Page 17 of Every Rake Has A Silver Lining

She bristled at that. “He’s not mine. Nor do I intend to make him such.”

He nodded. “Be that as it may, my cousin is not the sort to welcome my mother and sisters with open arms. He’s more the sort to show them the door with only the clothes on their backs.”

“Surely Burwood would help.”

“I would expect no less. Drake is like the brother I never had, and I suspect he feels the same about me.” He managed a grin. “It’s one area where his typically perfect judgment is lacking.”

She scoffed.

“But my mother is a proud woman. Perhaps in my weakened state earlier, I was mistaken, and it is a second flaw.”

“In addition to the love of scandal sheets?”

Ah, but she had an excellent memory. “Yes. I don’t want my mother to have to beg for a roof over her head or bread for her belly. She deserves better than that.” He studied her, probing the depth of those dark, seductive eyes, fully aware her own situation was quite similar.

She shifted in her chair, the movement so slight and natural, had he not been watching for her reaction, he would have missed it.

“Why would you wait until you were certain the malaria wouldn’t return before marrying, then? Why not take a wife, produce an heir, and secure your family’s legacy?”

Her question brought him into painful territory, and he had no desire to subject himself to it.

“I have my reasons.”

“Hmph. Such as wishing to cavort as long as possible.”

Oh, she pushed him right in the middle of it—as if she literally placed her hands on his back. It might have been his weakened condition. It might have been because he knew she wouldn’t let it go. But he knew she would see through a lie. So he risked telling her a partial truth, even if it exposed his soft underbelly. “If you must know, it’s because I hate the idea of a woman falling in love with me. Perhaps it was all those years listening to Drake moan about losing Honoria. And I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving a grieving widow behind if this wretched malaria takes me to my grave before my time.”

Her jaw dropped.

He prepared himself for a scathing insult about his gigantic ego.

When she remained silent, he continued, “I suppose that’s why this arrangement, should we wish to pursue it, is so perfect. For I have no fear you would grieve my death, and you could easily find yourself a young widow with a substantial living. I would say that’s a winning hand for both of us, wouldn’t you?”

CHAPTER 6

Charlotte admitted, the man had a point even if she didn’t agree that his death would be a winning hand—at least for him. “And what if you survive and live a long life? If you find a woman who capturesyourheart?”

He shifted in his chair, and his face clouded as if he were in pain. “When and if that happens, you and I will discuss it at that time.”

“I want some of this in writing.”

His dark brows hitched. “What in particular?”

Heat raced up her neck to her cheeks. She blamed those sapphire eyes of his. They held her captive and pulled her in until she couldn’t think straight. Such a color should be illegal.

Or immoral. They made her imagine...things. Like being pulled into his arms and kissed until her head spun.

Gah! Stop! Stop, stop, stop.

“That you won’t require me to share a bed.”

Surprisingly, he nodded. “Fine. But I’ll draw up a second document for your eyes only with that stipulation. It would bebest not to present anything like that to your brother. Anything else? Your widow’s portion?”

Goodness. He was serious about predeceasing her. How could he be so calm? And why did she care? She returned to the practical—something she could control. “Precisely how much does Burwood pay you?”

“Ha! Afraid you won’t get your tenth?” He shook his head. “I promise you will be well provided for. Drake is a very generous employer, but the bulk of my wealth comes from other sources. I only ask that, should I not have an heir, you look after my mother and sisters after my father’s death. Help the girls find suitable husbands if they’ve not already married.”

How could she refuse such a request? Wasn’t she in a similar position? Her mind reeled back to the wordheir.With his family’s welfare at stake, would he truly respect her wishes if she refused to allow him into her bed? Or did he have so much confidence in his ability to seduce her he believed it was a moot point?

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