The Earl's Secret Bargain

by Ruth Ann Nordin

  “In that case, I’ll share a confidence with you. I’d like nothing more than to be your son-in-law.”

  “Excellent. Then we are of the same mind.”

  He nodded.

  “Regina’s father will have the final say in who she marries. Regina thinks she does, but the truth is, he is the one who will make the decision.”

  Regina had been under no such delusion that if two gentlemen were vying for her hand that she’d get to decide which one she’d marry. She just hadn’t believed she’d have two to choose from.

  “You have a suggestion on how I might secure a betrothal?” Lord Pennella asked her mother, his voice hinting that he hoped she would tell him the secret.

  “I do,” she replied. “My husband is a businessman. And a shrewd one at that. What he most appreciates is making new acquaintances that can lead to profitable ventures. Do you happen to know anyone who might meet that requirement?”

  Regina gritted her teeth. She didn’t like the way this was going. If her father benefited from knowing Lord Pennella in such a way, there was no chance Toby could talk her father into letting him marry her.

  “My dear,” her mother said, startled, “I didn’t see you standing there.”

  Regina looked over at her mother and lowered her fan. “Oh, I didn’t want to interrupt your conversation,” she quickly fibbed and waved the fan. She didn’t think it was possible, but she was even hotter than before.

  “What a thoughtful child,” her mother replied. “She learned very well when we taught her to wait until she is talked to before speaking. Good manners are important for a countess.”

  “That is true,” Lord Pennella said and smiled at her. “It’s always good when a lady is thoughtful in her conduct.”

  Regina forced a smile in return. As much as she wanted to find Toby, she couldn’t very well slip off down the hallway right now. At the moment, she was trapped, but at least they didn’t seem upset she’d been caught listening to them.

  “May I have the next dance?” Lord Pennella asked, already extending his arm toward her as if she’d already said yes.

  “That’s a splendid idea,” her mother said for her. “And while you do that, I’ll find her father and talk to him.”

  Regina’s stomach tensed as her mother hurried across the room.

  “Miss Giles?”

  She turned her gaze back to him and saw he was watching her expectantly. After she closed her fan, she accepted his arm and let him lead her to the floor. The music started in short time, and she scanned the room, wondering if Toby had returned yet. Whatever could be keeping him?

  “I take it you heard me talking to your mother about marriage,” Lord Pennella spoke up.

  She swallowed, uncertain of how to answer him.

  “There’s no need to be embarrassed, Miss Giles. I fully intend to tell your father my intentions. I’d consider myself a fortunate gentleman to have you as my countess.”

  “Oh.” She couldn’t think of a single positive thing to say to that. He was being surprisingly forthcoming in his speech.

  “There’s no need to be hesitant with me. If we are to be married, we can speak freely to one another.”

  She scanned the room again. Still no sign of Toby. Taking a deep breath, she said, “There are other ladies who would suit you much better.” There. That was a good start. Maybe if she could dissuade him, he’d change his mind.

  “If there are, I’m not aware of them,” he replied with that charming smile of his.

  “There are many. Prettier ones. More likeable ones. Ones who would provide you with a healthy heir.”

  He chuckled. “If I didn’t know better, I’d assume you had your mind set on someone else.”

  “Oh.” Was she that obvious? Did he know about Toby? He had been talking to her mother for a while before she walked up behind them. Maybe her mother told him everything.

  “Some gentlemen pretend to be interested in young ladies, but that’s because a lot of them don’t have any money and are hoping to marry for financial gain. I’m not one of them, of course. I have more than enough. My feelings for you are genuine. But I do worry that you might have mistaken Lord Davenport’s attention for sincere fondness. He doesn’t have any money, and it’s no secret your family is one of the wealthier ones.”

  It took a moment for his meaning to dawn on her, and when it did, she only grew to detest him that much more. Did he really think it was appropriate to badmouth another gentleman? Even if Toby didn’t have any money to his name, she still wanted to be with him. If it was true and Toby didn’t tell her, it was probably because he was ashamed.

