Fortune's Bride

by VICTORIA MALVEY

  His future wife.

  Lord, he'd tried to ignore that idiotic proxy his grandfather thought to force upon him. Ian intended to petition the courts to declare the agreement invalid, but he simply hadn't gotten around to it yet. A man couldn't neglect his business, after all, and he'd already spent far too much time away from his books because he'd been looking into the Electrolytic Marine Mining Company for Peter and Allerby.

  How ironic it was that while his grandfather had indeed arranged for a titled lady to wed, he'd unwittingly chosen the one woman who had deceived him. Though he'd never intended to marry for love, he'd certainly expected that there be trust between him and his wife. A gentleman had the right to expect that much, didn't he?

  Ian's thoughts skittered to a halt when Alyssa stopped in front of a window, gazing out into the garden. Though he knew the shadows hid him from her view, he still wondered if she could somehow sense he was there. As he watched, her shoulders lifted and released as if she'd taken a deep, calming breath.

  But it was her expression that called to him.

  For only a moment, she allowed her smile to fade, giving him a glimpse into her true feelings. A quick peek was all he got before she took another bracing breath, smoothed her features, and turned around once again.

  Yet that moment was all he needed to shake him to his core.

  His bold Gypsy had looked... defeated.

  Without conscious thought, Ian tossed down his cigar, grinding it out beneath his boot heel, and began to stride toward the town house.

  * * *

  She felt like screaming.

  Instead, Alyssa turned toward the window, staring out into the dark night. Catching sight of the glow from a cigar, she wished she might join that gentleman in his solitude, escaping the unending questions just for a moment. It seemed the ton still couldn't get enough of her. Not that Alyssa could blame them. For if she'd heard Lord Hammond's colorful story about someone else, she would have been fascinated as well. As soon as the duke left her side, the gossips had descended with their thousand and one questions. Was her mother truly a descendant of a powerful Gypsy? Did she know her curse had come true? Why had she cursed her own husband-to-be?

  But the worst question by far was "Where is the Marquess of Dorset?"

  How could she answer that one? Oh, Lord Dorset is simply unable to attend. Or perhaps she should give them the truth—that she had no idea where Lord Dorset was at present.

  Oh, yes, that response would receive a wonderful reaction.

  "My lady?"

  Recognizing Lady Alridge's voice, Alyssa sighed once, before fixing a pleasant expression onto her face and turning to face the woman. "Lady Alridge," she said smoothly. "How are you this evening?"

  Just then Alyssa became aware of a flurry of whispers rushing through the ballroom. "Oh, my dear Lady Alyssa," murmured the woman beside her. "He's come. He's here."

  Who was here? Alyssa wondered, glancing around. "I'm not certain who you're speaking of, Lady Alridge," Alyssa returned, praying she didn't sound as horribly bored as she felt.

  "Why, your future husband, of course."

  Anticipation rushed through Alyssa as she watched the large crowd part like the Red Sea before Moses as Ian approached her. She hadn't realized until this moment just how much she'd wanted him to come this evening.

  "Good evening, my lady," he murmured, holding out his hand.

  Flustered, Alyssa gave him her hand, watching in disbelief as he pressed a kiss to her palm. The last time she'd seen him, he'd been glaring at her in anger, then he'd had his grandfather arrange a proxy, now he was acting as if nothing amiss had ever happened between them. Confused, Alyssa found herself uncertain of how to address Ian. "My lord," she returned finally, unable to stop her voice from cracking.

  Straightening, he smiled at her. "Please forgive me my tardy arrival," he said in a slightly raised voice. "I meant to be here to claim the first dance."

  She was too surprised to answer.

  "While I missed that opportunity, I am pleased to see that I've arrived in time to claim this waltz," Ian continued brightly.

  Her heart raced as Ian escorted her onto the dance floor and pulled her into his arms.

  For Alyssa, the night had suddenly become magic.

  16

  Breathless, Alyssa waltzed around the room, held safely within Ian's embrace. Though she didn't want to ruin the rapport between them, she was unable to remain silent any longer. "I was hoping you'd come this evening," she murmured with a shy smile.

