Her Reluctant Groom (27 page)

“
Caro,” Alex said, coming into the room. “We need to be going.”

“
We’ll be right down.”

Alex nodded and left. “Could I just stay here?” Emma suggested weakly.

“
I don’t think so,” Caroline said, shaking her head wildly to emphasize her answer. “I know you may not believe this, but I’ve overheard Marcus blister Olivia’s ears a time or two, and I have no desire to take her place. You’re going.”

Emma smiled thinly. She, too, had overheard Marcus rail at Olivia for something foolish. She certainly understood Caroline’s hesitancy to go against his wishes and leave her behind at Watson Estate when he’d practically demanded they take her to London to shop for a husband.

* * *

Two miserable days later Emma found herself looking around the ballroom at the massive crush. She fought the urge to run far, far away. Tonight, Caroline had dragged her to a ball given by the Duke and Duchess of Gateway. Emma had met them the year before at Caroline’s wedding. They were some relation to Alex, however, knowing this did
nothing
to settle her nerves.

She hated ballrooms before, and now with her excessive dowry, she hated them even more. Before her parents had died, they’d insisted she come to London for a Season, but her heart wasn’t in it. It was back in Dorset—with Marcus. Now, more than ten years later—three uneventful Seasons followed by another seven missed (but not sadly so) Seasons—she was right back where she didn’t want to be: having another Season. When she was younger, she’d just acted disinterested in the gentlemen. Not cold or rude, mind you. Just disinterested. That, coupled with her pitiful dowry, had kept them exactly where she wanted: in someone else’s drawing room.

But now it was different. Now she had a dowry and gentlemen were continuously asking her to dance, often while she was still on the arm of another gentleman. Several tried to get her to go off alone with them into the gardens, and a few had been so bold as to offer a marriage proposal during a waltz. It was humiliating and disgusting, and she wanted nothing more of it. It was time to do something to force Marcus’ hand.

Since she wasn’t dancing at present—not for lack of being asked, but because she’d sent her partner off to the refreshment room yet again—she peered around the room in hopes of finding the perfect man for her task. She needed one who had a reputation so dark even Marcus would have heard of him.

She didn’t see a man who would fit her purposes right off, so she decided she’d excuse herself from the knot of gentlemen who’d surrounded her and stand with Caroline and Alex until she spotted a good candidate. Even if Alex and Caroline could barely go five minutes without talking of science, which was preferable to the torture she was currently enduring. Besides, it was easier to ignore them and let her eyes search the ballroom than it was to be whirled around the room and proposed to while trying to locate the most rakish, scandalous, and unsavory man in existence.

“
May I have this dance?” a familiar voice asked when she was halfway to Caroline.

“
Drake,” she said, turning around and flashing a smile at him. “Fancy seeing you here.”

He chuckled. “That is a sentence I never thought I’d hear escape your lips.”

She smiled thinly. “I’m trying.”

“
I know. Is your dance card full?”

She blinked at him. Though she was stunned to see him at a ball, she was more stunned he’d asked her to dance. She’d never seen him dance with anyone but the late Lady Drakely, and the look in his eyes suggested he’d like to keep it that way. “Sadly, yes, my card is full.”

His face softened remarkably. “Would you be too terribly disappointed to miss the next waltz or two to walk with me?”

She placed her hand on his proffered arm. “Not at all. I’ve heard from about fifteen sources that the gardens are very nice.”

“
Then let’s explore, shall we?” He led her to the far wall and through the double doors that led to the gardens. “How have you been?”

She shrugged. “I guess you’ve heard about everything?”

“
No. Not everything. But enough.”

They found an empty bench and sat down. Emma grabbed the ends of her pink shawl and twirled the fringy tassels. “Have you been to talk to him?”

Drake shook his head. “He won’t see anyone.”

“
Of course not.”

“
It’s just his way,” Drake said casually. “That’s the way men are.”

“
Stupid,” she muttered.

