“Money doesn’t figure into it, either.” She frowned. “I told you, Bennett is a wealthy man. With land, and—”
“It’s not your wealth the marquess is concerned with, but his own.”
They’d reached the edge of the garden, and Margery plopped down on a bench. “What do you mean?”
“Didn’t he discuss this with you?”
“No. I’m female. And that aside, the man tends to be dictatorial.”
With a sigh, he sat beside her. “You’re a master of understatement,” he said and explained about Hawkridge’s dependence on her property and the repercussions of losing that income.
“No wonder he didn’t want to admit it!” Margery burst out when he was finished. “He kept mumbling about honor and the promise to my father. And now, of course, since it happened, he has the perfect excuse to refuse Bennett—”
“Lily,” Rand interrupted her, “has a solution for Hawkridge’s finances.”
“Does she?” Margery blinked. “But it doesn’t solve—”
“She has an inheritance coming. Ten thousand pounds. Plus another three thousand from her marriage portion. That ought to be enough to set the marquess on the road to solvency, and then everyone can wed whomever they want.”
Margery toyed with her black skirts. “No, Randy,” she started.
“What the devil?” He’d heard a bark from the direction of the river.
There in the distance he saw Lily toss a stick, and a big, wet mastiff jump into the water to retrieve it. Beatrix sat nearby, placidly watching. Apparently the monsters didn’t eat cats, after all.
“What are you looking at?” Margery asked.
“Lily.” The hound scrambled up the bank and shook violently, spraying her with water that left big dark splotches on her light blue gown. He laughed aloud. “She’s playing fetch in the river with one of the marquess’s dogs!”
The sight of her, being so very Lily, lightened his heart. She caught him watching and waved. Waving back, he turned to Margery. “I must go tell her you want Bennett, not me. She’ll be so happy.”
“Rand—”
“Later, Margery.” She looked so distressed. “Stop worrying. We’ll make it right.” Sudden impulse made him lean and give her a quick, chaste kiss on the lips. “For old times’ sake,” he said lightly, rising from the bench. “Was it better than last time?”
He was gratified to see the ghost of a smile return. “Perhaps. But not as good as Bennett’s.”
“No? I’m not sure whether I’m happy to hear that or gravely insulted.” He grinned. “I need to talk to Lily; then we’ll speak with the marquess.”
He started off.
“Wait, Rand, there’s more—”
But he was already walking away, and Lily had spotted him. Whatever else Margery wanted to talk about could wait.
FORTY-THREE
THE SMILE FROZE on Lily’s face.
He’d kissed Margery. On her mouth.
He’d walked with his arm around her, too. Lily knew that, because although she’d been playing with the dog, she’d kept half an eye on Rand and Margery the entire time.
Or at least while they were visible. For a while they’d disappeared into the hedge- and treelined gardens. Had he kissed Margery there, too? In the little round gazebo where she and Rand had kissed last night?
He was going to marry Margery.
As Lily watched him come closer, she decided she wouldn’t make a fuss. Because she was nice. Because his father wanted it this way, and if all the parties agreed, there was no point in fighting fate. Because Margery had known Rand for twenty-one years, while Lily had known him just a few weeks.
Then suddenly she was in his arms, and she wondered how she could have thought any of that. His mouth was on hers, hot and needy, and the whole of her responded. She slipped her hands inside his open surcoat and pressed herself close. Her heart raced; the blood rushed through her veins. And it was the same for him, she was certain.
Nothing had changed between them.
By the time he pulled away, her senses were spinning, her knees wobbly and weak. And although he was smiling, he looked as shaky as she felt. His heart was in his compelling gray eyes, there for her to see.
Perhaps fate would tear them apart, but it was clear as the cloudless sky that it wouldn’t be because Rand’s feelings for her had changed. And although she wanted an explanation for why he’d kissed Margery, she wouldn’t ask, because she didn’t want him to know she’d doubted him.
Still smiling, he brushed at his damp coat and plucked his wet shirt away from his body.
The sight of that shirt molded to his body made her swallow hard. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m afraid Rex has soaked me through.” The dog was panting at her feet. She bent to grab the stick and tossed it arcing over the water, watching the mastiff gleefully splash in to fetch it.
Looking every bit as gleeful, Rand swung her back to face him. “It’s all right. I’ll happily risk more wet to claim another kiss.” Involuntarily she swayed toward him, but this kiss was short and light. “Margery doesn’t want to marry me,” he said with an even wider grin.
“Are you sure?”
“She’s in love with another man. A local baron named Bennett Armstrong. My brother’s death was a relief to her, since it freed her from their betrothal.”
“Then why was she weeping?”
“The marquess has refused Bennett’s suit. Because he wants her land and income, of course. But now, with your inheritance…”
“It should work out for all concerned.”
“Thanks to your generosity, yes.” The dog emerged and shook, soaking them both, and Rand laughed and lifted Lily by the waist, swinging her in a wide circle.
When he finally set her on her feet, he kissed her again soundly and then gripped both her hands. “Tonight,” he said, his voice heavy with meaning, “after all this is settled, I’ll come to you.”
And they no longer needed to worry
