Sarah looked into his warm amber eyes with their long, thick lashes. Punishment? Surely he realized that he was every woman’s fantasy. She shrugged.
“How can I tell? I don’t know you. Maybe you’re an inveterate gambler or a wife-beater.”
“No to both charges.” James smiled. “Well, since I’ve never had a wife, I can’t refute your last accusation with complete certainty, but I’ve never physically hurt a woman in my life—and I definitely feel no desire to beat you.” He took her other hand and tugged gently. She turned to face him.
“Look, Sarah, this arrangement has positives for both of us. You need a home. If you marry me, you’ll get that and a ready-made family—Aunt Gladys, who really does have a heart of gold, and my sister Lizzie. Even Lady Amanda. Someday, if we are lucky, we’ll have children. And you’ll be near your cousin—Robbie lives practically next door.”
Sarah flushed. She felt peculiar—warm, breathless, and a little shaky—at the thought of having this man’s children. She could not deny that what he offered was appealing. She had had little family herself. Her mother and newborn brother had died together when she was very young. Her father had been so busy with his work and causes, he had let the spinster Abington sisters raise her. It had been a life lacking in love. She felt a wave of longing so strong it took her breath away.
But James didn’t love her—nor did she love him, she hastened to remind herself. Why would an English duke want to marry a penniless American?
“What do you get?”
“A wife. I have need of one.” He grinned. Sarah noted the way his eyes crinkled at the edges when he smiled. “In fact, I was on my way to London to look for a bride. You’ve saved me a vast quantity of trouble.”
“I can’t imagine you would have any trouble finding an English girl to marry. They must be falling all over each other to get to you.”
James looked surprised. “I will take that as a compliment. However the London ladies are not pursuing me—they are hunting my title and my purse.”
“I don’t believe that for a second.”
He grimaced. “Believe it.” He looked down at the water rushing over the rocks. “How about a compromise? We won’t get engaged now. As you say, nothing actually happened last night, so there’s no rush. You can stay at Alvord with Aunt Gladys and Lady Amanda as chaperones. Then when we take Lizzie up to town in a few weeks, you can help keep track of her. She’s seventeen and a bit of a handful. I really don’t think Aunt Gladys is up to the task and it sounds as if you have some experience with young girls. You can think of it as your first position, if you like. You’ll have some time to get used to me and to the idea of marriage.”
“It’s not that I don’t like you,” she hastened to say. “You seem very nice. I just don’t know you.”
James nodded. “That’s completely understandable. There are just two conditions.”
“Yes?”
“First, if word gets out about our night at the Green Man, you must marry me. I won’t have your reputation shredded. And I won’t be the man accused of shredding it.”
Sarah thought it unlikely that word would get out. Who would care about Sarah Hamilton? And anyway, the only people who knew about the incident were James’s family and friends…and the obnoxious innkeeper and footmen.
“I can’t imagine that your aunt will spread the story, but those footmen…And the innkeeper does not like me at all.”
“Don’t worry. Jakes won’t breathe a word—he knows if he angers me, his inn’s days as a profitable establishment are numbered. And he’ll see that the footmen keep mum.”
“All right, then. And the second condition?”
James grinned and Sarah felt her stomach do an odd little flip.
“Second, I reserve the right to try to persuade you to accept my suit.”
“What does that mean?”
“Oh, this and that. Mostly this.” He leaned over and covered her lips gently with his.
Sarah no longer heard the gurgling of the brook by her feet or felt the rough bark of the log upon which she sat. Her world shrank down to James and his lips brushing lightly across hers. She was fully awake this time, but still the touch of his mouth on hers did shocking things to her insides.
Only one other male had ever kissed her. The butcher’s boy, smelling of sausages and blood, had grabbed her in her father’s kitchen. That had been an assault. This was an invitation. But to what? She pulled back, breathless, and looked at James. His eyes had the strange, intent look they’d had earlier, when he had been staring at her…at her chest. Sarah flushed.
“I’m not sure this is a good idea, my lord, um, grace.”
