“Father is keen to make a deal with these Americans and he’s insisting I make an effort to find a husband, so I only need the engagement to last until the papers are signed and they return to New York,” she went on as that agile mind of hers spun a plan. “Hopefully by then I’ll have shown my mettle and convinced Father and the board I’m up to the task, with or without aman.” She wrinkled her nose as she said the word. “And since you won’t propose to Lady Gwen, I thought you might be willing.” Her eyes then narrowed slightly. “Unless, of course, there is someone else.”
Will shifted in his chair as alarm bolted through him. Her comment was subtle, but then that was just how Alex did things. There was no doubt that he had been found out. “You know I would do anything for you…”
“But not this,” she finished.
As unlikely as it was, a very small, very silly part of him still hoped for the chance to reconcile with Phoebe. And anengagement to her sister, even a fake one, would not help his cause. Perhaps Will was a romantic after all.
“I’m sorry, Alex.”
She shrugged. “It’s fine.”
“You don’t seem terribly concerned,” he noted.
“I’m sure I can find someone who would be interested in entering a mutually beneficial arrangement.” Before Will could press on this point, she fixed him with a sharp look. “So then. When will you propose to Phoebe? Tell me what you plan to say first. But if you need help with a ring, you should ask Mother or Freddie. They all look the same to me.”
Will cleared his throat. “Ah, well…” He had skipped over the actual proposal a bit yesterday, hadn’t he? “It might be too late for that.”
He then explained the situation with Lord Fairbanks, his threats against Phoebe, and Will’s plan to save her via marriage—along with her immediate, and unyielding, rejection. Alex listened patiently while he relayed the details with a studious expression on her face, but when he finally finished, she raised one lone eyebrow.
“Well. You certainly mucked that up.”
He let out a dry laugh. “Yes, I can see that.”
She then turned thoughtful. “I had no idea you still felt so beholden to the dukedom.”
Will’s shoulders hunched. That was not the reaction he had expected. “It’s a little hard not to, given that it has occupied myentire lifefor nearly a decade.”
Alex waved his concern away as if it was a dust mote. “I suppose, but you would hardly be the first duke to make an unconventional match. Why you ever considered Lady Gwen in the first place was a mystery to me. She would have bored you to death before the wedding breakfast was over, poor thing.”
Only Alex could feel pity for someone like Lady Gwen, who lived a life of luxurious comfort and was adored by everyone. Well,nearlyeveryone.
“But she knew what was expected of a duchess,” Will said, defensive. “And she would have excelled in the position.”
Alex looked unmoved. “You sound like you’re talking about an employee, not a wife.”
Fair point.
Will pulled a hand down his face. He suddenly felt very, very tired. “I just wanted Phoebe to be prepared for what would happen if we married.”
“By insulting her?”
“Of course not,” Will groused. “But you know the gossip would have been relentless: her teaching, her failed season, your father’s family connections,everythingabout her life would have been henpecked to death. Would you rather I said nothing about it? Paint some fairy-tale picture that would never come to pass?”
“No,” Alex admitted. “Not at all. But you make it sound like you were only proposing to her out of obligation. No self-respecting womanwouldaccept. Frankly, I’m rather proud of her for rejecting you.”
Will pressed the heels of his hands against his eyes and let out a groan. “Oh God. I really did bungle this.”
“There, there,” Alex said as she attempted to give him a comforting pat. His valet’s clothes brush was more soothing. He sat up and Alex immediately withdrew her hand. “Do try to have a little faith in her. Phoebe can manage a bit of scandal.”
Will let out a dark laugh. “You’re assuming she would evenwantto now.”
“Well, I admit that you’ve dug yourself an awfully deep hole,but I’d imagine she would endure far more than a botched proposal for you.” Alex studied him for a moment. “Do you really not know she’s been in love with you for ages?”
He stared back at her as a flash of heat washed over him.
In love.
It was a shock to hear those words spoken aloud. And yet, it was like finding a missing trinket one had lost long ago. Will couldn’t ignore the strange relief that flooded his heart—nor the terrible longing that pulsed even harder. How much he had wanted that once. How much he wanted it still.