“
That may be, but it doesn’t change anything.”

Digging the toe of her pink slipper into the soft soil, Emma stared into the moonlit distance. “What am I to do, Drake? I thought he’d come back, but he hasn’t.”

“
What do you want to do?” Drake asked carefully.

“
I don’t know. I always dreamed of growing up to marry Marcus. But then he was engaged with my sister and—” she closed her eyes— “I let the dream die. Even after Louise ran off with Hampton and Marcus recovered, I never dared dream of marriage to him again.”

“
Why?”

“
I was always afraid he’d spurn me the way my sister did him.”

“
That’s not what he intended to do.”

Emma blinked back her tears. “I know. He’s not like that. He’d never intentionally play with my affections.”

“
No, he wouldn’t,” Drake agreed. “He’s never held your sister’s transgressions against you, either. You do know that, don’t you?”

She nodded. “I know.” A wobbly smile took her lips. “But the end result was still the same, wasn’t it?”

Exhaling, Drake leaned forward and placed his elbows on his knees. “As I said, I don’t know everything. But yes, the result was the same. What do you plan to do now?”

“
I don’t have much choice.” Her voice was flat, resigned. “I have no living relatives who I can stay with, and I can’t impose on Caroline forever. That only leaves marriage. And since marriage to Marcus isn’t shaping up like I’d planned, I have to pick one of those toads in there.”

“
Is that really what you intend to do?”

Emma broke eye contact with him and developed a strong interest in the beadwork on her skirt. Could he tell she was reaching the end of her wits and was about to try one last attempt to force Marcus into action?

“
Emma?”

She met his gaze and bit her lip. “Yes.”

“
That was the weakest yes I’ve ever heard.”

Unable to stop herself, the corners of Emma’s mouth tipped up. “What are you thinking?” she asked, trying to avoid telling him too much in case he didn’t guess right.

Crossing his arms and leaning back, Drake shook his head. “I’m not sure what I think. You’re here in London at a ball like Marcus wanted, and not sneaking into Ridge Water and using whatever female tactics you can think of to get Marcus to change his mind, but for some reason, I think I’m missing something. Almost like you’re taking a more subtle approach by complying with his demands, but your motives are still focused on getting Marcus to the altar, not one of these gentlemen.”

“
Drat you,” Emma said with a sigh. Was she that transparent?

“
Don’t worry,” Drake assured her with a wave of his hand. “Marcus is so secluded in the country he’ll not get wind of what you’re doing. But, I must ask, exactly what is your plan?”

 
Emma eyed him skeptically. Could she trust him? He was Marcus’ closest friend. Surely he wouldn’t approve of her methods. What if he told Marcus what she was doing and Marcus became angry with Caroline and Alex for not being better sponsors? Or what if Drake tried to stop her? She shook her head. No, she couldn’t tell him anything. There were too many ways he could ruin her plans. It was better he didn’t know.

“
Emma?” he prompted again.

“
I’d rather not say.”

He nodded once and a moment of silence passed between them. “Do you remember my wife?”

Emma started. “Yes.”

“
When she was scheming some silly antic, she acted the same way you’re acting right now. Luckily for you, Marcus isn’t here to see you just now and shake you. Alex probably wouldn’t notice if he were here, and Caroline would probably join you. But, I’m the one here right now, and I want some answers. What are you planning to do?”

“
I’m going fishing,” she said cryptically.

Drake didn’t even blink at her. He just stared at her. Hard. “You’re going to try and lure him out of Dorset by having rumors spread to the effect that you’re courting someone he wouldn’t approve of, aren’t you?”

Emma gulped in a most unladylike fashion. “Yes.”

“
Who are you planning to include in this scheme of yours?”

“
I—I don’t know yet,” she stammered. “The idea just came to me.”

“
I just bet it did,” Drake muttered. “And just when did you plan to start this—this—this nonsense?”

“
Whenever I find a man with a black enough reputation. Care to make a recommendation?”

