“But I do not wish to marry you, my lord,” she protested. “I do not even know you.”
“There will be time enough for that,” he said, bestowing a winning smile on her. “The rest of our lives, as they say.”
She regarded him with astonishment. “You would be willing to take such a risk?”
“As you were well aware when you chose me for tonight’s game, I will dare almost anything, my lady. I think we may be most suited on that score, don’t you?”
Abby was about to mount an even stronger protest when she considered what she would be getting with a man like Riley Walker, the Earl of Wilton. He was an adventurer, a man with a brave heart, a man of powerful passions as she knew only too well. Perhaps it would not be so bad to share a life with a man such as this. Surely his shipping interests would require him to travel extensively. She would at last be able to see the world she had thought beyond her reach.
“You will continue to travel to the Continent, my lord? You will not give up those daring adventures for which you are renowned?”
“Would that be your wish, my lady?”
“No,” she said emphatically. “My wish would be to accompany you.”
He laughed. “Impossible. The places I go, the things I do are not always fit for a lady. You will have more than enough to do seeing that our children are well-fed and happy and seeing that I am contented.” There was already a lazy, contented sort of possessiveness in his expression as he added, “I am a very demanding companion.”
Abby reacted with dismay. It sounded no better at all than the life she would have shared with Drake. Were all men such dolts when it came to seeing that women could be their equals in adventure?
“I’m afraid I must decline, then, my lord,” she said with a surprising amount of regret. “Such a dull life does not intrigue me in the least. If that was what I wished, I would have married Drake.”
“Oh, I assure you, Lady Abigail, there is no comparison between myself and Drake,” he said with a touch of amusement. “As for our life together, it will be anything but dull. I am quite sure you will see to that without half trying.”
“But...”
“No, my lady, it is done. I will speak to your father before the day is over tomorrow.”
“He will never permit it. Never!” she said, though she wasn’t sure of any such thing.
The Earl of Wilton seemed amused by her vehemence. “When the choice is disgrace for his beautiful daughter? Of course, he will agree.” He met her gaze evenly, a warning in his. “And do not think that your tricks will work so easily on me. I am not as readily fooled as Drake. No, my dear Lady Abigail, it appears we are quite stuck with one another. I daresay, given time, we will even come to enjoy our fate.”
* * *
“Never! Never! Never!” Abby had repeated the same word endlessly ever since that fateful night at the Foxworths’. Unfortunately no one seemed to be listening.
Her father had been distraught when he’d learned of Drake’s decision, but his good humor had been quickly revived when the Earl of Wilton arrived within the same hour to make his own offer for Abigail’s hand. Apparently Riley’s charm was quite up to the task of soothing her papa’s temper.
Her mother, however, was not so easily placated. The rumors of Wilton’s exploits on the London social scene had clearly not escaped her notice. Abby repeatedly heard them arguing far into the night about the suitability of the match.
“Perhaps he can tame her,” her papa said in exasperation several nights after the decision had been made in his mind, if in no one else’s. “It is clear we have not been able to. And I doubt if Drake could have done it. He was far too besotted. He would have indulged her every whim.”
“You would not have Wilton break her spirit?” her mama asked. “Abigail would surely die if he attempted that.”
“She must learn to do her duty. Despite your best efforts, she chafes at doing the simplest womanly task. Yet I find my books missing, especially those having to do with history and geography. No, my lady, this decision of mine is final. There will be no more of that nonsense once she is wed to Wilton. He will tolerate none of that, I am sure.”
Even standing outside the thick doors, Abby could hear her mother’s sigh. “If that is your wish, my lord.”
So, she thought, there would be no help from that direction. And as Wilton himself had warned, he was on to her tricks. What on earth was she to do?
She thought of the way she had felt when he’d held her, when his mouth had closed so hungrily over hers. The merest memory of it made her shiver from head to toe. That part, perhaps, would not be so bad. If only she could think of some way to make him give way on the other.
Eventually it came to her. Surely she, no less than he, had skills of persuasion at her command. She was not the only one who had trembled at those kisses. Surely, once they were wed, she could coax him into taking her along to the Continent, perhaps even beyond. She had read of so many exciting, unusual, far-off places in Papa’s books. Perhaps Wilton was her best chance of seeing them, no matter how dutifully he protested now.
Abby smiled slowly. Indeed, this might work out for the best, after all.
CHAPTER FIVE
Once a date had been set for the wedding, everyone at Briarcliff began to throw themselves into the preparations, including the very reluctant