  But her father had more than enough to make up for whatever Toby lacked. The important thing was that he loved her. Money could buy many things but love and a happy marriage weren’t two of them.

  “I know it’s an unpleasant shock,” Lord Pennella finally said as the music came to an end. “And I’m sorry I had to be the one to tell you, but I wanted to make sure you weren’t taken in by someone who doesn’t really care about you.”

  Refusing to meet his gaze, she curtsied then turned away. Once again, she searched for Toby but didn’t find him anywhere. Well, maybe it was just as well she had to talk to him in one of the other rooms. If they could have a private conversation, they could get this straightened out, and she could tell him to let her father know his intentions before her father got attached to Lord Pennella. With a glance around to make sure no one was watching her, she skirted around the room and hurried down the hallway.

  Chapter Ten

  Toby poured another drink in Orlando’s glass then put the decanter back on the desk. “Are you sure you want another one?”

  “Give it to me,” Orlando slurred.

  Toby crossed the den and handed the glass to his friend. “You didn’t even know Miss Boyle that well,” Toby said as he sat in the chair next to his friend. “How can you be that miserable?”

  “I didn’t have to know everything about her to know she’s perfect for me.” Orlando stared at his drink but didn’t take a sip. His shoulders slouched forward, and he shook his head.

  “Tell her how you feel and run off with her. Couples do it from time to time.”

  “Don’t you think I would if I could?” Orlando moaned and ran his fingers through his hair. “She’s already married.”

  “She is?”

  He nodded. “A quiet affair.” His jaw clenched. “Her father didn’t even tell me he had contracted her marriage last week. If I’d known, I would have done something to stop the travesty.”

  “But how many times did you actually talk to her?”

  “We shared four dances, not all on the same day, and we talked one time in the market. But it’s not the length of time you talk to someone. You can know right away whether there’s something there or not.”

  “I hate to remind you of this, but she was dancing and flirting with every gentleman who came near her. How do you know you meant something to her?”

  “A feeling. I just know.” Orlando glanced at the drink and stood up. He set it on the desk. “If you truly care about Miss Giles, then don’t waste any more time. Don’t wait for this bet to get settled. Just marry her.”

  “You don’t think it’s too soon?” Toby would love to do nothing more than propose to her tonight, but he worried that it wasn’t the right time.

  “If I could go back in time, I would have proposed to Miss Boyle the night I met her.”

  Toby bit his tongue on a reply. Now, the same night would have been too soon. There was no denying that. But he had visited with Miss Giles twice now. She seemed to be willing to be with him. If he guessed right, she returned his feelings.

  “If you really care about her, propose now before something messes things up.”

  “He’s right,” a familiar voice called out.

  Toby turned and saw Toplyn enter the room. He crossed the distance between them and lowered his voice. “I just heard from Edon that Miss Giles’ mother has he
r heart set on her marrying Pennella.”

  “She what?” Toby asked, feeling betrayed. Granted, he didn’t really know her mother all that well, but he thought they got along well enough. What was it about Pennella that she enjoyed so much?

  “Edon overheard her mother tell Pennella to introduce her father to a business acquaintance. And you know how well fathers like those kinds of connections.”

  Orlando came over to them. “Her father will probably want him for a son-in-law if he thinks he can financially benefit from it.” He glanced at Toby. Though Orlando had been careful enough not to reveal how poor Toby was, he knew full well that Toby didn’t have the same connections Pennella did. “You need to make your move. Tonight.”

  Toby pushed down the uneasy feeling in his gut. “Where is Miss Giles?” he asked Toplyn.

  “Dancing with Pennella. They’re almost done.”

  “Well, I’m allowed one more dance with her.” Maybe he’d blurt it out and see what happened. “You think I should ask her father if I can propose first?”

  “No,” Orlando replied. “If the mother is all for it, her father will likely choose Pennella. What you need to do is create a scandal.”