“James.” His voice was low and husky. “I really must insist, love. Your republican lips have too hard a time getting around the lords and the graces.”
His eyes focused on those lips. She wet them nervously with her tongue. His gaze sharpened and he started to lean forward again. She stood up abruptly.
“Yes, well, we’ll see.” She looked at him helplessly. “What were we talking about?”
He grinned. “These,” he said, touching her lips lightly with his index finger. He rubbed the rough tip gently across her lower lip. “And the second condition to delaying our engagement—that you’ll allow me to court you.”
“Do I have a choice?”
His grin widened. “No.”
Chapter 3
Sarah tried to ponder her situation as she walked back to the Green Man with James. She had never had a man—the butcher’s boy did not count—pay her attention, and now she had James, surely the handsomest man she had ever encountered, saying he wanted to marry her.
But no, James wasn’t just any man. He was a duke—a different species entirely. A British peer who did not hesitate to shed his clothes and climb into bed with any strange woman he came upon. He was obviously very practiced at seduction.
“Damn.”
James’s muttered exclamation brought Sarah out of her reverie—that and his increased pace. She hurried to keep up with him.
“What is it?”
“My cousin Richard causing trouble.”
“Bastard!” A girl with bright red hair and a purplish, swollen eye stood in the inn yard screaming at the black-haired devil from last night’s stagecoach. “I did what ye wanted. Ye didn’t have to ’it me.”
“Molly!” Another girl came running out of the inn. “Molly, are ye all right?”
“Look what ’e did to me, Nan! Look what ’e did to m’face.”
Nan hugged Molly and glared at Richard. “Molly’s a good girl, sir. Ye shouldn’t ’ave ’it her.”
“A good girl, is she? Well, she’s a very poor whore.” Richard grabbed Nan’s wrist and pulled her toward him. “Let’s see if you’re worth my money.”
“Richard!” James closed the gap between them. “Let the girl go.”
“Why? Is she a favorite of yours?” Richard’s knuckles whitened and Nan gasped in pain. His cold eyes focused on Sarah, moving slowly from her hair down her bodice to her waist and hips. Her skin prickled everywhere his gaze touched.
He loosened his grip, and Nan collapsed sobbing into Molly’s arms.
“Who is your long Meg, James?”
Sarah thought that James would not answer since the silence between them stretched out so long.
“Miss Hamilton, my cousin Richard Runyon.” James bit off each word. “Richard, Miss Hamilton of Philadelphia.”
“Philadelphia? Going somewhat far afield to find entertainment are you, James?”
“Richard! Miss Hamilton is the Earl of Westbrooke’s cousin.”
“Really? We shared a coach down from London, did we not, Miss Hamilton? Robbie must love you as little as James does me, if he consigns you to the common stage.”
Hatred swirls around this man like flies on a dung heap, Sarah thought. She kept her voice even. “My cousin did not know I was coming.”
“Ah, a surprise. I hope Westbrooke likes surprises. A
nd you’ll be staying with him, I suppose? Lucky Robbie.”
“Sarah will stay at Alvord.”
One thin black eyebrow rose. “Oh? How hospitable of you, James, opening your little home to strangers.” He executed a short, mocking bow. “Enjoy your stay at Alvord, Miss Hamilton. Perhaps our paths will cross again.”
Sarah breathed a sigh of relief the moment Richard was out of sight.
“Oh, yer grace,” Nan said, dropping a quick curtsey, “I dunno what we would ’ave done if ye and yer lady ’adn’t a’come up when ye did. That Mr. Runyon is the devil hisself.”
“I know, Nan.” James glanced at the other girl. “How did your friend happen to entangle herself with him? I thought you all knew to avoid him.”
Nan nodded. “Aye, that we do. Molly’s new to the trade, ye see.”
Molly stepped out of Nan’s shadow. “My ma’s sick, yer grace, and we’ve got little ones to feed. We needed more money.” She looked back at the other girl. “Nan promised me an easy trick.”
“Shush up, Molly.” Nan threw a harried look at James.
“Well, ye promised, Nan.”
“And if ye’d waited like ye was supposed to, ye’d ’ave gotten what I promised.”
