London's Last True Scoundrel by Christina Brooke

Author:Christina Brooke
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Historical romance, Fiction
ISBN: 9781466822269
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: 2013-07-01T21:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

The company was quite dazed by the end of this thrilling recital. Davenport thought they’d brushed through it remarkably well. Now he needed to get Honey alone without delay so he could make it clear to her he had no intention of actually going through with the marriage itself.

He’d taken a drastic measure to save her from returning to the Grange, but what else could he have done? DeVere had as good as called Honey a trollop, accusing them of fornicating all the way to London.

If he had any sense of chivalry, he’d have thought of this before. He’d known as soon as they were obliged to spend the night on the road without Trixie they were taking a risk.

Still, he was damned if he’d marry any lady purely to satisfy deVere’s overweening ambition. Once Honey had enjoyed her month in Town, they’d call the whole thing off. By then, she was sure to have cut a swath through the eligible bachelors of the ton.

The thought gave him pause. He wasn’t entirely sure he liked the notion of her pursuing other gentlemen while supposedly engaged to him. He’d have to warn her to be discreet.

“One thing I ought to mention,” he said, “is that we agreed the betrothal should be kept secret for the time being.”

He essayed a fond look at his new betrothed. “I want Miss deVere to enjoy her season to the full while we become rather better acquainted. Should she decide that we don’t suit, or if she receives a more advantageous offer—”

Cecily snorted. “More advantageous than the Earl of Davenport?”

“Ah. You flatter me, dear sister.” Thank God Hilary deVere’s notions of eligibility were not the same as the rest of society’s.

He continued. “Regardless, I wish you all to keep this strictly to yourselves. As you have no doubt observed, we were wholly unacquainted before two days ago. It might be that Miss deVere will change her mind when presented with the choices a London season has to offer.”

“Then she’d be a fool,” said Cecily, narrowing her eyes. “She does not look like a fool to me.”

Before he could defend her, Hilary spoke up, her cheeks a trifle flushed. “I agree with Lord Davenport. I would also like the betrothal to be kept secret. In fact, I insist upon it.”

And wasn’t that the greatest compliment he’d ever received? Despite her untenable position, Hilary deVere didn’t wish to marry him any more than he wished to marry her. Regardless of his desperate desire to remain disentangled, her eagerness for secrecy struck him as just plain insulting.

“Bollocks,” said deVere, slapping his thigh. “You’re betrothed or you’re not. This business of keeping it secret won’t wash.”

“My dear sir,” drawled Lady Arden. “I beg leave to tell you that your language belongs in the gutter. Along,” she added, “with your linen and that coat.”

DeVere muttered something under his breath, but under Lady Arden’s haughty stare he subsided.

Hilary said, “Yes, we will keep it secret, and if anyone asks me if it’s true that we’re engaged, I’ll certainly tell them it’s no such thing.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.