“Well,” Mr. Fairbanks murmured. “As I recall, you didn’t accept. Your father did so on your behalf.”
“The favor,” Marcus said, “is for you to break things off with Lady Louise in an amicable manner so she and I will be free to marry.”
Mr. Fairbanks frowned. When he spoke again, his words were measured. “You’re asking me to give up a sizeable dowry.”
“I know,” Marcus said. “But you do not love her as I do.”
“While that may be true, the situation is not so simple.”
Mr. Fairbanks’ words were like a noose tightening around Louise’s neck. She could feel hope slipping away. Unless she and Marcus managed to win him over.
“Isn’t it?” Marcus pressed. He gave Mr. Fairbanks a stern look. “I know about your wager with Victor.”
“What wager?” Louise asked with mounting concern.
Neither man looked her way, their gazes locked as unspoken words passed between them. After a moment, Marcus said, “Marry Lady Deidre instead.”
Mr. Fairbanks gave a startled laugh. “She has three thousand pounds less than Lady Louise.”
“It’s still a substantial sum,” Marcus said.
Mr. Fairbanks inclined his head as if in acceptance of this fact, but when he spoke, it was not with the compliance Louise had hoped for. “And if I refuse?”
“Then I daresay you may lose your chance with both,” Marcus gritted. “I doubt Grasmere or Croft will welcome a fortune hunting son-in-law who’d treat their daughters with such disrespect.”
“Grasmere knows I’m in it for the money,” Mr. Fairbanks pointed out with a lazy shrug. “And besides, he’s desperate.”
“Perhaps,” Marcus agreed. “Though not desperate enough to court scandal, I’m sure. Are you really willing to risk his wrath and Croft’s as well, the possibility of social ruin – of having your honor called into question – for three thousand pounds?”
Silence followed. Louise held her breath and prayed Mr. Fairbanks would finally stop his dogged pursuit of her. The tension in Marcus’ body could not be ignored.
“Very well,” Mr. Fairbanks eventually said with a shrug that made Louise feel like the most dispensable person in the world. Weeks ago, his uncaring manner would have stung. Now, it came as a welcome relief. The man in question brushed a piece of lint from his sleeve. “I suppose I can be persuaded. Provided you give me one hundred pounds.”
“What?” Louise asked. Was he truly demanding payment?
Mr. Fairbanks expelled a long-suffering sigh. “If I don’t marry you, Lady Louise, I’ll lose the wager and the one hundred pounds I stood to gain. So that is my price.”
Louise stared at him in open-mouthed dismay. How could she have been so horribly wrong about him? Thank goodness she had the chance to avoid getting tied to him for life.
“I’ll get you the funds,” Marcus clipped, his voice dripping with no small amount of disgust.
“And of course,” Mr. Fairbanks added, “I should probably warn you that while you may have convinced me to step aside, my parents will be harder to persuade.”
“Your parents?” Marcus asked, as if it had never occurred to him such people existed.
“They recommended the match to me at the start of the season,” Mr. Fairbanks said. “From what I gather, they have since made a deal with Lord Grasmere.”
Louise’s stomach plunged. “What sort of deal?”
Mr. Fairbanks took a deep breath. “Perhaps some fortifying drinks would be in order. Would either of you care for a brandy?”
“If you think it beneficial,” Marcus murmured. He reached for Louise’s hand and gave it a squeeze, not caring if Mr. Fairbanks was in the same room.
It didn’t matter. The only thing she cared about right now was getting out of this mess. Mr. Fairbanks filled three glasses and handed one to each of them before taking a sip from his own.
Once back in his seat, he stretched out his legs in a much too relaxed pose for Louise’s liking, and said, “Truth is, I’m not very good when it comes to money. I’ve a tendency to spend more than my allowance permits. Over the years, my father has paid off my debts on a number of occasions in order to save the family any embarrassment.”
“Oh dear.” Louise listened with mounting dread. She had a feeling she knew precisely where this was heading.