  “But then he loses his estate to Pennella by default,” Toplyn argued.

  “Better to lose his estate than to lose Miss Giles,” Orlando replied.

  Toby had so little to his name, the argument was pointless. “I need to talk to Miss Giles.”

  “Good,” Toplyn said, a relieved smile on his face. “Be quick. If you can get her to agree to marry you, you officially win the bet, regardless of what her parents say.”

  “I’m really going to marry her,” Toby replied. “This isn’t about the bet anymore. I honestly care for her.”

  Toplyn shrugged. “Whatever the reason, I don’t care as long as you win.”

  After Toplyn left, Orlando went back to the desk and downed the brandy in his glass. “Love is such a fleeting thing. When you find it, you need to hold on and never let go. Forget what the others are saying. Forget the wager. Just do what is in your heart. If you need to create a scandal to secure her hand, then do it. The gentlemen at White’s will just have to deal with it.”

  Toby took a deep breath. “I’ll ask her first. I want to do right by her.” Even if this whole thing started as a wager, he wanted to give her an honorable wedding.

  To his surprise, Orlando came up to him and hugged him. “Good luck.”

  “Now I know you had too much to drink.” He couldn’t recall Orlando ever hugging him. “Go on home and sleep it off.”

  Orlando hiccupped and patted him on the shoulder. “Good idea. Let me know what happens tomorrow.” He wobbled a bit as he left the room, but he managed to make it through the doorway without running into anything.

  Thank goodness Orlando’s coachman was waiting for him to take him home. Toby couldn’t recall a time when his friend had gotten drunk. This was so unlike him. Despite the brief time he’d shared with Miss Boyle, he sure did take her marriage to another gentleman hard. Toby shouldn’t be too rough with his friend, though. If Miss Giles ended up with someone else, he’d probably feel like drowning his sorrows in liquor, too.

  A sound from the doorway caught his attention, and he thought Orlando had returned, but Miss Giles slipped into the room and checked the hallway before shutting the door behind her.

  “What are you doing?” he whispered, glad Toplyn and Orlando left before she showed up. Unless…she had been waiting outside and heard them talking. “Did you just get here?”

  “Yes. I didn’t pass anyone in the hall. No one saw me.”

  He relaxed. “If we’re caught together, it’ll mean a scandal.”

  “I know, but I had to chance it.”

  She walked over to him, the candlelight bringing out the highlights in her golden hair and making her skin look especially lovely. If he hadn’t had a drink to share in his friend’s sorrows, he might not feel so aroused at the sight of her. But there was something about being alone with her that gave him thoughts he shouldn’t have until they exchanged their vows.

  When she stood in front of him, she turned those lovely green eyes to him. “You told me to call you Toby.”

  Since she seemed to be waiting for a response, he nodded. “I did.”

  “Then am I to assume a proposal is imminent?”

  He blinked, not sure he’d heard her right. Was she really asking him if he planned to marry her? He studied her expression and saw she was serious.

  Well, he had planned to ask her, and this was as good a time as any. It seemed unfair to rush her through a courtship. She deserved to be lavished with his time and tokens of his affection, even if those tokens weren’t going to be anything extravagant.

  “You’d be right to assume that,” he softly admitted.

  She smiled then wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. Actually kissed him! Unable to believe his good fortune, he didn’t respond to her right away, and she pulled away from him.

  “Did I do something wrong?” she asked.

  “No, I just didn’t expect it, that’s all.”

  Then, before she could back away from him, he lowered his head and kissed her in return. Tightening her arms around his neck, she deepened the kiss, making no mistake that she wanted to marry him.

  Bringing her into his arms, he kissed her again, realizing even as he did so that he was risking them getting caught. At the moment, nothing else mattered but the fact that she was with him. His tongue brushed her lower lip, and she opened her mouth to receive him. He let out a low, grateful groan and interlaced his tongue with hers.

  She wiggled closer to him, her breasts pressing more intimately against him, an action which only excited him further. There was no way she could know the effect she was having on him. And the male part of him was insisting he throw caution right out the window and explore more of her.

