A Debutante in Disguise by Eleanor Webster

Author:Eleanor Webster
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mills & Boon Historical
Published: 2019-06-11T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Letty spoke quite calmly. The very calmness of her rejection angered him. His jaw tightened. He felt throbbing pain from the scar on his cheek and from his ribcage.

‘But—Miss Barton—Letty—I must make things right.’

‘As I said, there is no need. I certainly behaved with a lack of self-discipline myself, which is quite contrary to my natural disposition.’ She paused, dropping her gaze and studying her plate as though contemplating something of great complexity. ‘Indeed, I have always been somewhat judgemental of others. I felt that individuals who engaged in such intimate relations lacked judgement and self-discipline. Perhaps I didn’t understand. I hadn’t realised how powerful physical attraction could be. This has—enhanced my knowledge.’

She fell silent, continuing to stare intently at her plate and toast, and he found this studious, almost scientific analysis extremely disconcerting.

‘Miss Barton,’ he said at last. ‘I have lost much, but I have not lost my sense of honour. Of course I will marry you and, while we have little in common, I am certain we will rub along as well as many couples. My estate, Oddsmore, is not too far from here and is a pleasant place. My income is more than adequate and I have a peerage. I am happy for you to go to London and buy trinkets and bonnets and...and things.’

She shook her head, glancing at him with that unique calmness. ‘Lord Anthony, do I look as though I enjoy trinkets or give a rap about bonnets?’

She raised one eyebrow with quirky humour which he found appealing.

‘No,’ he admitted.

‘And I know sufficient about procreation to recognise that there is no chance I am with child. Therefore, you need feel absolutely no reason or necessity to marry me. Anyway, you have done the honourable thing and offered, so think no more about it.’

His moment of humour was again overtaken by the anger which twisted through him and, underneath the anger, a painful hurt.

He had spoken of this as a matter of honour but, beneath this rationale, there was something more. This odd woman had given him something. He’d felt...

And this firm, definite, positive refusal hurt.

But then why would she want to tie herself to a broken man? He could not yet walk or run with any fluidity. His face was scarred. And she had witnessed his emotional weakness and the dreams which haunted his nights. He stood, pacing the small room.

‘It is because of my scars? All right for a temporary dalliance, but nothing long term.’

‘No.’ She stood also. ‘How can you say that?’

‘Rejecting my offer of marriage might have something to do with my supposition.’

‘You hadn’t even thought of marrying anyone and certainly not me until last night. And aren’t men always kissing women and not marrying them?’

‘Not honourable men with honourable women. True enough, I hadn’t considered marriage, but I must do my duty to the estate. So really it is not such a bad idea.’

‘How reassuring,’ she said. ‘Well, for me, it is a bad idea. Marriage is of no interest to me.

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