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A sigh left Jo’s lips on a shuddering breath. She didn’t agree with Selena. Jo wasn’t one to fall in and out of love easily. And that was the reason for her doubt and confusion. “It can’t be love, can it? People don’t fall in love this fast. I have known Richard for less than two weeks!”

“Yes, and some people don’t fall in love for their entire lives. I have been looking for love and failing for years. You… you just stumbled upon it. Embrace it.”

Jo looked down. Her breathing was becoming more even. “You know that I can’t.”

“Says who?” Selena scoffed. “Listen, darling. People like us… we don’t get happy marriages. I mean, who are you going to marry? Mick?”

“Ugh!” Jo grimaced and couldn’t help the sound of disgust.

Selena cackled a laugh. “But who needs a marriage when we can have happy affairs? The man adores you. It is quite obvious. And yes, it mightn’t last long, but it doesn’t need to. At least you would’ve been happy. And in a few years, looking back on your happy days, would you regret them?”

Jo frowned. She regretted the last man she loved… She regretted a lot of things in the past. But with Richard, it felt different somehow.

Yes, he was arrogant and conceited. He was domineering and exasperating. And yet she was drawn to him. She wanted to spend every minute of every day in his arms. And if that’s the feeling she remembered, surely she wouldn’t regret it?

Selena squeezed her fingers. “Be careful with your body, darling. But do not rein in your heart. You could be turning away from great happiness.”

Perhaps Selena was right. Perhaps Jo needed to consider extending their arrangement…

She wouldn’t take a townhouse from him; she would not become his property. But if he wanted to continue their liaison for a longer period, beyond the house party, then perhaps she could prolong this fleeting happiness she’d found.

* * *

“Richard, my boy! You have grown up into a fine young man! Oh, your parents would be so proud.” Mr. Fowley patted Richard on his shoulder, took out a handkerchief, and wiped at his misted spectacles.

Richard smiled. “Have a seat. Do you want some tea? Coffee? Whisky?”

The man laughed, propped his spectacles back on the bridge of his nose, and sat across from Richard. “Just a dollop of whisky would do, thank you.”

Richard went to the sideboard to pour the old man a drink, his mind troubled. A part of him thought—no, hoped—that his bride would cry off at the last minute, but the jovial nature of Mr. Fowley’s arrival crushed his hopes.

He sat the glass of whisky in front of the man and the latter sipped on it with delight. “I haven’t had good whisky in years,” the man said. “Too expensive.”

Richard cleared his throat. “You know that you’re always welcome on my estates,” he said.

“Oh, of course, of course. But it’s not easy to travel. Especially with four girls in tow. Now that you’ll be marrying my Beatrice, we shall absolutely be visiting more often.”

Richard stifled a grimace. What the man meant, of course, was that without the luxury of wealth, he could not risk traveling just for the sake of good whisky. Traveling to a house party required considerable spending. So they’d probably emptied their coffers for this trip.

But once married into the Gage title, they would be able to rely on Richard’s generosity.

“Your father would be so proud of you. That you haven’t forgotten about his old friend and thought to help us in our time of need speaks highly of your character and that of your heart.”

“I hope you know that had I known of your state of affairs, I would have come to you earlier,” Richard said earnestly. “And I do not mean marriage. I would have happily helped you with any other need.”

“Oh, I know, I know.” The man pushed his spectacles up the bridge of his nose. “But it’s not your burden to bear. As the man of the house, I had to rely on myself. You know how it is. But I am happy to be giving away my daughter to you in marriage. I am confident that she is in caring hands.”

Richard swallowed. He felt that the old man’s confidence was quite misplaced. And yes. Unfortunately, Richard knew exactly how it was. Aristocrats and local gentry were too proud to ask for help. They would rather starve than do so. That was why Richard’s offer of a hand in marriage to Mr. Fowley’s daughter must have seemed to him like a miracle.

Only his trust in Richard had hollowed a pit in his stomach.

Just a moment earlier, Richard had been hoping that the man would cry off. Now that any notion of that happening had been erased, Richard was regretful and quite lost.

I am confident that she is in caring hands.

He hadn’t been very caring to Jo. And he hadn’t thought of Mr. Fowley’s daughter at all during the time that he’d been carrying on an affair with the tantalizing actress.

The man was completely wrong about Richard’s character. He’d only been thinking of himself. And had his father lived to witness it, Richard was not so certain he would have felt proud.