Page 24 of In Compromise with the Earl
Oswald leaned in. “Lady Ravenswood, I came here with one aim only, not to marry, but to test you. If your prowess is as others claim, I think this should be easy for you.”
He met her stare and held it for the long, stifling moment, before she snapped her fingers. “Lady Katherine Fairchild, would be a perfect match, provided you are not looking for a love marriage. Lady Katherine’s sister Ophelia married a Marquess, and she wants to upstage her.”
“He is a Marquess, and I am Earl,” Oswald said patiently. “Do you not see a problem there?”
“He is a Marquess in name only,” Lady Pandora replied. “His father holds all the purse strings and there is little property he controls. You, however, have Estates here and abroad. She’s not as much of termagant as most people believe, she just does not suffer fools. You may be able to form an agreeable alliance with her after all. Just don’t expect affection.”
Oswald smiled. “But what if I expected affection?”
Her lips ticked down. “My Lord, is this a joke to you?”
“Yes,” Oswald, “and you cannot tell me otherwise.”
Lady Pandora’s lips pursed. “I might not have all the answers, but over fifteen couples I have matched, since I started these retreats, are happily married now. Your standards do not match anyone gathered in this Manor.”
“Well, I suppose we are done here,” Oswald said, bracing his hands on the chair’s arms and making to stand, but Lady Ravenswood stopped him.
“Are all these requirements absolute, or will you give a little leeway?” Lady Pandora asked.
“You may bend anything but blonde, witty, her height and her accomplishments,” Oswald gave a brisk nod. “Good day, My Lady, and good luck on finding my perfect match. You will need it.”
Chapter Nine
Oswald left the room wondering what she would do, how would she twist something, anything, to find his perfect match? Did he even have one?
Instead of going back to his chamber, or the gardens, or the stables, he headed out to the lake—only to come upon a breeches-clad Aphrodite skipping stones into the water. She looked lost in thought, and he hesitated in taking another step.
Only, it did not matter as she said, “You can come closer you know. I don’t bite.”
He came closer and stopped a few feet behind her. “What has brought you out here to brood by the lakeside?”
“I don’t brood,” she said.
“Au contraire,” he replied. “I’ve see that look in my mirror for days. What is it?”
She slanted a look at him, before bending to grasp some more pebbles. Oswald forced himself not to look at the firm press of her backside as she bent. “A misbegotten matchmaking session with Lady Pandora this morning.”
“Ah,” Oswald said. “I just came from mine too.”
“After I told her in no uncertain terms that I will not be placed with the Duke, she made a fuss.” Aphrodite skipped another pebble into the water. “She matched me with three other Lords, none of them you. Lord Easton seems to be fun though.”
“She matched you withDraven?” Oswald’s words came out harsh and underscored with a hint of jealousy.
After slanting a knowing look at him, she faced the water again. “It still does not stop Strathmore from pursuing me. If it were up to her and my father, we would be wed already.”
“You don’t have to marry him, you know,” Oswald offered.
She huffed. “What about you? Who are you paired with?”
“Lady Katherine Fairchild,” Oswald replied dryly. “A woman whose life’s endeavor seems to be upstaging her sister.”
“And you?” Aphrodite juggled a few stones between her hands and before Oswald could reply, his gaze was attuned to her slender fingers’ deft movements. “What do you want in a marriage? A love match?”
He snorted. “Hardly.”
A sharp emotion—one had contradicted his words—slashed through his chest. In his heart of hearts, Oswald knew he wanted love, but was not going to risk his heart once more and be proved a fool—again. “I’d prefer companionship this whirl around.”
“A shame,” she muttered. “You don’t strike me a one who will be satisfied by companionship.”
