‘Lord Portman,’ she managed at last, ‘just what are you saying?’
‘Why, I am listing the advantages to be had from joining our two selves in holy matrimony. You did not think I was offering carte blanche, did you?’
‘I was not sure.’
‘My dear Miss Chalmers, if you go back to point one, you will recall I said I needed an heir and by that I meant a legitimate one.’
‘You are not jesting, are you?’ she said, regarding him frankly.
‘No, I am not jesting. Now you may, if you wish, list the disadvantages.’
She said the first thing that came into her head. ‘We hardly know each other.’
‘True, but that can be remedied.’
‘I am in mourning.’
‘I think, under the circumstances, that can be overlooked. I am sure your brother, as the head of the house, would agree with that. It is a pity they have done away with Fleet marriages, but the ceremony can be a quiet one in the country.’
‘I am too independent and outspoken.’
‘That could be construed as a disadvantage, it is true,’ he admitted. ‘I will mark that one up.’
‘I am six and twenty.’
‘Then you will not be giddy and requiring my undivided attention every minute of the day. I could not abide that. Of course we should not delay too long before beginning our family…’
‘And if I should turn out to be barren?’
‘Is there any reason why you should be?’
‘None at all, but one can never be sure.’
‘True. Perhaps we ought to mark that one up too.’
‘I am told you already have a daughter.’
‘Yes.’ His bantering tone left him suddenly. ‘I see little of her. She is with foster parents.’
‘But she would not be, if you had a wife, would she? Supposing she does not take to me?’
‘She will do as she is told.’ It was said flatly.
‘You cannot make her love me. Love is not something you can command.’
‘How did we come to be talking of love?’ he demanded, somewhat put out. ‘I have not mentioned it. I hope you were not expecting me to fall into raptures and declare my undying devotion.’
She laughed, endeavouring to lighten the atmosphere again. ‘That, my lord, would be expecting too much.’
‘Then I make it six to two.’
‘Six to two what?’
‘Six points in favour, two against. Rather good odds, I should think.’
‘You, I collect, are a gambler, my lord. I, on the other hand, am not.’
‘You will not be gambling. I shall provide you with a good portion, ample pin money, clothes, jewels, a carriage, the freedom to order the household as you will, and a title. What have you to lose?’
‘My independence.’
‘How much is that worth at the moment?’ He paused to look into her face. ‘Remember Lady Bonhaven.’
She did not want to remember the lady. ‘My lord, if all that was a proposal of marriage, it is the strangest I ever heard.’
‘You have had so many?’ he queried, smiling at her, his head on one side.
‘That would be telling.’ Honesty made her add, ‘But that is neither here nor there.’
‘So, shall we wed?’
‘I am afraid I cannot view the prospect of a marriage of convenience with equanimity. How do I know we should not quarrel?’
‘I am not usually quarrelsome,’he said. ‘Quarrelling indicates a lack of restraint, don’t you think? Are you like to quarrel with me?’
‘With the life you have promised me? It would be singularly ungrateful in me to do that. But is gratitude a substitute for that tender feeling a husband and wife should have towards each other?’
‘Only you can answer that. But you need not feel grateful. The bargain will not be all one-sided. You will be expected to play your part.’
She gave a dry laugh. ‘So, it is an actress you would make of me after all. I doubt I could match you in that. I have never met a man of so many parts.’
He laughed. ‘Touché. But what do you say?’
‘I need to think about it.’
‘By all means. But do remember points one to six.’ He stood up and held out his hand to help her to rise, just as a whistle and bang heralded the first of the fireworks. ‘Let us go and view the fireworks and perhaps we shall come across your brother and Sir Ashley.’
They left the shelter of the arbour and made their way towards the river, where cheers and more bangs, followed by brilliant colours of red, green, yellow and blue shooting high into the sky showed the fireworks were well under way. They stood close together to watch the entertainment, a most incongruous couple, the fop and the antidote, and though she was aware of it, he seemed unperturbed. A strange and unaccountable man, she decided. Could she marry him? It would not be the marriage she had dreamed of as a young girl, but she could not expect that, could she? What would it be like to share a bed with him? To see that muscular body without any clothes? To be touched by him in intimate places? Feeling the warmth rush into her face, she dismissed such erotic questions from her mind and tried to concentrate on the fireworks.
It was a splendid display and after the last one had died away, he turned towards her. ‘Before I knew I would meet you here, I ordered supper to be served in one of the booths near the Rotunda and no doubt we shall find Sir Ashley there with your brother.’
They joined the crowds leaving the arena and made their way back to the centre of the garden. It was now quite dark, although the lamps strung along the paths made a ribbon of light converging on the Rotunda. Harry took Rosamund’s arm and guided her unerringly and, sure enough, they found the two missing men already sitting in the booth, waiting for them.
‘There you are,’ Ash said. ‘We had quite given you up for lost.’
Rosamund opened her mouth to a scathing retort and shut it quickly when Harry said, ‘My dear Ash, it was you and Sir Max who were lost. We have simply been perambulating and watching the fireworks.’ He pulled a chair out from the table as he spoke. ‘Miss Chalmers, please be seated. I shall have refreshment brought at once.’
Rosamund looked at Max. He was smiling like a cat who had got at the cream and it made her want to hit him. Taking the offered seat, she refused to look him in the eye.
Now they were once again in company, his lordship resumed his role of tulip, flicking at his cuffs, picking up his quizzing glass and surveying the people passing by the booth and making humorous comments on their appearance. Max laughed hilariously at his jokes, Ash looked at him in disapproval and Rosamund was simply too bemused to react at all. Their recent conversation was going over and over in her mind…Had he really proposed marriage to her? Had he really promised her ample pin money, clothes, jewels, a carriage, the freedom to order the household, all in exchange for giving him an heir?
A baby. A little human being, not a pugdog, not a doll, but a real live human being who needed both parents, not only for a few days and weeks, but for a lifetime of growing up. Supposing the marriage was so awful it had to be ended? What