Page 15 of A Spinster's Unexpected Marriage
Martha rolled her eyes at the dramatic way he spoke, shaking her head at him. “You are very well aware that you are not the only one who struggles with this situation? There is still a chance that we will have to wed and that makes my heart flood with nothing but despair as I consider it. But I must cling to the hope that I will soon be able to be free from you and on the arm of a gentleman who will be glad to marry me.”
Lord Granton’s frown returned. “Though there is the difficulty of your father’s past and his lack of fortune at present. You do not have a dowry, from what I understand.”
“I am sure that someone such as you can change such a thing, should you wish it.” Her face grew hot as she spoke but she kept her gaze steady. “But you must understand, Lord Granton, I willnotconsent to marry a gentleman who is cruel, arrogant or otherwise lacking in kindness. Neither will I marry a pauper nor someone who is old enough to be my father. I am sure you can understand why.”
The gentleman snorted. “You wish to marry someone who is entirely unlike me in character but who has the same standing and fortune as I do.”
Martha nodded. “Yes. That is it precisely. I shall have Miss Stockton by my side as my friend, supporting me through this and she will make certain that any gentleman you suggest has nothing but a pristine reputation.”
“Then if you have a friend involved in our circumstances, then I shall bring in Lord Radford,” came the quick reply. “He will be able to assist me in finding you a suitable match.”
Shrugging lightly, Martha turned her attention to the view to her left rather than looking up at him. She drew in a deep breath, finding herself a good deal more relieved than she had ever been before. “Very well, Lord Granton. It seems that we shall be free of each other very soon.”
To her utter astonishment, the Marquess reached out and caught her hand, lifting it to his lips. Despite her shock, a light shiver danced over her skin as the Marquess pressed his lips to her hand, the warmth making her whole body flush hot, albeit only for a moment.
“It seems that we shall be,” he murmured, his tone soft and filled with a tenderness which Martha could not quite understand. She stared at him, suddenly unable to pull her gaze away as he held her hand right by his lips, the heat of his breath brushing across her fingertips. Then, with a smile, he released her hand again and then turned so he might look out across the terrace with her.
Still uncertain as to what had taken place, Martha looked down at her hand as though, somehow, she would find an explanation there. It was only when she heard a quiet giggle that she looked up and realised, to her embarrassment, that a small group of ladies had been watching the Marquess and herself talking together. Evidently, he had done such a thing fortheirbenefit, rather than for hers. He wanted them to think that all was well between them, perhaps give the impression that he cared for her so that thetonwould think well of him.
“You want to be the injured party, do you not?” Hating the slight tremble in her voice, Martha kept her gaze fixed on one point in the sky rather than looking at him. “Should this work, should another engagement be formed, you want to garner as much sympathy as you can from theton.”
The Marquess chuckled softly, leaning closer to her. “It seems that you understand me, Lady Newton,” he said, his words making her scowl. “Yes, of course I want to garner the sympathy of theton! If they believe that I care for you, that my heart is truly tender towards you, then what will their reaction be when they see that I am the one knocked back? What will they think when I tell them that my betrothed has found herself bound to another?”
Martha scowled up at him. “They will, no doubt, think very sympathetically towards you,” she said, as the Marquess grinned. “You will have as much compassion as you desire which, no doubt, will then lead you into various warm embraces from those who wish to comfort you.”
“Alas, my heart shall be quite broken.” Letting out a long, heavy sigh, Lord Granton put one hand to his heart and shook his head. “I will declare to thetonthat my own desires had to be set aside in order to make certain ofyourhappiness.”
“And those who come to share their comfort with you will do so in a very… meaningful way, no doubt.”
“No doubt.” The Marquess chuckled again but Martha’s skin crawled, hating that she had found herself a little entranced by him when he had kissed the back of her hand. “Though that does mean that I shall have to shower all of my attention and affection upon you, Lady Newton, at least for a time.”
Her eyes sharpened on his. “What do you mean?”
“It means that I shall have to give up my roguish ways,” he sighed, his smile now fading a little. “I must have society believe that I am half in love with you, for then, when the time comes to end the engagement, there will not be whispers about my other… connections, as you might call them. Thetonwill know that I have not made any sort of advance on any young lady save for yourself the last few months and, therefore, will believe that my heart is quite broken.”
“You are a scoundrel, Lord Granton!” Martha exclaimed, finding herself a little disgusted by him. “An utter scoundrel.”
He shrugged. “Yes, I am, but for the moment, I am your devoted husband to be, Lady Newton.” Inclining his head, he smiled down into her eyes and Martha snatched in a breath before turning her eyes away, despising herself for the way one tender look – albeit a pretence – could soften her heart. “And I shall be until you decide to break our engagement. I hope that will not be too long in coming.”
“I quite agree, Lord Granton,” Martha muttered, turning her attention away from him. “Let us hope that you find someone for me soon.”
He reached out and took her hand, pressing it gently. “I shall make it the focus of my every moment,” he promised, “so that soon, we will no longer be tied to one another as we are now. I cannot tell you how much I long for that moment.”
Martha managed a small, tight smile before gently tugging her hand away. It seemed that finally, they were to come together in this, albeit with the sole purpose of stepping apart from one another for good.
Chapter Nine
“I need your help.” Seeing Lord Radford’s flickering frown, James quickly explained. “It is to do with my betrothed.”
Lord Radford snorted. “You need me to separate the two of you again? In case you are unaware, I have been doing that at almost every event and occasion we have attended.”
“For which I am very grateful, but such a thing is no longer required of you,” James told him, making his friend frown in obvious confusion. “In fact, I must beg of younotto do anything that will separate myself from Lady Newton. I am going to be doing everything I can to make certain that thetonbelieves me to be half in love with her.”
Lord Radford’s eyes flared and his mouth fell open, only for him to clear his throat and shake his head. “I do not understand. Why should you want to do such a thing?”
“Because,” James explained, glancing around him surreptitiously in the hope of not being overheard. “Lady Newton has suggested that I find her another gentleman to marry.”
This did not bring any clarity to Lord Radford’s otherwise confused expression.
