impetuous and open to all manner of amusement. He’d never be some stuffy, fussy oaf who complains and constantly nags.” She leaned nearer and murmured, “And a libertine is wild in the bedchamber. You’d never regret your more intimate marital duties as some poor girls do.”
At the lewd intimation, Amelia’s cheeks flushed bright red, and she was glad it was dark so Barbara wouldn’t notice. Compared to sophisticated adults such as Barbara and Mr. Drake, Amelia was immature, unrefined, and clueless. How could she ever hope to fit in in such a degenerate society?
Barbara was assessing Amelia with a keen eye, as if considering her for a whole new purpose. Suddenly, she smiled and said, “I have the most marvelous idea.”
“What is it?”
“First, tell me what Lord Sidwell offered you as an enticement to wed.”
“An estate in Surrey with a good income.”
“So...he’d like Lucas to be a gentleman farmer?”
“Well...yes.”
“I can’t see it, can you?”
“No.”
“But I suppose anything is possible.”
“I suppose,” Amelia concurred, not thinking so at all.
“To own such a property, it would be a huge boon for you, wouldn’t it?”
“Absolutely.”
“Even if you wed Lucas, and he trotted off and left you, you’d have an excellent home. You could remain in the country where you’d be stable and safe.”
“That’s not much of an inducement to me. I couldn’t bear to have a philandering husband.”
“Yes, but would you like to have your own home?”
“Yes, definitely.”
“Trust me, I’ve struggled in my life to keep a roof over my head, and you shouldn’t discount such a gift.”
“If it comes with a scoundrel like Lucas Drake as part of the package,” Amelia responded, “it might be a Trojan-horse kind of gift. There might be no benefit to receiving it.”
“Or you might get lucky. You might make Lucas fall in love with you. He might become so smitten that he would never leave.”
Amelia laughed. “Now you’re being ridiculous.”
“No, I’m not.” Barbara assessed Amelia again, and her gaze was shrewd and cunning. “This is what I propose.”
“What?”
“I’ve been so bored. I could use a new project.”
“What project?”
“We should scheme on Lucas Drake and coerce him into marrying you.”
“I thought you wanted a project, not a miracle.”
“You’d be surprised what conclusions I can arrange,” Barbara boasted. “You asked my advice about your predicament, and here it is: You need to convince Lucas Drake to wed you so you can force Lord Sidwell to sign over the estate he promised.”
“I don’t know, Barbara.” Amelia sighed. “It sounds too fantastic, and I’m not sure it’s a good idea.”
“It’s a grand idea. I’m much older and more experienced than you, and I’ve learned the hard way what you must do to protect yourself and secure your future. And that is what we shall do. We shall get you protected. After you’re situated, Lucas can jump off a cliff for all I care.”
“How would we even start?”
“I’ll take you under my wing. We’ll begin by removing you from Lord Sidwell’s custody and control.”
“Where would I go?”
“You’ll stay with me.”
“You’re mad. I couldn’t impose on you.”
“You’re not imposing. I’ve invited you, haven’t I? You’re also forgetting that your brother is a friend of mine, so it’s all very proper. Don’t whine.”
“All right, I won’t.”
“You can settle in, then we’ll work on your wardrobe and your feminine wiles.”
“My feminine wiles? ” Amelia asked. “I don’t believe I have any.”
“I’ll give you some of mine.” Barbara winked. “I have plenty, so I’m happy to share. By the time I’m through with you, Lucas Drake will be begging you to wed.
“Begging?” Amelia skeptically asked.
“Yes, down-on-one-knee, pleading, anxious, begging for your hand. He won’t know what hit him.”
CHAPTER FIVE
“Are you
At the lewd intimation, Amelia’s cheeks flushed bright red, and she was glad it was dark so Barbara wouldn’t notice. Compared to sophisticated adults such as Barbara and Mr. Drake, Amelia was immature, unrefined, and clueless. How could she ever hope to fit in in such a degenerate society?
Barbara was assessing Amelia with a keen eye, as if considering her for a whole new purpose. Suddenly, she smiled and said, “I have the most marvelous idea.”
“What is it?”
“First, tell me what Lord Sidwell offered you as an enticement to wed.”
“An estate in Surrey with a good income.”
“So...he’d like Lucas to be a gentleman farmer?”
“Well...yes.”
“I can’t see it, can you?”
“No.”
“But I suppose anything is possible.”
“I suppose,” Amelia concurred, not thinking so at all.
“To own such a property, it would be a huge boon for you, wouldn’t it?”
“Absolutely.”
“Even if you wed Lucas, and he trotted off and left you, you’d have an excellent home. You could remain in the country where you’d be stable and safe.”
“That’s not much of an inducement to me. I couldn’t bear to have a philandering husband.”
“Yes, but would you like to have your own home?”
“Yes, definitely.”
“Trust me, I’ve struggled in my life to keep a roof over my head, and you shouldn’t discount such a gift.”
“If it comes with a scoundrel like Lucas Drake as part of the package,” Amelia responded, “it might be a Trojan-horse kind of gift. There might be no benefit to receiving it.”
“Or you might get lucky. You might make Lucas fall in love with you. He might become so smitten that he would never leave.”
Amelia laughed. “Now you’re being ridiculous.”
“No, I’m not.” Barbara assessed Amelia again, and her gaze was shrewd and cunning. “This is what I propose.”
“What?”
“I’ve been so bored. I could use a new project.”
“What project?”
“We should scheme on Lucas Drake and coerce him into marrying you.”
“I thought you wanted a project, not a miracle.”
“You’d be surprised what conclusions I can arrange,” Barbara boasted. “You asked my advice about your predicament, and here it is: You need to convince Lucas Drake to wed you so you can force Lord Sidwell to sign over the estate he promised.”
“I don’t know, Barbara.” Amelia sighed. “It sounds too fantastic, and I’m not sure it’s a good idea.”
“It’s a grand idea. I’m much older and more experienced than you, and I’ve learned the hard way what you must do to protect yourself and secure your future. And that is what we shall do. We shall get you protected. After you’re situated, Lucas can jump off a cliff for all I care.”
“How would we even start?”
“I’ll take you under my wing. We’ll begin by removing you from Lord Sidwell’s custody and control.”
“Where would I go?”
“You’ll stay with me.”
“You’re mad. I couldn’t impose on you.”
“You’re not imposing. I’ve invited you, haven’t I? You’re also forgetting that your brother is a friend of mine, so it’s all very proper. Don’t whine.”
“All right, I won’t.”
“You can settle in, then we’ll work on your wardrobe and your feminine wiles.”
“My feminine wiles? ” Amelia asked. “I don’t believe I have any.”
“I’ll give you some of mine.” Barbara winked. “I have plenty, so I’m happy to share. By the time I’m through with you, Lucas Drake will be begging you to wed.
“Begging?” Amelia skeptically asked.
“Yes, down-on-one-knee, pleading, anxious, begging for your hand. He won’t know what hit him.”
CHAPTER FIVE
“Are you
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