Drake snorted. “No. Our host has a pretty black reputation, but he’s married. Besides, even if he wasn’t, he’s probably not the kind you would want to associate with, anyway.”

Emma knit her brows. She’d heard some terrible things about the Duke of Gateway and knew he’d even been called the Dangerous Duke, but the few times she’d been in his presence he hadn’t been
that
bad. “Know of any others?”

He shook his head. “Viscount Bonnington is the only other man I can think of who could court you and have Marcus here by nightfall. But he’s the worst sort of man there is.” He exhaled sharply. “Does it have to be a hardened rake with a reputation that matches his black soul?”

“
I think so,” Emma said sincerely. She may like to think of Marcus as a warm and caring man, but she knew he had a will that couldn’t easily be bent. It would take something drastic to get him to act. Unfortunately, that meant being “courted” by a scoundrel.

“
You do understand your pretend courtship might lead to a real marriage, don’t you?”

Emma swallowed. That was certainly a possibility. One she didn’t like to think about, but one that couldn’t be ignored. If her plan didn’t work, she’d still have to marry someone, and chances were he’d be whichever scoundrel she was about to be courted by. Slowly, she nodded. She had to do this. She knew it didn’t make a lot of sense and she knew most would think she was daft for scheming in such a way when it seemed rather clear Marcus didn’t want her. But she had to do this. And if it didn’t work the way she wanted, she’d marry the scoundrel.

Drake threaded his fingers through his black hair. “What if I give you another choice? One that doesn’t include marriage to a blackguard.”

Emma’s blood stilled. He wasn’t going to offer himself as a substitute, was he? She couldn’t even contemplate the idea of marrying him. He was Marcus’ closest friend. If she accepted his proposal, not only would Marcus not voice a complaint about her choice, he’d probably encourage the match. Then she and Marcus would be devastated far more than they were already, and poor Drake, who’d once had a love match, would be married to a woman who’d never love him. What a coil! “Drake, I can’t accept your suit.”

“
I’m sure Marcus will be pleased to hear that,” he said casually, a grin on his lips. “However, I hadn’t offered it.”

Embarrassment flooded Emma. Twice now she’d accepted an imaginary proposal. “I’m sorry, it’s just you said…”

“
I know. I have something else in mind. I have this cousin you might like. He’s a baronet, so if rank is of no accord—”

“
It’s not,” she blurted.

“
Good. What of age?” He flickered a glance at a tree just behind her shoulder, then met her eyes again, a pale pink on his cheeks. “I’ll be blunt. He’s younger than you. Not a lot, mind you.”

“
How young?”

“
Four-and-twenty.”

Emma sighed with relief. The way Drake was acting, she’d have thought this fellow was still in leading strings. “That is not a problem.”

“
Good. There’s one other thing, he’s…er…he’s a little different, if you will. But don’t worry; he’ll make a good match for someone like you.”

“
Someone like me?”

Drake nodded. “Someone in love with someone else.”

“
Oh.”

“
His name is Sir Wallace Benedict. If you’d like, I can introduce the two of you.”

“
Wait.” Now that there was a chance of this becoming real, she needed to know a few things. “If he’s not a blackguard, what good will he do me?”

“
A lot,” Drake said with a triumphant smile. “Believe me; a man doesn’t have to be a blackguard to get Marcus’ attention. Besides, if you do wind up having to marry him, he won’t make you a bad husband.” He paused a few seconds to let Emma think about his words. “Are you sure this is what you want to do?”

Emma bit her lower lip in nervous excitement. What would this Sir Wallace be like? What would it be like being courted by him? Or what if she did end up married to him? Was that what she really wanted? She took a deep breath that did nothing to calm her nerves. “Yes.”

“
You don’t sound very convinced,” Drake teased. “How about we make a bargain? You meet Wallace, and if you don’t find him to your liking by the end of the Season, you can come to Briar Creek to work as governess—for real this time.”