“How was I to know? Ye said to wait for a lord.”
“Runyon ain’t no lord, ye booby.”
“He looks like a lord.”
Nan rolled her eyes. “I told ye the lord wanted ye for a friend, not hisself.”
“Ladies, I believe you can carry on this discussion elsewhere.” James turned to the injured girl. “Molly, have a surgeon see to your eye. You may have him send me the bill. And I suggest you consider another line of work. There must be some other way for you to make ends meet.”
“Well, I guess there is, only I thought this would be easiest. I’s gots some experience in the business, if ye know what I mean. I jist never did the deed professionally.”
“Yes, well, I suggest you go put something on that eye.”
“Yes, yer grace, I will. Thankee.”
Sarah watched Molly and Nan disappear into the inn. “That was the girl Robbie was waiting for.”
“It does look that way.”
“My hair isn’t that red!”
James laughed. “Your hair is beautiful, Sarah.” He pushed a loose strand behind her ear. She felt the warmth of his fingers against her cheek. “It is fire and gold. I am very glad Robbie did not encounter Molly last night. I would have sent her on her way the moment I saw her in my bed.”
“And then you wouldn’t be in your present predicament.”
“A predicament, as I told you, I am delighted to be in.”
Sarah ignored that comment. “The innkeeper told me the Green Man was respectable, but it looks like it has a thriving trade in exactly what he assumed I was selling.”
“Don’t be offended. I’m sure old Jakes just wanted to protect the local girls’ interests. If you’d hung out your shingle, no one else would have gotten any business.”
“That’s ridiculous!” Sarah felt her cheeks flame.
“Oh no, love. At first I thought Robbie had imported you from London.”
“You thought I came from London in this dress?”
“Well, I must point out that you were not in that dress when I first saw you.”
Sarah’s cheeks burned in earnest.
“But you could be dressed in a sack—which, if you’ll pardon my saying so, you are—and still be beautiful.” His fingers brushed lightly over her face. Sarah found herself turning up to him like a flower to the sun.
“Your hair, your lashes, your lips, and your lovely hazel eyes. You would make a man a fine mistress if you had a mind to—except, of course, you will be making me a fine wife.”
His hands cupped her face, while his thumbs stroked her cheeks. Sarah thought he was going to kiss her right there in the inn yard. His face got the intent look she was beginning to recognize. But a coach clattered over the cobblestones and he straightened.
“Let’s find Aunt Gladys and Lady Amanda,” he said. “I’m sure they are wondering what has become of us.”
The ladies were still in the private sitting room when James and Sarah returned. There was no sign of Major Draysmith or Robbie.
“So, is everything settled?” Lady Gladys asked. “You were certainly gone long enough. Are you engaged, James?”
“Not exactly, Aunt. Miss Hamilton has graciously agreed to consider my suit. I’m hopeful that once she becomes more acquainted with me, she’ll also agree to our marriage.”
Lady Gladys lifted an eyebrow. “How much better acquainted can she be, James?”
“Aunt!” James said repressively.
“So there’s no need to hurry the banns along?” Lady Amanda’s eyes focused on Sarah’s middle as if she could detect an incipient pregnancy. Sarah felt an irrational urge to cover her stomach.
James shook his head. “No. However, Miss Hamilton has agreed to an immediate engagement should gossip of last night’s little adventure become public. Since I’m certain that neither my relatives nor my friends will ever breathe a word of these events, I feel confident that we can give her the time she needs to make up her mind. Isn’t that right, Aunt? Lady Amanda?”
“Certainly.” Lady Gladys smiled. “We have no interest in rushing the nuptials, do we, Amanda?”
“Indeed, no.” Lady Amanda was still casting Sarah’s abdomen suspicious glances. “If you’re sure there is no possibility of an awkward event in nine months’ time?”
“Quite sure,” James said. Sarah was too mortified to open her mouth.
“That’s settled, then.” Lady Gladys stood. “Let’s go home. I take it Miss Hamilton will stay at Alvord, James? She can’t very well go to Westbrooke. Robbie may be her cousin, but he’s got only a bachelor household.”
