A Lady of Persuasion (The Wanton Dairymaid Trilogy #3)

“Er … Thank you? I guess?”


“Damn it, I’m serious. After today, I can’t order you to keep her happy.” Gray approached him. “So I’m not threatening you anymore, I’m … Bloody hell, I’m begging you. This is my baby sister. My only sister. And this morning, she’s happier than I’ve ever seen her in her life.” He jabbed a finger in Toby’s chest. “Don’t c**k it up.”

“Good God, man. I think you’re going to cry.”

Gray bristled. “No, I’m not.”

“You are, I swear it. Your eyes are all glittery.” Toby raised a finger to the corner of his own eye. “Look, right here … a little tear just about to fall—”

“Go to hell.” Gray turned on his heel, making a show of raking his hand through his hair before surreptitiously swiping at his eyes.

Toby felt a pang of sympathy for the man. Perhaps it was poor form to gloat, when he’d already won the battle. “Listen,” he said. “You’ve nothing to worry about. No one wants to see Isabel happy more than I do.”

Gray threw him a look of utter skepticism.

“No, I mean it,” Toby said slowly, just as surprised as anyone to realize he was speaking the truth. “I know you can’t credit it. She’s been your sister all your life, and here she’s been my intended just a matter of months. I don’t expect you to believe me, but I tell you quite honestly, there’s nothing more important to me than seeing Isabel happy. Nothing.”

Gray made a sound of derision.

For both their sakes, Toby decided to lighten the mood. “Look at it this way. You’re not losing a sister, you’re gaining a brother.”

“God. Now I really will weep.” Collecting himself, Gray gave Toby a superior smirk. “Well, I’d best be getting back to Sophia. You know, my wife.”

“Oh, no. That won’t work anymore, either. I’m not envious of you. How could I be, seeing how it all turned out?” For the second time in the space of a minute, Toby’s impulsive honesty came as a revelation. It was true. What ever his mixed feelings toward Gray, jealousy no longer had any part in them. “Mind, I still think Sophia’s too good for you.”

“Of course she is. I’m no fool.”

“And I know we can agree Isabel’s simply too good for this world.” Toby smiled. “There’s nothing for it, Gray. I think we’ll just have to get along.”

Gray’s shoulders scrunched together, as if the idea sent chills down his spine.

“Come on,” Toby prodded, enjoying the moment thoroughly. “I’m an amiable sort. I’m friends with everyone.” He opened his arms and tilted his head to the side. “Brotherly hug?”

“Oh, for Christ’s sake. I’d sooner cut off my own bollocks.” Gray made for the exit, leaving Toby’s arms suspended mid-air. He paused at the door just long enough to repeat those encouraging words: “Don’t c**k it up.”

Don’t c**k it up, indeed. What an enlightening chat. All this time, Toby had focused on getting even with Gray—only to find they’d emerged as allies. At some point in their betrothal, somewhere in the midst of begging, charming, cajoling, and outright lying to earn her approval

—Isabel had crawled straight into his breast pocket and made a home there. To be honest, it could also have had something to do with the point when his fingers crawled into her bodice …

At any rate, the game had changed. He didn’t want to get even with Gray anymore, or assuage his own wounded pride. He’d grown accustomed to Isabel’s lovely smiles and expressions of kindhearted delight. He’d come to live off her sweet faith, the perfect trust in her eyes when she gazed at him. Now he couldn’t imagine surviving without it—any more than he could imagine surviving without air, or food. Whether her brother believed it or not, Toby truly wanted, more than anything, to keep his wife happy.

Which meant keeping his promises.

Good Lord.

All his promises. Every blasted one of them.

The door burst open again. Toby looked up, expecting to see Jeremy, prepared to assume his role of best man. Instead, in walked a much older friend—in more ways than one.

“Mr. Yorke,” Toby greeted him. “What a pleasant surprise. Come to give me last-minute advice?”

“How’s this for advice? Run away. You’re making a terrible mistake. Marriage is for virgins and fools.”

“And here you’ve remained a bachelor all these years.” Toby chuckled. “Astonishing.”