Hell of a Lady by Anders Annabelle

Author:Anders, Annabelle
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction
Publisher: Annabelle Anders
Published: 2018-12-09T16:00:00+00:00

Justin had never imagined such a scenario would present itself. Especially after last night, after learning she and Miss Goodnight had conspired to trap him into a marriage with not Rhoda but with the other woman.

She likely would have preferred Blakely. Blakely, although considered a womanizer, had been considered the most sought after, although most unattainable, bachelor in London for nearly a decade. Why wouldn’t she have preferred Blakely to himself, a former vicar?

But now here he was, kneeling before her in Prescott’s study, holding her hand, and she’d consented to marry him.

Although something in his heart thrilled at her response, another part was terrified. Had he just doomed himself to a lifetime of pain? Would she stray? After last night, he knew she was attracted to him but once that passed, would she move on to another? Would she replace him with more sophisticated lovers?

He wanted to believe she was the woman he’d first imagined but the lies perpetrated by her and Miss Goodnight left him with doubts.

And yet, she gazed into his eyes with a determined glint he’d not expected. He swallowed hard and then raised her fingertips to his lips. Closing his eyes, he sent up a prayer as he kissed her soft, fragrant skin.

“Thank you.” And although he knew she believed he was doing this as an act of kindness, he meant the words wholeheartedly. “But no more lies.” If they were to stand a chance at happiness, he needed to be able to trust her.

She nodded.

“I will speak with your mother and then depart shortly afterward. If your father has no objections, we can begin having the banns read this Sunday and you can plan for a ceremony in London. I don’t think we should delay any longer than necessary.”

And then he supposed he’d be obliged to introduce her to his cousins at Carlisle House. Hell, he’d be obliged to introduce himself. If he’d ever met any of them before, he couldn’t remember now.

Her eyes flew open wide. “But I’d thought… I expected you’d want to simply elope.” Fear entered her eyes. “Or can we simply marry here? I can’t return to London until everything is settled. Can’t we just get the ceremony out of the way and then return to London?”

“We will not simply get the ceremony out of the way.” He ground the words out. Obviously, she didn’t realize what it was going to take to restore her reputation. As her intended, he needed to address the wager at White’s in his own way. Marrying, by itself, would not be enough. Had she simply eloped with Blakely, it would have taken years for her to be able to return to the ton. And even then, he doubted she’d be afforded any respect.

No, he had work to do. Dropping her hands, he pushed himself up from the floor. He then strode across the room and opened the door. Not surprisingly, Her Grace was pacing just beyond it. “Will you have Mrs. Mossant summoned?” He didn’t mean for the words to sound as demanding as they had.

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