his second betrothal. “Listen, what’s done is done. You wanted to make a public scene at Kendall House last night, and you got your wish. Now your sister and I are quite publicly engaged. There’s no way to undo it without tarnishing her reputation. Not to mention, disappointing her hopes.”
Gray regarded him closely. “Are you certain? You seem rather invested in bachelorhood, by all accounts. You wouldn’t be interested in a nice, long holiday on the Continent instead? A thousand pounds can buy a fellow rather warm hospitality.”
Toby stared at him. “You’re attempting to bribe me. With a bit of gold and a few Parisian gelettes as inducement. For God’s sake, man, I’ve a vast estate in Surrey and an income of six thousand a year. Your ‘offer’ insults us both. Does your sister know what a cheap price you place on her happiness?”
“There is no price I would not pay for Bel’s happiness. I’ve made achieving her happiness my life’s work.”
“Well, now I’ll be taking over that job.” Toby smiled and relaxed in his chair. He was enjoying watching Gray sweat. He’d been just a youth when his own sisters married, but he’d already been the man of the family—and he remembered well the helpless ire that accompanied surrendering one’s sister to a stranger. Gray had his empathy, but not his mercy. “You’re clearly not up to the task. If your sister were happy in her current situation, why would she jump to marry the first gentleman to pay her a bit of attention? She was miserable at that ball last night, until I put a smile on her face. I know how to keep a lady happy.”
“Really?” Gray smirked. “I don’t think my wife would agree.”
Oh, now that was a low blow. And a damaging one. Toby’s arrogance took a sizeable dent. It still plagued him late at night, the ceaseless speculation. He’d treated Sophia with solicitude, patience, and, of course, copious charm. What could he have done to push her away, and into the arms of this rogue? She had not even received him today, in her own home.
Gray continued, “Bel is not like other young ladies.”
“Yes, well. I had noticed that.” All thoughts of Sophia were instantly banished. He thought instead of Isabel’s exotic beauty and her melodic accent, and the bold innocence of her kiss.
The kiss that hummed in his blood, even now …
“That’s not what I mean.” Gray skewered him with a look, as though he read Toby’s thoughts.
“Bel’s grown up sheltered from society, but she’s been a witness to misery no lady should ever see. Our father succumbed to drink and her mother to madness, while—”
“Wait just a minute. Her mother went mad?” If he did want an excuse to back out of this, Toby had just been handed one. Few gentlemen sought a bride with a family history of insanity.
“Not how you’re thinking. When Bel was a girl, her mother was stricken with a tropical fever.
She survived—barely—but her mind was never the same. Bel grew up essentially alone, once my brother and I were out on the sea. Her faith sustained her. She’s strong in spirit, but filled with naïve, fragile hopes … and very high expectations.”
“You don’t think I can meet them.”
“Damn right, I don’t.” Gray resumed his seat. “However, for the sake of humoring my sister and preserving her reputation, I’ve decided to let you try. But I warn you—if at any point during the engagement, Bel seems anything less than enraptured with the prospect of marrying you, I’ll call the wedding off immediately.”
His words gave Toby pause, as he recalled the lengths he’d gone to just to elicit those few smiles. Now he would have an “enraptured” bride, or no bride at all? He wasn’t sure he liked those odds. Isabel Grayson did not seem a lady inclined to romantic raptures—she’d only agreed to marry him for his influence. “If you’ve such a low opinion of me, why are granting your consent at all?”
“Make no mistake, I
Gray regarded him closely. “Are you certain? You seem rather invested in bachelorhood, by all accounts. You wouldn’t be interested in a nice, long holiday on the Continent instead? A thousand pounds can buy a fellow rather warm hospitality.”
Toby stared at him. “You’re attempting to bribe me. With a bit of gold and a few Parisian gelettes as inducement. For God’s sake, man, I’ve a vast estate in Surrey and an income of six thousand a year. Your ‘offer’ insults us both. Does your sister know what a cheap price you place on her happiness?”
“There is no price I would not pay for Bel’s happiness. I’ve made achieving her happiness my life’s work.”
“Well, now I’ll be taking over that job.” Toby smiled and relaxed in his chair. He was enjoying watching Gray sweat. He’d been just a youth when his own sisters married, but he’d already been the man of the family—and he remembered well the helpless ire that accompanied surrendering one’s sister to a stranger. Gray had his empathy, but not his mercy. “You’re clearly not up to the task. If your sister were happy in her current situation, why would she jump to marry the first gentleman to pay her a bit of attention? She was miserable at that ball last night, until I put a smile on her face. I know how to keep a lady happy.”
“Really?” Gray smirked. “I don’t think my wife would agree.”
Oh, now that was a low blow. And a damaging one. Toby’s arrogance took a sizeable dent. It still plagued him late at night, the ceaseless speculation. He’d treated Sophia with solicitude, patience, and, of course, copious charm. What could he have done to push her away, and into the arms of this rogue? She had not even received him today, in her own home.
Gray continued, “Bel is not like other young ladies.”
“Yes, well. I had noticed that.” All thoughts of Sophia were instantly banished. He thought instead of Isabel’s exotic beauty and her melodic accent, and the bold innocence of her kiss.
The kiss that hummed in his blood, even now …
“That’s not what I mean.” Gray skewered him with a look, as though he read Toby’s thoughts.
“Bel’s grown up sheltered from society, but she’s been a witness to misery no lady should ever see. Our father succumbed to drink and her mother to madness, while—”
“Wait just a minute. Her mother went mad?” If he did want an excuse to back out of this, Toby had just been handed one. Few gentlemen sought a bride with a family history of insanity.
“Not how you’re thinking. When Bel was a girl, her mother was stricken with a tropical fever.
She survived—barely—but her mind was never the same. Bel grew up essentially alone, once my brother and I were out on the sea. Her faith sustained her. She’s strong in spirit, but filled with naïve, fragile hopes … and very high expectations.”
“You don’t think I can meet them.”
“Damn right, I don’t.” Gray resumed his seat. “However, for the sake of humoring my sister and preserving her reputation, I’ve decided to let you try. But I warn you—if at any point during the engagement, Bel seems anything less than enraptured with the prospect of marrying you, I’ll call the wedding off immediately.”
His words gave Toby pause, as he recalled the lengths he’d gone to just to elicit those few smiles. Now he would have an “enraptured” bride, or no bride at all? He wasn’t sure he liked those odds. Isabel Grayson did not seem a lady inclined to romantic raptures—she’d only agreed to marry him for his influence. “If you’ve such a low opinion of me, why are granting your consent at all?”
“Make no mistake, I
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