  Glancing down at her, he admitted, "I hadn't planned on attending."

  "Why did you, then?" she asked, further contused by his response.

  "I don't know." His jaw tightened as he looked away. Exhaling, he returned his attention onto her. "Even after I'd arrived, I had no intention of claiming a dance... yet I couldn't bear to see you looking so defeated," he admitted softly.

  Defeated? Alyssa didn't understand what he was talking about until she remembered what she'd been thinking as she'd looked out the window. "You were in the garden just now," she murmured.

  His eyes flared in surprise. "How did you know?"

  The same way you knew what I was feeling."

  "My, aren't we the perceptive pair," he said with a smile.

  Alyssa said the first thing that popped into her head. "Perfectly matched,"

  His eyes flared once again, but this time with a surge of heat. Dropping his gaze onto her mouth, Ian pulled her closer to him, sending shivers of yearning down Alyssa's spine.

  Desire, fierce and hot, flickered in his expression as his arm tightened around her even more. "Alyssa," he murmured in a low husky voice.

  The sound of her name upon his lips made her catch her breath. Unmindful of the eyes fixed upon them, she tilted her head back, leaving her neck exposed to his hungry gaze.

  The music ended and yet Ian didn't release her. He devoured her with his gaze and Alyssa eagerly welcomed his attention.

  Loud clapping made them both blink. "Join me in welcoming my grandson, the Marquess of Dorset, to my little affair this evening," boomed the duke.

  Ian's expression froze in an instant, the ice on his face extinguishing the desire that had lain there just moments before. Stiffening, he stepped back, allowing his arms to drop from around Alyssa.

  She reached out to him, but Ian took another step backward, increasing the distance between them. All of his attention was fixed upon the duke, who stood at the edge of the dance floor. The tension between the two men was palpable, until finally Ian broke the si-lence. "No need to welcome me, your grace. I simply came to claim a dance. I have no intention of staying." Glancing at Alyssa, he amended his reply. "That is, I am most disappointed that I will be unable to remain, but other obligations demand my presence."

  It was a pitiful excuse and everyone in the room knew it.

  "Excuse me," Ian murmured politely, bowing to Alyssa, before turning on his heel and marching from the room.

  * * *

  "You were marvelous!" crowed the duke in an un-characteristic display of excitement.

  Even in the dark interior of the carriage, Alyssa could see the gleam in Lord Hammond's eyes. "How so?" she asked quietly as they made their way back to Lady Eleanor's townhouse.

  "The way you handled yourself tonight spoke well of your breeding." Settling back against the cushioned seat opposite her, the Duke nodded firmly. "I'm confident everyone believed my tale about your wanting to explore your Gypsy heritage, so now you appear to be exotic rather than deceitful."

  "Thank you... I think," Alyssa murmured. Since Lady Eleanor had taken Calla home earlier in the evening, Alyssa decided to use this moment of privacy with Lord Hammond. "I don't understand some of the things Ian said to me this evening."

  Lord Hammond stilled. "Such as!"

  "He told me he hadn't been planning on attending this evening, but I don't understand why, as this ball was in honor of our marriage by proxy, it was as if—" She broke off as the truth
of the situation struck her. "He never agreed to the proxy, did he?"

  For a moment, the duke hesitated. "Don't be ridicu-lous," he scoffed.

  But the duke's hesitation had spoken volumes, drowning out his protest. Her stomach lurched as she absorbed this blow. "You arranged this proxy without even speaking to him," she whispered, guessing accurately. "Why did you do it? And why, for Heaven's sake, did you choose me?"

  Alyssa was uncertain if the duke was even going to answer her. Finally, he broke the silence. "I was simply helping to guide him on making the best choice. When I approached you, I'd already ensured that your background was impeccable."

  "So you made the offer without consulting Ian, hoping to force his hand. But you had no idea that I was also Madam Zora because you'd investigated my past, but not my present." Suddenly, everything made sense. "Ian told you that Lady Alyssa Porter and Madam Zora are one in the same, didn't he? That's how you knew."

