Page 21 of Season of the Scoundrel
Lily’s eyes had widened. “I suppose he wants to determine the duke’s intentions.”
“This is ridiculous.” Ivy’s belly plummeted to her boots. “It wasn’t an assignation. I won’t be forced into marrying him.”
It was nearly the turn of the century, for heaven’s sake. They’d done nothing truly scandalous except nose about a gentleman’s study without permission and…share a kiss. A very brief kiss. Though one she knew she’d never forget, as it was her very first.
I won’t marry him, she repeated in her mind, but a sinking, terrified part of her sensed an awful prospect ahead, the thing she feared most—no longer having the choice to follow her own path.
CHAPTER 6
Ross had never had occasion to dress for the prospect of offering for a lady’s hand in marriage, but he thought his best suit might be in order. When he said as much to his valet, Leggett couldn’t entirely conceal his surprise at being called on to prepare Ross for yet another social engagement so soon, and this one on a Sunday.
Last night, Edgerton had looked thunderous, but he’d said very little. Only that Ross would be expected at Edgerton House in the morning.
In truth, Ross had not expected such a charged and swift reaction from Edgerton.
He understand the need for propriety and to conduct oneself honorably, but Ivy Bridewell was an independent sort of lady. She went into the city without a chaperone. She was pursuing a profession rather than marriage. She was bold in all her dealings, Ross imagined.
He understood that Edgerton might worry for her reputation and thereby the family’s, but Ivy had been gone from the gathering but ten minutes at most, and he’d been gone even less time. Of course, he also understood that gossips didn’t necessarily care about facts or truth.
Though they may not be able control the whispers, Ross believed they could agree on a solution to the dilemma. Over the course of a sleepless night, an idea had begun to form in Ross’s mind. Though now, in the bright light of morning, he wasn’t certain whether the idea was a clever one, or simply one he craved because of his growing attraction to Ivy.
Ross didn’t know the lady well, but he knew one thing with absolute certainty. She would not bow to anyone’s insistence that she marry a man she did not wish to.
While he told himself there was something between them—something she felt too—he couldn’t imagine she would wish to be his wife. In fact, if he were a betting man, he would put good money on the fact that she did not wish to be married at all, let alone take on the duties of a duchess.
Ivy Bridewell made her professional ambitions clear, and she had the talent to succeed. Considering the wealth Edgerton had built for his family, she didn’t have to marry at all, if she didn’t wish to.
When his carriage pulled to a stop in front of Edgerton House, Ross checked the knot of his neckcloth, then tugged down his cuffs. The situation was extraordinary—he’d hardly looked at a woman in months, let alone debauched one he admired for her boldness and respected for her desire to see justice done. But it seemed Edgerton perceived him as having wronged his sister-in-law, and Ross was determined to make things right.
The family’s butler admitted him and led Ross to a drawing room. Would Edgerton still be angry or had a night’s sleep allowed for some equanimity? In truth, he didn’t wish to speak to Edgerton at all. He needed to talk with Ivy.
As if in answer to his thought, Ivy burst into the room, looking as anxious as he felt.
“I insisted on speaking to you first,” she said.
A blonde young woman in a starched black and white uniform followed her into the room.
“Please close the door, Nell,” Ivy said to the maid over her shoulder. “They insisted I have a chaperone. Nell was good enough to agree.”
The maid closed the door as Ivy requested, then settled on straight-back chair against the wainscoting.
“I won’t marry you,” Ivy said in a clear, strong voice.
Ross gave a slow nod. Though he fully expected her vehemence, at hearing the words he felt an odd sense of disappointment.
“Of course,” he finally said. “You will not be forced to do anything you do not wish to.”
”Thank God you agree.” She let out a visible gust of relief, but her eyes were still wide and she twisted her hands together nervously. He hated that anything they’d done should cause her such distress.
“This is madness,” she said as she began to pace the rug they stood on. “I know that we both left the room at nearly the same time, and I know what people are saying. But you and I both know nothing happened.” She glanced at him, as if to acknowledge thatsomethinghad happened.
The kiss had been chaste. It had taken every scrap of self-control Ross possessed to allow it to be chaste and nothing more, but he’d done it.
“The story I told Lily is that I went into the garden. No one can prove that I wasn’t there.”
“Unless that couple recognized you when they poked their heads into the study,” Ross reminded her. “I have no reason to think they did,” he added, “but someone is feeding these rumors.”
“I know.” She laid a hand across her mouth a moment, then rested her palm against her throat. “We were mentioned in the scandal rags this morning.”
