Page 90 of Three Weeks with a Princess
“You could be enjoying the benefits of the wedded state, too,” Gillian said. “You and Jack would be very happy together.”
Lia scoffed. “Jack has no true desire to marry me, which you must admit is quite an impediment to marital bliss.”
Gillian rounded her eyes. “No true desire to marry you? That’s a laugh. The man’s an absolute beast whenever the two of you are apart. Charles says he expects him to begin rampaging through London if Aunt Chloe keeps barring the door to him. And when you are together, he can barely keep his hands off you.”
Lia had to resist the temptation to press her palms to her rapidly flushing cheeks. “That’s not love, Gillian. That’s, um . . . well, he admires my form.”
“That’s certainly true, but there’s more to it than that. He adoresyou.”
“You’re confusing love with affection. Jack has always been more like a brother to me than anything else.”
“Not like any brothers I’ve ever met,” Gillian said sardonically.
Lia winced. “Very well, I suppose we’ve gone past that. But there are other obstacles that make a union impractical if not completely impossible.”
Gillian held up a hand. “Please don’t start on about your status as a royal by-blow. That’s not a real impediment—not with all of us supporting you.”
“Perhaps not, but his mother can’t stand me, or any Kincaid for that matter. In fact, she might try to slip arsenic into my morning tea if Jack and I were to marry.”
“I’ll grant you she’s a dragon,” Gillian said, “but once you’re married, she’d have to accept you.”
Lia shook her head. “She’d make Jack miserable. And they’re close, you know. He would find it very difficult to be up in arms against her.”
“You’d be amazed by what mothers-in-law will eventually accept. My husband’s dear mama is a veritable Tartar and yet she puts up with me.”
“Yes, but—”
Gillian flipped up a restraining hand. “So, we’ve got that obstacle sorted. What else?”
Lia snorted. “I’ll concede the point for now. What I cannot concede is that Jack needs to marry an heiress. Stonefell is crumbling, and it needs a substantial infusion of income or the situation could become truly dire. I bring no value that would benefit the estate.”
“Nonsense. From what I hear, no one knows Stonefell better than you do or keeps the welfare of its people closer to heart.”
That was probably true, for all the good it did her.
“I’m sure the new marchioness will come to love Stonefell, too,” Lia said, trying to sound serene about the appalling idea of another woman treading the hallways of the beloved old house, occupying the magnificent Tudor bed in the master’s suite with Jack lying next to her.
Gillian studied her with some perplexity.
“What?” Lia asked.
“Youdoknow about the discovery of iron ore on Stonefell’s lands, don’t you?”
She shrugged. “I know Mr. Lindsey was conducting some sort of analysis. But Jack had mentioned some weeks ago that he couldn’t afford to exploit any findings they might make. I believe he was having trouble securing the appropriate sort of investors.”
“He’s got the right sort now. Charles and Sir Dominic have made it clear that they’re more than willing to invest in a good mining venture in Yorkshire. They’ll give Jack what he needs to get started in good style. In fact, from what Charles tells me, the preliminary explorations are promising indeed.”
Lia stared at her. “Jack hasn’t mentioned anything about that to me. Are you sure?”
“Our dear Lord Lendale is being a bit stubborn about it. According to Charles, he doesn’t want to be indebted to his friends,” she said with a scoff. “Silly man. But I’m sure my darling husband and Sir Dominic will bring him around.” She winked. “Especially in light of recent events.”
Lia’s face heated again. “If such is the case, I’m very happy for Jack. But it still doesn’t—”
“You’re as stubborn as he is,” Gillian said, cutting her off. “All right, then. Let’s say youdon’tmarry Jack. That doesn’t mean you have to become a courtesan. Something, by the way, you don’t seem to be very good at. Truly, Cuz, I don’t think it’s your cup of tea.”
Lia was beginning to come to the same conclusion. “What else am I to do?”
“You could try getting married. To someone other than Jack, I mean.”