  "He didn't simply tell me," the duke ground out. "No, he lorded my mistake over me."

  To be referred to as a mistake stunned Alyssa. "Well, bully for him," she retorted.

  "I find your rudeness most unbecoming," the duke informed her coldly, as the carriage rocked to a stop in front of Lady Eleanor's town house.

  "And I find your lack of respect for your own grandson reprehensible," Alyssa said boldly.

  Uncaring of the duke's response, Alyssa clambered out of the carriage. She ignored Lord Hammond's order to stop as she made her way up the front steps. Because of his machinations, Ian had once more been deceived. This time, however, she wouldn't be a party to it.

  "If you try to back out of the proxy, you destroy any hope you have for your sister."

  Freezing upon the top step, Alyssa turned to race the duke, unable to believe the threat he'd just issued. After learning the lengths he'd go to force Ian to his will, she didn't know why anything would surprise her.

  "You have no choice in the matter," Lord Hammond informed her. "While you are annoyed at present, I know you'll see the logic in my plans once you calm down. A marriage between you and my grandson ful-fills everyone's needs. You gain the security you long for and he marries a lady of title. It is the perfect solution."

  Drawing her shawl about her, Alyssa gazed down at the duke. "I will not be a part of your attempts to bend Ian to your will."

  "Go ahead and cling to your ridiculous notions of honor, Lady Alyssa," the duke said, scorn dripping from every word. "You'll find honor makes a poor meal indeed. So before you thoughtlessly toss aside the offer to marry my grandson, you might consider what life will hold for you."

  Though the thought of once again being penniless made her blanch, she would not, could not, be party to the duke's schemes. Ian deserved better. She deserved better.

  Drawing back her shoulders, Alyssa projected a calm she was far from feeling. "Then I shall resume my life as Alyssa Porter."

  "And how will you support yourself? Will you become Madam Zora again? Or do you hope your cousin will have a change of heart and decide to reinstate your monthly stipend?"

  How could she possibly respond when she didn't know any of the answers to his questions? Holding her head high, she walked into Lady Eleanor's house.

  * * *

  What had he been thinking?

  Draining the last of his brandy, Ian poured himself another snifter full of the potent stuff. By dancing with her, he'd all but declared that he did indeed plan on completing the proxy and claiming her for his wife in more than just name. No, he admitted as he gazed into the amber liquid, just by attending, he'd given his seal of approval on the Duke's plan.

  If only he hadn't been drawn over to the house. If only he hadn't seen her expression and felt the need to respond to it, to help her. If only...

  Setting down his brandy, Ian thrust a hand through his hair. He knew better than most that life was made up of "if only's" and there was no use in looking back. He'd battled through a thousand questions, all of them beginning With that useless phrase, after his parents had died. Still, he'd succeeded in building a comfortable life for himself. He'd formed wonderful plans for the future and had worked hard to see them to fruition.

  And he'd accomplished all of his goals... except for one.

  Now Alyssa stood in the way of fulfilling his last dream. Even if he'd never learned of her perfidy, Ian wouldn't accept her as his bride. She was part of the duke's plan to rule his future. If he accepted Alyssa, Ian knew he'd lose in his power struggle against his grandfather. Still, despite all of this, he seemed compelled to protect her.

  Reaching for his brandy, Ian brushed away a frog that leapt onto the sideboard. Yet another wonderful mark the Gypsy had left upon his life.

  Taking a long swallow of the strong drink, Ian hoped that temporary comfort lay within the amber depths. Picking up the bottle, he walked over to his chair, settling in comfortably. Suddenly, the sound of knocking echoed throughout the room. Yet, when he bid the servant to enter, no one answered.

  Rising from his chair, Ian walked over to the door, opened it... and found the hallway empty. With a shrug, Ian returned to his chair and took another sip of his drink when he heard the knocking again.

  This time he realized the knocking was coming from the left side of the room. Putting down his glass and the bottle, he walked over to the windows and peered out into the night. Alyssa stood there, still wearing the ballgown she'd had on earlier.

  "What the devil?" he muttered, thrusting open the window. "What are you doing out here at this time of night?"

