“Yes, but is it part of your plan to put yourself in a compromising position with me?”
“No, of course not, that is the last thing in the world I want.” Which wasn’t entirely true, but it was what Emily had been trying to convince herself was true, so her denial may have been expressed a shade too vehemently.
Alexander was somewhat disappointed by this emphatic response, but then again, what did he expect? Had he expected her to announce that her fervent desire in life was to be forced to marry an undistinguished curate? What stunned him was how much he had wanted her to imply something of the sort. He swallowed his disappointment and decided instead to discover the answer to some of the questions that had been puzzling him.
“So if that is not your plan, then what is, if I may be so bold as to inquire?”
“Whatever do you mean? You know my plan. It is to see Lydia marry the man of her choice, the man she truly loves.”
“This other man, the one you mentioned in our conversation the previous evening, is he so odious a man that Miss Smithfield cannot like him?” Alexander asked.
“Yes. No. Actually, I do not know. We have not made the gentleman’s acquaintance.”
“Yet you say he is Sedgewick’s superior in position and fortune. Would not he be the better match for your sister?”
“No, he would not.” Emily was frustrated by his question and answered a little irritably. “Aside from the fact that Lydia loves another, she would not be comfortable with life as a duchess. She much prefers a placid, bucolic sort of life, such as the life she enjoys here in Stonehurst.”
“I take it from your tone of voice that you do not share your sister’s tastes.”
“No, I do not. While I admit the country is not without its charms, I find life here dull for the most part. I want something more than a country swain and a vicarage full of blue-eyed moppets. I am nineteen years old. I want to see a little of life before I settle into old age.”
“I do not think you’re in any danger of that for some time. Nineteen isn’t such a great age, after all.” Alexander replied, holding back a smile. “But we stray from the subject. Lydia has no ambition to be a duchess, but marrying her off to Sedgewick will not aid you in your schemes any. Unless you can convince this other gentleman to carry you off instead.”
Emily’s startled expression alerted him that he might have stumbled onto something. “That’s your plan, isn’t it, Miss Smithfield? To ensure Lydia’s firmly out of the running for the gentleman’s hand and offer yourself as the consolation prize?”
Emily did not reply, but the look of embarrassment on her face was proof enough. Alexander was disgusted. So much for all her talk of marrying for love. She was just the countrified version of a Lady Cynthia. Perhaps worse. She was willing to cut her own sister out of the running. “I must say, I find all this a little hypocritical of you.”
“Mr. Williams, you mustn’t think badly of me. I truly have Lydia’s best interests at heart.” When Alexander did not reply, merely casting her a look of disgust, Emily hurried to explain. “You see, it is as I explained to you earlier, Lydia has no desire to be a duchess. Why, the very thought terrifies her. Then, when I discovered her attachment to Mr. Sedgewick, I was determined she should not have to make such a sacrifice.”
“So you nobly offered to make the sacrifice in her stead.”
“Well, yes, but, as you are implying, I did not see it as such a great sacrifice. I believe I would enjoy life in town, and I have not formed an attachment to another.”
“As of yet. What happens when you meet a gentleman you could love, but you are already married to your precious lord?”
“Well, I must say, the idea did not occur to me until just recently. I just assumed such a thing would not happen. Now I am not so sure.”
Alexander was pleased to see she wasn’t quite the heartless wench he’d thought her. Because if those big brown eyes staring up into his weren’t sending the message that he was the one to have caused her doubts, his name wasn’t Alexander Eaton, Marquess of Wesleigh. He chose to ignore that, for the moment, that was not his name.
“Your ambitions aside, you are correct that your sister should not be forced into a loveless marriage. Whether or not you should be the one to take her place is a concern for you and the duke, and has nothing to do with me.” He smiled wryly as he made this statement, as it had everything to do with him. And then his sense of humor overtook him, and he had to restrain himself from laughing out loud. How ironic, he thought, that Emily was announcing her matrimonial plans to the very man she hoped to entrap.
Emily, who had been walking with downcast eyes, feeling ashamed, somehow, of what she had previously felt was a logical and advantageous scheme for all involved, cast a tentative glance at Mr. Williams and was surprised to see him grinning.
“I cannot possibly see what you find amusing in all of this,” Emily said, whose feelings of humility and shame had vanished to be replaced with indignation.
“Can you not?” Mr. Williams asked, whose grin widened when he saw the look of ferocity directed toward him, which put him in mind of a rather angry kitten. “You don’t find it somewhat amusing to consider this young man—what is his name?”
“Lord Wesleigh.”
“You don’t find it the least bit amusing,” Mr. Williams continued, “that Wesleigh, having already been told to marry one girl, arrives on the scene and without anybody asking his opinion, is told, ‘Sorry old chap, that one’s been taken, but be a nice lad and marry this one instead’?”
“Well, I do not see how it would matter to him. He agreed to marry one girl he has not even met, so he cannot be too particular.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that. From what I know of Wesleigh, I would say he is quite particular.”
Emily looked up, startled. “You know Lord Wesleigh?”
“Yes, we went to school together. And as I said, he is quite particular in his tastes.”
“Well, although I may not be as beautiful as Lydia, I do not consider myself utterly repulsive.”
“My dear, you cast your sister quite in the shade. I think, from what I know of Wesleigh, you are much more to his taste than she is.”
“Am I?” Emily asked, although, at the present moment, her thoughts were not of Wesleigh’s taste, but the man walking beside her. “You sound as if you know him quite well.”
“I would say I know him rather well, yes.”
“What is he like? What are his tastes, his interests?”
“Well, he is considered a likable gentleman, I suppose. Fairly popular.”
“Yes, but what does he
“Well, no.” Alexander was becoming a little uncomfortable. “He does what most gentlemen of his set do. You know, sporting pursuits, curricle races, that sort of thing.”
“But those sound like the habits of a very young man. I thought he was close to thirty years of age.”
“Yes, well, he has plans to lead a more purposeful sort of life. Become more involved in charitable works, institute improvements at his country estate, that kind of thing.”
Under Emily’s approving gaze Alexander wanted to rush right back to London and perform some worthwhile deed immediately, if only it meant she would continue to smile up at him in that manner.
“Do you know if he enjoys travel?”
Alexander thought for a moment. It was clear Emily desired to travel, and he wanted to answer her honestly. He had sincerely enjoyed his time on the Continent, but was inclined to stay in London, due to indolence more than anything else. Now he was struck by a burning desire to show Emily places like Italy and Greece, and see her big brown eyes light up with pleasure. That thought led to thoughts of other methods of making her eyes light up with pleasure, which he firmly suppressed, since Emily was still awaiting his reply.
“I cannot say that Alexander and I have ever discussed whether or not he enjoys travel, but I am inclined to think he does. Particularly if he were to have with him a lovely traveling companion such as yourself.”
Emily smiled. “Thank you, kind sir,” she replied, with a mock curtsy, “but I wonder if you have been telling me the opinions of Lord Wesleigh or Mr. Williams.”
Alexander “Williams” returned her curtsy with a bow, but did not reply.
