Page 6 of The Virgin in the Rake's Bed
“That is why I came here,” she replied, and she proceeded to tell him about her plan to seduce Hamilton Asquith and make it seem that she was beyond redemption and a scandalmonger whom no man could trust – least of all the Earl of Westwood.
When she had finished her explanation, he was silent for a moment, and she felt for all the world as though he was about to reign down a terrible judgement on her, condemning her for her waywardness. But instead, he sighed and shook his head.
“This is madness, my Lady. You cannot possibly tarnish your reputation for the sake of preventing such a marriage. Tell your father you have no intention of marrying the Earl of Westwood. He is so old that I doubt there would be any hope of consummation, anyway. The marriage would be null and void,” Ian said, causing Catherine to blush even further at the mention of the consummative act.
“I have made up my mind, or rather, I had made up my mind,” she said, turning her face away from him.
“And I have spoiled it, I suppose. What do you intend to do now?” he asked, and she shrugged her shoulders.
“Well, there is still time to find Hamilton Asquith. I should have looked in the drawing room first, or waited in the hallway for him to return. It was foolish to think of following him in here. Besides, no one would have caught us here,” she said, but Ian shook his head.
“I cannot allow you to do this, my Lady. You are a good and respectable woman, and to tarnish your reputation in such a way is tantamount to madness. Hamilton Asquith would quite happily have taken advantage of you, but that is not the point. He is a rake and a rogue and I would never trust him with anyone, least of all a woman like you,” Ian replied.
Catherine sighed. This had all been a complete disaster and now there could be no hope of salvaging the situation. Already, her father would be looking for her, a distant clock having just struck the hour of ten. The announcement would soon be made, and Catherine’s fate would be sealed. It was all a terrible mess.
“But what else am I supposed to do? My father will not hear of anything different. He has made his mind up and I am to be the unfortunate victim of an arranged marriage, just like so many of those poor women out there who know no better,” she said, sighing and sinking down into a chair by the fire.
“It need not be that way. Surely your father could change his mind or be persuaded to do so. It is not all so awful, is it?” he asked, and she nodded.
“It feels so to me. I have no desire to be married. I enjoy my life as a spinster and wish for nothing more than to continue it. The likes of my friends believe that only marriage can be a path to happiness, but I completely disagree,” she said, and he smiled.
Catherine knew something of Ian’s past from Rickard. How he had been rejected by a woman he was betrothed to, an actress of some sort and his reputation as a man who had no interest in marriage – if anyone might understand her predicament then surely it was Ian Bennet.
“And I am with you there,” he said, a sad look coming over his face.
“Oh, forgive me. I did not mean to cause you distress,” she said, but he waved his hand dismissively.
“You caused me no distress, Catherine, but I still do not believe that ruining your reputation for the sake of a rake like Hamilton Asquith does you any favors,” he replied, and Catherine sighed.
“Then what do you suggest I do to prevent this betrothal from being announced?” she asked, and he pondered for a moment.
“Well, you could always marry me,” he said, smiling at her.
Chapter Four
“You… marry you?” she blurted out, and he nodded.
Catherine was quite taken aback by his words, though she recovered her composure quickly enough. Had he really just offered to marry her? Granted, he was an attractive man, but even so, it was all rather sudden. For a moment, she felt quite speechless, and she looked at him in bewilderment, unsure of how to respond.
“Yes, not really, of course. But if we announce this evening that the two of us are betrothed, then there would be no question of your father announcing the Earl of Westwood as such – he simply could not do so. And your reputation would remain intact, rather than in the tatters of Hamilton Asquith’s arms as yourself intended. I am supposedly a man in search of a wife, and it would do my reputation no harm either to have you as my supposed betrothed. The ruse could last as long as we both so wished, long enough, at least, for the Earl of Westwood to be put off the scent,” he said, and Catherine smiled.
On the face of it, Ian’s plan appeared to be the perfect ruse. There was nothing in it, which was not to Catherine’s advantage. She had not wished to ruin her reputation entirely, though she had been willing to accept that fate in payoff for the ending of her apparent courtship with the Earl. Now, her reputation would remain intact, and she would be free from the duty which her father intended for her. But a question remained.
“What advantage would it be for you?” she asked.
She knew something of Ian’s reputation for rakish behavior. He had no intention of marrying, but that did not mean he had no interest in women. There were many young ladies she knew who had known something of his charms, though all had been disappointed if it was a calling card they were expecting. Ian Bennet was a man who enjoyed the company of women, but on his terms alone. Now, he smiled at her, pondering for a moment.
“To no longer be troubled by silly, tittering women. They are the bane of my life; I quite detest them. If it is known that I am betrothed then their attentions will be diverted elsewhere,” he replied.
“Then it is perfect – for us both, I mean,” she said, and he smiled.
“I would say it is, but tell me, how did you intend to seduce Hamilton Asquith?” he asked, his eyes trailing down her dress, which was still disheveled from her attempts at allure.
“I imagined he would kiss me if I made it clear to him I was willing. Then I hoped someone would catch us and my name would be stained. The news would reach my father almost immediately and the announcement of the marriage could not go ahead,” she replied, glancing up at him and smiling, feeling her cheeks flush red as she did so.
“No one has disturbed us just yet,” he said, taking a step toward her, and Catherine glanced over her shoulder at the door, imagining that at any moment Rebecca or Samantha would come looking for her.
But she cared not whether anyone should see them, for it was a compromising position which she wished for, and should a servant, or one of her friends, or any of the ton discover them, then Catherine would welcome it.