“Exactly. I’m sure that I can depend on you and Lady Amanda to be the perfect chaperones.”
James escorted the ladies outside to an impressive carriage. Sarah eyed the large, black horse standing nearby.
“You aren’t traveling with us?” she asked quietly after James had handed the older ladies into the carriage.
“No. This will give you a chance to become better acquainted with my aunt and Lady Amanda.” He raised his voice to address Lady Gladys. “Be nice to Sarah, Aunt.”
“Of course we’ll be nice to Miss Hamilton, James. We are not animals.”
Sarah was not so sure. Studying Lady Amanda’s smile as James handed her into the coach, she had an inkling of how the biblical Daniel must have felt entering the lion’s den.
“I confess I don’t know whom your father married, Miss Hamilton,” Lady Gladys said as soon as the coach lurched into motion. “David became the black sheep when he left England. The old earl never spoke of him.”
“I didn’t really know my mother, either, Lady Gladys.” Sarah had only vague memories of a soft voice and flame-colored hair. “Her name was Susan MacDonald. Her father was a Philadelphian flour merchant.”
“A Scottish tradesman.” Lady Amanda folded her hands and sniffed.
Sarah did not care for the criticism she detected in Lady Amanda’s tone. “He was a very good tradesman. If my father had had a jot of my grandfather’s business sense, I’m sure I would not be penniless now.”
Lady Gladys smiled. “I’m sure you are right, my dear.” She turned to Lady Amanda. “Really, Amanda, Miss Hamilton’s connection to trade is not significant. You know that successful merchants are always acceptable.”
“True. The ton overlooks the dirt on their hands for the money in their pockets. And let us not forget, Miss Hamilton is an American. Some allowance can be made for her on those grounds.”
Sarah straightened her spine. She disliked the criticism of her country even more than the criticism of her family. She opened her mouth to object, but the older ladies had their heads together, completely ignoring her.
“James could marry an actress—not that he would, of course,” Lady Glad
ys said, “and society would accept it.”
“Exactly. No one wants to risk losing the Duke of Alvord’s favor.” Lady Amanda looked Sarah over. Sarah lifted her chin, and the older woman smiled. “She does look a bit like a duchess at the moment. I think she’ll do, Gladys.”
“I rather think so, too.” The women smiled at Sarah; Sarah smiled back cautiously. She had the uncomfortable feeling that she was about to lose control of her life.
“I see you’ve already put off mourning, my dear,” Lady Gladys said.
“Yes. I would have worn black, but there was no money for a new wardrobe, nor any time to make it. And my father would not have expected it. Why make the world a drearier place, he used to say, by decking yourself out in black?”
Lady Gladys nodded. “Then I hope you won’t object to wearing colors and dancing when we take Lizzie up to London?”
“No.” Sarah hesitated. “I don’t object. I would like to be helpful, but…”
“We don’t have to put it about when Miss Hamilton’s father died,” Lady Amanda said. “If anyone is bold enough to ask—as Richard might be—we’ll just say they do things differently in the colonies.”
“Yes,” Lady Gladys agreed. “There may be some raised eyebrows, but it’s not as if Sarah is just out of the schoolroom or on the catch for a husband. She’ll soon be wearing the Alvord emerald.”
Sarah shifted in her seat. “Lady Gladys, I really don’t think you should assume your nephew and I are going to get married.”
“Of course you’ll marry him, girl.” Lady Amanda looked at Sarah as if she had two heads. “The man’s a duke, wealthy, young, and handsome. What more could you possibly want?”
“I don’t know.” Sarah shrugged helplessly. “This is all so confusing.”
“What’s confusing?” Lady Amanda looked at James’s aunt. “It seems crystal clear to me, doesn’t it to you, Gladys?”
“Yes.” Lady Gladys reached over and patted Sarah’s hand. “Tell us what the problem is, Miss Hamilton.”
The problem, Sarah thought, was that she was a penniless American girl and James a wealthy English duke, but what she blurted out was “I don’t dance.”
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