Page 10 of Pride of Lyons

“I have been making arrangements with Lord Longford in the event you accept my offer.”

Did the man mean to marry her tonight?

She peered up into his handsome face, now wreathed in a warm smile that made her toes curl. Her heart beat faster, but she had to tell him no.

He took her hand in his, and heat poured through her such as she’d never known before.

“Do you have an answer for me, Miss Quinn? Will you marry me?”

His eyes were brown. She could see that clearly now. The warm amber color of a fine cognac. They fixed her with a kind stare, beckoning to her.

No. She had to say no. She opened her mouth, determined to refuse him.

Then he squeezed her hand, ever so gently, and a lightning bolt shot up her arm and exploded with a hot flash at her core. Honoria gasped, snapped her gaze to their clasped hands, then let it travel slowly up to his eager face. The handsome face she could watch for all the rest of her days if she only said—

“Yes, Lord Braeton. I will marry you.”

Chapter Five

“Excellent, my dear.” Even though he had wanted Miss Quinn to accept his offer, Thomas had to repress a shudder when she actually did so. In the blink of an eye, his life had changed irrevocably in so many ways. The last thing he’d expected when he woke up this morning had been that by sundown he’d be betrothed. Well, so be it. He made himself release the tension in his neck. Honor had been served, and that was the important thing. They must move forward from here. “Mrs. Dove-Lyon, we will require the use of your office until my carriage is brought around. It will not do for my betrothed to wait on the stoop.”

“That is highly irregular, my lord,” the woman said, her voice trying to be gruff. However, Thomas suspected she was elated at the turn of events.

“Considering I am about to pay an exorbitant fee to you for the privilege of marrying Miss Quinn, I believe you will make the exception.” He didn’t know the exact amount, but he assumed it was a hefty sum.

Miss Quinn turned wide, shocked eyes from him to Mrs. Dove-Lyon, then back again. “What do you mean, my lord? I thought you had to pay a fee in order for me to marry some other gentleman, not if you were going to marry me yourself.”

“It is no matter, Miss Quinn.” Thomas turned his brightest smile on her. At no point did he wish her to feel that he was in any way an unwilling participant to this marriage, although that was rather close to the mark. “A finder’s fee only. Mrs. Dove-Lyon is noted for her ability to bring ladies and gentlemen to an amicable agreement on matrimony.” He ushered Miss Quinn back to her seat and sat across from her. “Pray do not think of it again.”

“I will arrange the contract as usual, my lord.” Mrs. Dove-Lyon headed briskly for the door. “I will have it for you and Miss Quinn to sign shortly.” Without a backward glance, she left the room.

“May I get you something, Miss Quinn?” He looked about for a decanter of sherry, but the room held only the brandy. Spirits were probably not the best idea. Perhaps some wine. “Geoffrey, may I impose upon you?”

“Of course.” His friend suddenly loomed at his side.

“Please find some wine and cups. A celebratory glass for the three of us would not be amiss, I think.” Thomas had let go of his betrothed’s hand, reluctantly as he was still not convinced she wouldn’t bolt if given half a chance. “And please check on my carriage. We should leave as soon as possible.”

“Of course.” His friend bowed swiftly to Miss Quinn and hurried out the door.

Sitting pale and forlorn across from him, Miss Quinn narrowed her eyes. “Where are we going, my lord?”

Best to reassure her of his good intentions. “I mean to take you home to your parents immediately so they may hear the news of our betrothal.”

Twisting her hands in her lap, she stared at him with a hunted look in her eyes. “You mean for us to go there today, my lord?”

“Unless you have other accommodations in London where you can rest for the night.” He paused, and she shook her head. “Then I believe it best to take you there today. Your parents should learn of your impending marriage from you. We can discuss the arrangements for the wedding while we travel to…” He looked at her expectantly.

“Lower Clapton, my lord.”

“To Lower Clapton, then.” An hour or so out of the heart of London, so not an impossible journey before nightfall if they started soon. “We should make good time if the traffic isn’t too heavy.”

“What will you tell them, my lord? My parents?” The fearful look was back in the woman’s eyes.

“You may tell them what you wish, Miss Quinn. You can tell them the truth about Lord Danford’s scurrilous actions, or if you think that would be too scandalous, any tale you wish to tell them, I will give my full support. As you know them best, you should know what they will accept.” Lord, he didn’t even know who her parents were. A vicar, she had said but that was all he knew of her family.

A bevy of emotions flitted over Miss Quinn’s face until her features settled into the resolute lines he’d seen there before. “I believe we shall have to tell them the truth, my lord.” She looked up at him and a slight smile touched her lips. “How else could I possibly explain why a titled lord would wish to marry me without the reason being even more of a scandal?”

Thomas smiled at that. She was correct, of course. Society often leaped to the most sordid conclusions. In their eyes, the most obvious reason for him to marry a woman so abruptly was if he’d gotten her with child. Christ, when his friends heard of his marriage to Miss Quinn that would likely be their first thought. He must come up with a tale of his own to tell both friends and family why he’d married so suddenly out of hand without divulging the true reason. The more people who knew about Danford’s treachery the more possible ways for the story to spread. His smile dissolved.