“You agree so easily?” His father’s bushy eyebrows flew to the top of his forehead.
Owen grinned at his father. “Yes. Lavinia Hobbs it is. I’ll see you in a month, Father.” He made his way toward the door.
“Not so fast.”
Owen paused, his fingers resting on the door handle. He turned slowly and arched a questioning brow in the earl’s direction. “Yes?”
The earl cleared his throat. “There is a catch.”
“A catch?” Owen echoed. He didn’t quite like the sound of that. “What catch?”
“Her father insists that she should choose you.”
Owen’s hand fell away from the door. He turned to fully face his father. “Choose me? What do you mean?”
“Apparently, the girl’s got it in her head that she will marry only for love.”
Owen scowled and rubbed a hand across his forehead again. “Love? What nonsense is that?”
“Her parents value her highly and are quite indulgent of her. They’ve promised her she can marry for love. Until she fancies herself in love with some chap, she won’t accept his suit.”
Owen did roll his eyes this time. “How droll. Good God, Father, why this girl of all girls?”
“Because she comes from impeccable lineage. And once the match is made, the combination of our lands will secure the future of the title for centuries. She’s the perfect mate for you. But you are going to have to be the biddable, willing one. You are going to have to be the meek one. You are going to have to court this girl. Make her see your, ahem, assets, however questionable they may be.”
Owen snorted. “Your faith in me is truly astounding, Father.”
“Be that as it may, you’re going to have to convince her not only to marry you but fall in love with you as well.”
Owen’s grin widened. “I doubt it will be as difficult as you believe. I do possess a modicum of charm, you know?”
His father’s face adequately reflected his skepticism. “There’s one other thing.”
Owen groaned. “Dare I ask?”
“You cannot tell her that we are already planning a contract.”
Owen rubbed his temples. He wished he hadn’t had quite so many brandies last night at the club or quite so few earlier this afternoon. “Seems the whole thing could be put to rights with just coming out and telling her we’re to marry.”
“Absolutely not. Her father will stop the proceedings if she is made aware. She’s a bit, er, excitable, it seems.”
Owen scowled. “Excitable?”
“Gets her back up about certain things if she’s not happy.”
“Fine. Whatever you say. I’ll think of something. I’ll manage it.” Owen turned again, wrenched open the door, and took a step into the corridor.
“You have a month to get her to agree to your proposal, Owen,” his father called.
Owen turned his head and grinned at his father. “That should be plenty of time.” He strolled off down the corridor, whistling to himself. A month to get a Society miss to fancy herself in love with him? How difficult could it be?
CHAPTER TWO
Alexandra peered around the wall and waved at her maid to stay back. It was a delicate business, leaving the house without her mother seeing. Fortunately, Alexandra had had three years of practice.
“My lady—,” Hannah began.
“Shh.” Alexandra turned, still crouched, with her finger pressed to her lips. Hannah was clutching one small basket full of embroidery, and Alexandra was clutching another. “Mother will hear you,” Alexandra warned.
“But, my lady,” the maid continued in a softer whisper. “I intended to say that I believe your mother is in the study.”
Alexandra bolted upright, nearly dropping her basket. “The study? But Mother is never in Father’s study.” Alexandra turned her back to the corridor she’d been stalking and directed her attention toward the study instead.
Hannah nodded and shifted the basket in her arms. “I heard the duchess say earlier that she intended to speak with the duke.”
Confound it. What was Mother about? Alexandra peered down the corridor that led to the study. Hmm. This was unexpected and, as a result, interesting. Quite interesting, indeed. Normally, she would be pleased to find Mother preoccupied during Alexandra’s twice-monthly visits to the poorhouse; she gave her embroidery to the people there to sell in the streets for whatever they could make from it. She might as well make something useful out of the odiously dull pastime. Of course, Mother would have a fit if she knew her daughter was doing such a thing, but what Mother didn’t know didn’t hurt her. Or so Alexandra had decided years ago. It was no easy feat to pretend she was taking a nap, sneak out, convince Hannah, and bribe the coachman to take her to a less-than-savory part of town. It certainly didn’t hurt that Alexandra suspected the coachman was sweet on Hannah. That, and keeping Alexandra’s reputation intact, made Hannah’s presence an absolute necessity to the mission. Yes, normally she’d welcome Mother’s preoccupation. Breathe a sigh of relief, actually. But today—today Alexandra was intrigued by the idea of her parents speaking to one another in the study in the middle of the afternoon. Unprecedented!