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Authors: Victoria Alexander
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distinct possibility.”
“A possibility for what?”
“Why, for the kind of bride you’re seeking, of course.”
“How would you . . . ” He grimaced. “Is there anything else I said in what I thought was a private conversation that you will use against me?”
She flashed him a smile and her eyes twinkled behind her spectacles. “You may depend on it, my lord.”
He heaved an exaggerated sigh. “Very well, I surrender. Tell me why you think that young lady, the daughter of a marquess, I believe, would be a suitable bride.”
Marianne studied the woman thoughtfully. “Well, she’s perfectly attired in the latest stare of fashion, so she obviously has a respectable dowry. And she’s not the tiniest bit mussed. That alone says a great deal about her character.”
“Nonsense. I know any number of women who are faultlessly turned out yet not the least bit amenable.”
“Perhaps, although strict adherence to the dictates of fashion certainly indicates a willingness to abide by other restrictions as well. Add to that her manner, which appears somewhat reserved, the way she smiles and acknowledges greetings, I mean. I suspect she’d be quite biddable and more than willing to acquiesce to your desires and your decisions.”
“Do you think so?” He was amused in spite of hearing his own words thrown back at him.
“I do. I think she’s exactly the type of woman who would make you . . . how did you phrase it?”
“I don’t remember,” he said firmly.
“Come, now, how could you forget? I know I can’t. You said you wanted a woman to whom you will be the moon and the stars.” She nodded. “Yes, I definitely think you should seek an introduction.”
“Perhaps I will.”
“I should be happy to inform you of any other prospects I might encounter.”
“That would be most appreciated.” He chuckled. “Now that we have identified a potential match for me, what of you? Do you see anyone you would consider?”
“I told you I have no intention of marrying.”
“That’s right. You wish to have adventures.”
“And experience life.”
“Of course.” Under other circumstances, he might well find that declaration enticing and worth further exploration. But as the man charged for now with safeguarding Marianne and her sisters, he didn’t like the implications of that phrase one bit.
“However, I have given your plan to find us all husbands a great deal of consideration.”
“You have,” he said cautiously.
She nodded. “Indeed I have.”
“And?” He wasn’t sure if he wanted to hear the answer.
“And I recognize adventures are in short supply for a woman in my position. I have no money of my own to speak of, at least not at the moment, so I am, again at the moment, trapped in a town in which the most exciting thing that could happen is a faux pas at a ball. I suppose there is the chance of some sort of scandal but surely that doesn’t count as true adventure. Don’t you agree?”
“Well, I—”
“Exactly.” She nodded firmly. “After all, I scarcely think there is much possibility of running into pirates at the duchess’s ball or marauding bands of Bedouins at Almacks or African cannibals at Vauxhall—”
“One never knows,” he murmured.
“—therefore, since I can’t expect adventures of any significance, I shall have to focus my efforts on experiencing life.”
There was that annoying phrase again. He chose his words with care. “And what does that have to do with my plan?”
“Why, Thomas, it’s obvious.” She stared at him curiously, as if she couldn’t believe he didn’t understand what in the hell she was talking about. “I’m going to cooperate with you fully.”
“You are?”
“Indeed I am.” She nodded. “I shall embrace every introduction graciously. I shall flutter my lashes, and my fan and whatever else, at each potential suitor who crosses my path. I shall endeavor to be charming and witty and all any man could want. Why, I shall
“A possibility for what?”
“Why, for the kind of bride you’re seeking, of course.”
“How would you . . . ” He grimaced. “Is there anything else I said in what I thought was a private conversation that you will use against me?”
She flashed him a smile and her eyes twinkled behind her spectacles. “You may depend on it, my lord.”
He heaved an exaggerated sigh. “Very well, I surrender. Tell me why you think that young lady, the daughter of a marquess, I believe, would be a suitable bride.”
Marianne studied the woman thoughtfully. “Well, she’s perfectly attired in the latest stare of fashion, so she obviously has a respectable dowry. And she’s not the tiniest bit mussed. That alone says a great deal about her character.”
“Nonsense. I know any number of women who are faultlessly turned out yet not the least bit amenable.”
“Perhaps, although strict adherence to the dictates of fashion certainly indicates a willingness to abide by other restrictions as well. Add to that her manner, which appears somewhat reserved, the way she smiles and acknowledges greetings, I mean. I suspect she’d be quite biddable and more than willing to acquiesce to your desires and your decisions.”
“Do you think so?” He was amused in spite of hearing his own words thrown back at him.
“I do. I think she’s exactly the type of woman who would make you . . . how did you phrase it?”
“I don’t remember,” he said firmly.
“Come, now, how could you forget? I know I can’t. You said you wanted a woman to whom you will be the moon and the stars.” She nodded. “Yes, I definitely think you should seek an introduction.”
“Perhaps I will.”
“I should be happy to inform you of any other prospects I might encounter.”
“That would be most appreciated.” He chuckled. “Now that we have identified a potential match for me, what of you? Do you see anyone you would consider?”
“I told you I have no intention of marrying.”
“That’s right. You wish to have adventures.”
“And experience life.”
“Of course.” Under other circumstances, he might well find that declaration enticing and worth further exploration. But as the man charged for now with safeguarding Marianne and her sisters, he didn’t like the implications of that phrase one bit.
“However, I have given your plan to find us all husbands a great deal of consideration.”
“You have,” he said cautiously.
She nodded. “Indeed I have.”
“And?” He wasn’t sure if he wanted to hear the answer.
“And I recognize adventures are in short supply for a woman in my position. I have no money of my own to speak of, at least not at the moment, so I am, again at the moment, trapped in a town in which the most exciting thing that could happen is a faux pas at a ball. I suppose there is the chance of some sort of scandal but surely that doesn’t count as true adventure. Don’t you agree?”
“Well, I—”
“Exactly.” She nodded firmly. “After all, I scarcely think there is much possibility of running into pirates at the duchess’s ball or marauding bands of Bedouins at Almacks or African cannibals at Vauxhall—”
“One never knows,” he murmured.
“—therefore, since I can’t expect adventures of any significance, I shall have to focus my efforts on experiencing life.”
There was that annoying phrase again. He chose his words with care. “And what does that have to do with my plan?”
“Why, Thomas, it’s obvious.” She stared at him curiously, as if she couldn’t believe he didn’t understand what in the hell she was talking about. “I’m going to cooperate with you fully.”
“You are?”
“Indeed I am.” She nodded. “I shall embrace every introduction graciously. I shall flutter my lashes, and my fan and whatever else, at each potential suitor who crosses my path. I shall endeavor to be charming and witty and all any man could want. Why, I shall
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