Well, that was not what I expected,Cassin thought. Did she want something smuggled out of England? Had someone put her up to importing contraband?
He shifted in his seat. “And I cautionyounot to reveal an illegal proposition. I regard myself as an entrepreneur and a taker of great risk, but I am an honest man. My partners and I have a great deal at stake. We will not circumvent the law.”
Across the room, her maid moaned.
“Perry,” Lady Willow snapped, “tea, if you please.”
“But my la—”
“Now, Perry.”
The maid scrambled from her seat, scattering dogs.
To Cassin, she said, “You mistake me, my lord. What I propose is perfectly legal.”
“Very well then; say it.”
Lady Willow nodded. “I’ve said the £60,000 is my dowry.” She paused and cleared her throat. “And under the terms of the proposed arrangement,” she continued, “that sum would be transferred to the suitable man in the same way that any dowry is transferred. In exchange for marriage.” She looked down at her notes. “To me.”
Silence fell on the room like a net. Even the dogs ceased their panting. He wasn’t certain, but he believed this young woman had justproposed marriageto him. She let out a quavering breath. Cassin felt very much like drawing his own quavering breath. He glanced at the silent servant standing sentry beside the door. The man made no reaction. Cassin cocked his head, running the words over in his mind.
“Forgive me,” he said slowly, “but do I understand that your entire scheme is meant to engineer your own wedding? You endeavor tobuya husband?” His mind reeled. Cassin was in possession of three sisters and countless female cousins; he had been a resident of the earth alongside other females for thirty-six years. He had never heard of such a thing.
Lady Willow nodded and pushed out of her chair. “I am not interested in engineering a wedding or even a marriage. But I do wish to engineer a mutually beneficial union.”
“And what doesthatmean?” Now he was up. He ran his hand through his hair.
“It means I am desperate to leave Surrey, the reason for which I will freely reveal to . . . the suitable man.”
“More secrets.”
She went on, saying, “Unmarried young women from respectable families dare not build a life alone outside of their childhood homes or families. But a married woman? A married woman may come and go as she pleases.”
“Gowhere? Surely you do not mean to travel the world with the man youbuywith your dowry?”
“Certainly not,” she said. “I have an aunt in London who has offered me a lovely home and fulfilling employment—an apprenticeship, the culmination of years of passion and study. It is the occupation of my wildest dreams. And it’s no secret. I’ll tell you; I would design the interiors of the finest new homes in London. In Belgravia. Do you know it?”
“No,”he said. “Let us put aside for a moment the notion that you wish to beemployed—an ambition I have never before known by any woman of quality—and return to the reason why you mustbuy a husbandif your own aunt can sponsor you in London?”
Willow shook her head. “My mother does not get on with this particular member of the family. She has forbidden it.”
“And yet she would allow you to marry a stranger?”
“Oh, she will not realize that yo—”
Now she stopped and flushed deep red. Cassin felt his own skin grow hot, and he turned away.
“That is,” she corrected, “my mother would not realize that the man who takes my dowry would be a stranger. In her eyes, I shall marry for . . . traditional reasons. She is not acutely attuned to my, er, relationships. If I suggest to her that I have fallen in with an ear—that is, with an appropriate gentleman, she will not question how well acquainted we are. She will assume a natural affinity if I present it as such.”
It is a betrothal plot, he thought.Plain and simple. The money was her dowry, and someone would have to marry her to get it. How had he not seen this coming?
“Just to be clear,” she went on, “the marriage would not be traditional. When I am married, I will make my own way. And the man who has married me may, likewise, go his own way. All the way around the world. Or wherever . . . wherever he wishes. Simply . . . not near me.”
Well, he could not have seenthat. Cassin said, “Do I understand correctly that your plan precludes the traditional shared home of a husband and wife?”
She looked at her hands. “The marriage is to be a business arrangement. The man I marry will take my dowry and be gone. I will take his name and live the life of which I’ve always dreamed.”
“Alone?”