  "I needed to see you," she whispered. Holding up her hands, she directed him. "Now, please help me inside."

  Shaking his head, Ian stepped back. "I shall let you in the rear door if you'll—"

  But the stubborn woman had already grasped the edge of the window and was attempting to pull herself up and into his house. Frustration ripped through him as he gave up the notion of talking sense into her. Stepping forward, he bent down and grabbed hold of her waist, lifting her inside the room.

  As she thanked him for his assistance, Alyssa smoothed down her skirts. When he'd first seen her this evening, her appearance had stunned him. He'd always known she was attractive, but dressed in her finery with her hair caught up in an intricate knot and her body encased in silk, Alyssa was breathtakingly beautiful.

  And she'd traipsed through the streets of London dressed like this.

  Concern spread through him, making his tone sterner than he'd intended. "What possessed you to come over here in the middle of the night without an escortr

  "I needed to see you."

  "And it couldn't wait until morning?" he asked, incredulous.

  Placing her hands on her hips, Alyssa gave him a shake of her head. "Obviously I didn't feel it could."

  Her disregard for her own safety astonished him. "I can't think of anything important enough to risk life and limb."

  "Life and limb?" Alyssa laughed softly, a pretty sound that sparkled through the room. "I simply walked down a few streets. Nothing perilous, I assure you."

  "I beg to differ," he retorted, taking a step closer to pluck a twig out of her disheveled hair. "Criminal ele-ments roam the streets at night"

  Exasperation echoed in her sigh. "Please, Ian, I don't wish to argue about whether or not I should walk through the streets of London. I came to discuss the proxy."

  Taking a step back, Ian retrieved his glass of brandy. "Ah, yes, the proxy."

  "I thought you'd asked your grandfather to approach me," Alyssa said softly. "He told me you were out of town on business and that was why he was making the offer instead of you."

  Ian leaned back against his desk. "That wily old bastard," he murmured.

  "It struck me as odd that you would have your grand-father negotiate the proxy, but when I asked him if you'd agreed to it, he assured me you wished to marry me." Clasping her hands in front of her, Alyssa met his gaze. "I believed him. No, that's not quite true. I had doubts, but I ignored them because I wante
d to believe him."

  Her statement tugged at him. "Why did you want to believe my grandfather?"

  "Because of what it meant to me and Calla. If I were to marry you, all of our financial problems would be over. Calla could receive the Season she deserves and I would be content in marriage." Alyssa shook her head. "I'm so sorry, Ian, that I allowed my selfishness to blind me to the truth."

  Oddly enough, Ian felt a vague sensation of disappointment when Alyssa had admitted to wanting to marry him for his money. Pushing the unsettling feeling aside, he reassured her. "Don't blame yourself, Alyssa. My grandfather can be most persuasive when he so chooses."

  "At least I discovered his deception before it was too late to correct matters." Alyssa smiled for the first time since he'd hoisted her through the window. "While I've agreed verbally, I haven't yet signed anything. I shall simply refuse to sign the papers when your grandfather sends them to me. Please be assured that any threat of a proxy is over."

  "It's over?" Ian asked, stumbling over the question. Shaking himself, he cleared his throat. "I mean, yes, of course, the proxy is no longer a threat."

  "Tomorrow afternoon, I shall attend Lady Wirth's tea party and announce that Lord Hammond was mistaken and there is no proxy agreement between us."

  "But you accepted his introduction this evening," Ian pointed out. "How will you explain that?"

  Biting her lower lip, Alyssa remained quiet for a moment. Finally, she snapped her fingers. "I shall sim-ply tell the ladies that the duke was suffering from a Gypsy spell and I was going along with his delusions in order to help him break the spell."

  "And what of your financial situation? How will you address that problem?" Ian asked quietly.

  The smile upon Alyssa's face died. "I fear that problem will not go away quite so easily."

  "It would if you allow me to offer you aid." As soon as the words left his mouth, Ian saw Alyssa stiffen. Raising his hands, he warded off her anger and clarified his statement. "I'm not asking you to become my mistress. I am merely offering you financial assistance."