“Surely you jest, Miss Middleton.”
“It’s not a joke, my lord. I’m quite serious.”
“Why would you want to marry me? I’m certain you’ve heard the rumors about my lifestyle.”
“Indeed I have.” She lifted her chin a notch higher and seemed to take a subtle breath. “However, I’m willing to overlook that. You need something which I have, and in return, I need you to marry me.”
An indecent thought crossed his mind, and he hitched a breath. “Miss Middleton, are you perhaps…in the motherly way?”
A blush exploded across her face as she shook her head. “Absolutely not! How could you even think such a thing?”
Vincent shrugged. “Usually when women are desperate to marry, they are in that type of delicate condition.”
“Well, I assure you, I’m not in thatcondition. Far from it, in fact.” She fidgeted in her seat and twisted her hands in her lap. “Lord Trenton, the truth is, my father is pushing me to marry within the month, and if I’m not wed, he will sign a marriage contract with my stepmother’s nephew, Lord Stone.” Her voice tightened, so she cleared her throat. “Needless to say, I’ll do anything to keep from marrying him, even sink low enough to ask a rogue to become my husband.”
Sink low enough?Vincent was certain she was being rude, but he wouldn’t comment on it yet. “And you know no other man to ask to be your husband?”
She shook her head. “I haven’t spent a lot of time in social circles since my fiancé died.”
Dominic had mentioned this during their ride, but Vincent wasn’t sure he believed it. Why would a beautiful, unmarried woman pine after a dead man for three whole years?
Nevertheless, Vincent couldn’t accept her offer, as tempting as it was.
“I’m sorry for your plight, but I must deny your request. I enjoy being a rogue, and so I’m not likely to settle down with just one woman.”
She blinked quickly. Did he detect tears in her eyes? Impossible.
“I have thought about that, as well,” she said softly. “I shall give you leniency for your continued lifestyle as long as you promise to do it discreetly. And you must allow me to be my own woman, and let me do whatever I wish—as long as it’s discreetly, of course.”
“You…you want to have affairs behind my back?”
Her face reddened again. “Absolutely not!” She licked her lips. “All I wish is to be allowed to continue my painting and to visit my father’s estate whenever I like.”
For some reason, he didn’t believe her. Why would any woman say such a thing? They wanted their husbands to be faithful, yet Ellie was being contradictory. Was there something else that she wasn’t telling him?
“Let me get this straight.” He adjusted himself in his seat. “You will allow me to continue my affairs, while I allow you to run the household as you please, and paint to your heart’s content?”
“Correct.”
He studied her pretty face. She appeared to be quite serious, but he still felt there was something else she wasn’t telling him. “Miss Middleton, does your brother know what you want to do? And what about your father? Does he know?”
She squared her shoulders. “They don’t, and I would appreciate it if you would keep this a secret and not tell them, or anyone, for that matter.”
“So you’re saying that you want me to pretend to be in love with you, just as you’ll pretend to be in love with me, to convince your family that we should wed?”
She lowered her attention to her hands again. “Yes, I suppose that is what we will have to do to make it believable.”
By the way she squirmed slightly in her seat, he could tell how uncomfortable this subject made her. It made him squeamish, as well. If she had the courage to propose tohim, Vincent was certain she would have the courage to do other things as well. Although he should refuse her again, he wanted to tease a little first. After all, he hadn’t been classified as a rogue by mistake.
Vincent glanced toward the house, but they were far enough away that his sisters wouldn’t see what he was about to do. He tried not to let the grin of excitement show on his face.
“Miss Middleton, what you say does have merit. However, I think we would have to be very convincing in order for your father to agree.”
Her gaze snapped up. Panic showed on her face. “What…do you mean?”
Carefully, to not surprise her, he brought up his hand and gently cupped the side of her face. She stiffened, but she didn’t pull away.
“I think we need to practice first. Don’t you agree?”
