nonsense.Now, I have a solution, and while I don’t think you’ll like it, there is very little choice for either of us if we want to scotch the scandal.”
“There’s no need.I intend to take a position in Yorkshire.”
“Won’t make any difference.People—especially women—write letters all the time.The gossip will follow you.”
“But—”
“No, we need to marry.”Curses.It came out blunt and bossy, not at all like the proposal he’d planned during the night and on the way here.
Startled, she looked up.“Marry?I couldn’t.I’ve already told you—and your aunt, numerous times—I have no wish to marry again.”
“I understand, but there is a scandal to be quashed, and if the choice is for you to look for employment in some menial position, with no security—I have to say, marriage will solve both problems.”
“But I thought you didn’t want to get married.”
He shrugged.“Neither did you, but the situation has changed.”
She frowned.
“At the risk of sounding like a conceited coxcomb—” he began.
