“That is a bad situation.” Daniel admitted, nodding. “What will you do?”
“I was wondering if…we might be able to…have an agreement between us? One that might be profitable for us both?”
Daniel looked down at her with his eyebrows raised. He was stunned that they had been thinking the same thing. “We might,” He responded. “I must inform you that it is not just the marriage that I must produce for my parents. They will also expect an heir. Are you…” he didn’t know how to finish the question, but she caught on to the implication. She and her husband had never conceived, but it had not been because she was incapable.
“I can still have children, my lord. I just didn’t have any with my late husband. He was gone quite a lot. He was in the military.”
“I understand. You are in need of the money to pay off the debts, and I am in need of a wife. Is this what you propose?”
She pulled in another deep breath, nervous with a thumping heart. When he put it that way, it certainly sounded like an affront to the sanctity of marriage. Marriage was supposed to be about love and unity and togetherness. Not signing on the dotted line so that debts would be paid and inheritances wouldn’t be lost.
“Yes, my lord.” She squeaked out.
He was quiet. She wondered what he was thinking, daring to take a quick glance at his profile. His face did not look unpleasant. He didn’t look angry or judgmental. He looked handsome and thoughtful.
“Here’s what I propose,” he said, and she steeled herself in case he came down on her for her apparent greed. “We will court for two months and a week. We must have time to get to know each other better and decide if this is truly something we want to do. At the end of that time, we will make a final decision on a marriage.”
“But if it doesn’t work out, will you not be out of time? You will not be able to find someone in that amount of time.”
“This is true,” He admitted. “But I believe that my parents will think differently if I have spent these last few months taking things seriously and truly courting a woman to marry.”
“Will they approve of me as your prospective wife?”
He grinned, giving her an amused look. “Lady Cynthia, you are a beautiful, intelligent woman. I don’t see why they would not approve. They don’t need to know about my dealings. They only need to know what they see, which is me with a woman on my arm, attending the balls and dances and social gatherings.”
“Then I suppose we have a deal? When will you be able to pay the collectors?”
“I will pay them right away.”
“Are you sure? That would not give you much of an advantage over me.”
“I don’t need an advantage over you, my lady. I don’t want you to go through the next nine weeks thinking that you have to spend time with me because I won’t follow through otherwise. I would like for us both to enjoy our time together without pressures of repercussions.”
“That is very noble, my lord.”
He just smiled.
Chapter Four
The first month of courting went by quickly. They attended two balls a week. Daniel visited her home, and she visited his. They went on numerous walks and short carriage rides together. They became the talk of the town almost immediately, as no one had expected the playboy to pluck the widow out of the shadows and start parading around town with her.
“A mismatched couple, that’s what they’re saying.” Alexander settled himself into the chair he always occupied when Cynthia was sitting outside enjoying the sun. It was getting hotter as the summer moved in. She was dressed in a full body bathing suit with a robe and had shed the robe in the heat. There was little more she enjoyed than the feel of the sun on her bare skin. Daniel had assured her that he would not prevent her from laying out in the sun, going out to swim or doing any of the things she always enjoyed doing. He promised her that she would not be obligated to do anything that made her uncomfortable.
“I know what they’re saying, Alex.” She murmured, not opening her eyes. She could hear so much more around her when she kept her eyes closed and concentrated on the sounds. The birds and frogs, even the trees with their leaves blowing softly in the breeze made unique and wonderful sounds.
“He’s a rake, Cynthia. What do you see in him to love when you know what he is, what he’s done to so many other women in town? Are you sure you know what you’re doing?”
She opened one eye and looked at him. His face showed genuine concern. The frown lines were deep in his young features.
She pushed herself up into a sitting position and tilted her head when she spoke. “Alex, do you want to know why I’m going to marry Sir Daniel? The real reason?”