The next morning Will locked himself away in his study as soon as he awoke. Luckily, there was always work to be done. Work that would occupy his mind. Work that would give him what Phoebe could not.
Wouldnot.
No. She’d made it perfectly clear that ruination was far preferable to being his wife. In his mad dash to protect her, Will hadn’t considered for even a moment that she would reject him. It had both sorely wounded his prideandcalled attention to it, which nearly rankled as much as her rejection. He tore open another letter with relish and scanned the note. It was from Lord Tavistock, asking to meet the next day. Will quickly jotted a response and rang for his secretary.
“See that this is delivered directly.”
“Yes, Your Grace,” Mr. Flynn said as he took the missive.
Will looked around his desk. “What else is there to do?”
The man shook his head. “Nothing, Your Grace.”
Damn.
“Are you certain?” Will couldn’t be left alone, otherwise he might brood. And he was so damnedtiredof his own thoughts marching relentlessly through his brain. Of combing through every single moment of the disastrous encounter with Phoebe.
Mr. Flynn glanced at the clock on the mantel. “You’ve been working for the last five hours.”
Will sat back in his chair. The entire morning had slipped away from him.
“Perhaps a light repast? It’s also lovely out.”
Will gave his secretary an arch look. “I do not need to take a turn in the garden like some wilting maiden.”
“Of course not, Your Grace.”
“But I could use something to eat,” he admitted as his stomach roiled with sudden hunger.
“I’ll go tell Cook,” Mr. Flynn said with a bow and left the room.
Will slowly rose from his chair. His body had grown stiff from sitting for so long. He then meandered over to the window and stretched his arms over his head. It did look awfully nice out. Perhaps some fresh air would do him some good.
The door opened again and Will let out a huff. “What now?”
All he wanted was something to eat, but when he turned aroundAlexwas charging into the room. Higgins had long-ago relinquished his gatekeeping duties when Alex showed up, much to everyone’s benefit.
“I’ve something I need to discuss with you,” she said by way of greeting, not at all put off by his sharp tone.
“Alex—I didn’t know you were coming.”
She took a seat on the sofa by the hearth and folded her hands on her lap. “How could you? I only decided this morning.”
Though he was used to Alex’s straightforward manner, he could certainly understand why others found it perplexing. “Right. Well, then,” Will said as he sat down in an armchair across from her. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your company.”
“Marry me.”
Will blinked. “I’m sorry?”
“We don’t have to actuallygetmarried, but an engagement at least would be very helpful,” she said with a nod.
Perhaps Will had started to hallucinate in his famished state. Where the hell was Flynn?
“Why?” He drew the word out.
“Thanks to that blasted Mr. Ericson, Father has gotten it into his head that no one will approve of me taking over the company as a single woman and we’ll lose all our clients. And youknowhow stubborn he can be.”
“Yes,” Will replied diplomatically. Alex was just as stubborn as her father, if not more so.