  His tongue sparring with hers, he brought his hands to her waist then up until they were right below her breasts. Since she didn’t make a move to push him away, he ventured a little higher, aroused even more when she let out a slight gasp of pleasure. His thumbs caressed the fabric of her gown.

  He took note of the soft round flesh that yielded to his touch. The ridges of her nipples hardened for him, inviting him to do more. And he was more than happy to oblige her. He cupped her breasts in his hands, lightly squeezing them, trying to memorize how they felt, wishing she didn’t have her clothes on so he could lower his head and kiss her, maybe even run his tongue along her nipples and see if she’d enjoy it.

  She moaned into his mouth and ran her hands down his back then cupped his behind in her hands. He figured she’d be passionate, but he had no idea she’d be so wonderfully intense. She’d be a most delightful companion in bed. His fingers traced the neckline of her gown and dipped when he came upon her cleavage. She was so soft and wonderfully feminine.

  He had the sudden urge to pull the gown up to her waist, loosen the buttons on his trousers and make her his. Without a doubt, her flesh would be a most welcoming place for him to enter. And judging by the strength of his erection, it wouldn’t take long for the deed to be done.

  But he wouldn’t take full liberties. He couldn’t. She was a lady and deserved to be treated as such. Reluctant to stop, he pulled away from her, his blood racing through his body. She opened her eyes and looked at him. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips swollen from their kisses, her breathing fast. He couldn’t resist the urge to look at her breasts which strained against her neckline.

  Clearing his throat, he returned his gaze to hers. He clasped her hands in his and said the first thing that came to mind. “Will you marry me?”

  “Yes, Toby. I’ll marry you.” She squeezed his hands, her smile growing wider. “And you should call me Regina.”

  “Regina. That’s a wonderful name.” Unable to stop the grin that crossed his face, he brought her back into his arms and kissed her. “I’m the happiest gentleman in all of London.”r />
  “Will you talk to my father tomorrow about marrying me?”

  “Yes.” He paused. “Do you think he’ll let me marry you?”

  “As long as you let him know your intentions tomorrow, he will.”

  “Then I’ll do that.” He gave her another kiss then released her. “We should get out of here before someone catches us. I don’t want to ruin your reputation. You go first and I’ll wait a few minutes and leave. Then we can have our second dance.”

  “All right.”

  She gave him a quick kiss before she hurried out. He couldn’t believe his good fortune. Nothing could spoil this for him. Not Pennella. Not the gentlemen at White’s who lost the bet and would be upset. Not anyone. Everything was perfect.

  ***

  The next morning, Toby’s world came crashing down around him. As soon as he got to White’s, the gentlemen were either snickering, shaking their heads in sympathy, or bemoaning the fact that the bet was now annulled.

  “What’s going on?” he asked the Duke of Ashbourne who was reading something in the Tittletattle.

  The duke’s gaze met his, and he patted his shoulder. “I’m sorry, Davenport.”

  Before Toby could ask him what he was talking about, he handed him his copy of the scandal sheet.

  “If it’s any consolation, at least you don’t have to risk your entire estate to someone like Pennella,” he added then headed for another room.

  In dread, Toby’s attention went to the front page of the Tittletattle. This couldn’t be good. There was no way it could be good. He braced himself and read the first item on the sheet.

  Lord Davenport has made a bet with Lord Pennella. The wager? The hand of Miss Giles. Whoever marries her gains the loser’s estate.

  His gaze went lower. Someone named Gerard Addison had reported it.

  For a moment, Toby couldn’t breathe. This was the worst thing that could possibly happen. Last evening had gone so well. He had proposed to Regina, and she had said yes. This afternoon, he was supposed to go over to her townhouse and make his intentions known to her father. Then he was supposed to forget the wager, marry her, and live happily ever after. But as he reread the lines on the paper, he realized nothing was going to play out like he hoped because once Regina saw this…