Chapter 4
She must have misheard him. A slightly hysterical laugh escaped her lips and she leaned forward to place her teacup on the tray before she dropped it. It landed with a clatter because her hand shook so much, so great was her distress.
“I apologise, My Lord. I misheard. What did you say?”
“I asked you to marry me and then the orphans could live here.”
“Ah! I thought that was what you said. But My Lord, I cannot marry you.”
“Why not?”
“I… I am the mere sister of a baron.”
“That is high-ranking enough for an earl.”
“I have not had a come-out.”
“My sister or my Great Aunt Gertrude can sponsor your curtsey to the Queen. Fear not.”
Oh dear he was making this very difficult.
“I cannot marry. I have made no plans to marry and do not wish to do so.”
“Plans change.”
“It is impossible.”
“Why?”
If only she could just blurt it out.
“It just is.”
“That is not a good enough answer. Do you want those orphans cared for or not?”
“Of course I do, but there has to be another way.”
“Not one that would satisfy me. Miss Butterworth, I find you exceedingly beautiful and, if I may say so, even in this situation, somewhat arousing. Your demeanour intrigues me. I like that you do not just accept what I say meekly but are willing to argue to make yourself heard. You might vex me on occasion, but I think that shall bring a little colour to our marriage. And if accepting a bunch of orphans and bye blows into my house is the price I must pay to get what I want and to save me another Season of making polite chit-chat with the mothers of debutantes in Mayfair ballrooms, then I am more than happy to pay the price.”
It all sounded so much like a business contract. Lucy wondered if this was how Robert usually dealt with people. Perhaps she could steer him in the right direction without telling him why she could not marry him.
“I am unsuitable to be your wife.”
“Are you a man?”
“Of course not.”
“Then you are suitable. As far as I know, you are not my sister, my mother or my daughter so we break no laws of incest. I assume you are not already married.”
She sighed.
“No.”
“You are not pregnant?”
He was very prying. Did the man have no manners. She mustered as much indignation as she could.
“Indeed I am not.”
“Well, I had to ask, since you are so determined you are unsuitable. Do you know yourself to be barren?”
“No.” Maybe she should have said yes to that. But then was there even a way to know if one was barren? She doubted it.
“Then I have a plan. Do you know of any young lady in the village who would be able to work as your companion for a month?”
She considered all the ladies of her acquaintance. “Miss Miller may be a good choice.”
“No, she is a gossip according to Emily. Pick someone else.”
Lord Whitsnow had the right of it. Miss Miller was a terrible gossip. “Miss Susan Davis. She is the younger daughter of the blacksmith. She is well spoken and can read and write.”
“Yes, she will be fine. Arrange for her, you and the children to come and live here for a month. During that time, I shall convince you to marry me.”
She stood and walked towards him. “My Lord, that is not proper.”
“It shall be proper enough with Miss Davis here as chaperone.”
“I am not sure that it shall be.”
“You never plan to marry so what does it matter?”
“I still have a reputation to uphold.”
“That is the deal, Miss Butterworth. Take it or leave it. At the end, I shall consider some donation to your cause either way.”
“It sounds like blackmail.”
“I shall double what your aunt left you if you come and stay. If you do not, you get nothing. If you marry me, the children will have the best – clothes, education, food. I shall even arrange a special tutor who knows about deafness for Eleanor.”
She had been standing in front of him, but she turned on her heel and walked to look out of the window, tears springing unbidden to her eyes. He moved behind her. Lord Whitsnow was so close she could smell his cologne. Her nipples hardened under her stays and she folded her arms across her chest.
“You are cruel and heartless. My Lord.”
“How so?”
“You must know I love those children and to ask me to choose between their needs and my own is cruel.”
“Your needs run parallel to theirs.” She shivered as his finger tickled her neck. “They need my money and protection and I can tell that you need me. Before you make up your mind, I have one warning to give you Lucy Butterworth. I want you. And I intend to have you.”
“You would force yourself on me?”
He chuckled. “Oh no. By the time your back hits my mattress, you shall have begged me to take you to my bed.”
Why did the mere idea of being naked on a bed with this man as he climbed on top of her make her moan? She pressed her fingers to her lips as she realised she had actually moaned aloud. Whitsnow merely chuckled.
“Come, we should go and find the children before cook makes them sick with all her sweet treats.”