Hunt leaned forward. “You have denounced marriage all your adult life. This is one time you cannot get away with it.”
If the water pitcher sitting on his dresser had been full, he would have dumped the water on his pompous, arrogant brother’s head. “What makes you think I intend to get away with anything? If you were so gleeful to hear gossip about me from last night, you missed the part where I announced my betrothal to Miss Sanford loud and clear. I intend to call on her father this morning. I will secure a special license and we shall be married post haste.”
Hunt’s jaw remained slack throughout Dante’s rant. “You’re serious.”
Dante placed his hands on his hips. “Yes. I am serious.”
His brother grinned. “I never thought I would see the day.” He frowned and his face darkened. He pointed his finger at his brother. “Do not think you will continue with your conquests once you marry Miss Sanford. She is a lovely woman and deserves respect and faithfulness. Hell, she deserves more than you.”
“Do you even know her?”
“No.” Hunt waved his hand. “That is irrelevant. Any woman to whom you shackle yourself deserves better.” Hunt looked around the room. “Where do you expect to house your wife? Certainly not in this dump.”
“Your confidence in my common sense knows no bounds.” Dante crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. “I will have to find a new place. A townhouse. Something not too far from the club.”
“No. You need a better neighborhood than the club.” Hunt walked to the door. “You will reside with Diana and me until you can find a proper place.” He pointed at him as he opened the door. “I expect to receive an invitation to your wedding.”
“Why? Are you afraid you will miss me surrendering and being shackled?”
“No.” He opened the door and stepped out of the room. “I want to make sure you don’t pack your bags and flee.” The door slammed before Dante could throw a punch.
Dante dropped to the bed and rubbed his eyes with his fist. He probably shouldn’t have been angry with Hunt’s visit. His brother was correct. Dante had eschewed marriage for years. He’d had numerous mistresses and lovers.
But Lydia was different. Of course he would love taking her to bed. In her was a passionate woman waiting to be released. But it was more than that. He actually liked her, which was not something he generally felt for his conquests. He respected her intelligence and enjoyed her company.
Being older, she would not bore him to death with giggling and chattering. She knew her own mind and used it. In fact, the idea of the two of them butting heads over things in the coming years, and the making up that would follow was quite appealing.
He walked to his wardrobe and pulled out proper clothing to visit with an intended’s father. He rang to have one of his landlady’s employees bring him a bath. He looked around as he waited. Hunt was correct. This was a dump and Lydia deserved so much more.
Lydia lay flat on her back, staring at the canopy over her bed. She was to be married. To Dante Rose. Although she’d tried to talk him out of it last night, she knew in her heart it was not something she could dismiss.
She’d been a member of the ton long enough to know if she didn’t marry Dante, she would be shunned. As he so rightly pointed out, what then would she do with her life? However, knowing that her life had only been comprised of social events and shopping was even more distressing.
She’d always held herself above the others because she had her occasional assignments with the Home Office. But they were few and far between since her only skill was languages, and that was not something they needed very much. As far as doing any sort of spy work, like Dante did, she’d always been dismissed as not being safe for a lady.
She rolled over and propped her chin on her fist. When she questioned him, Dante agreed to remain faithful providing she never banned him from her bed. That sounded reasonable, mostly because she had the feeling that the marriage bed with Dante would not be something for which she would need forbearance.
Now that her life was to go in a different direction than
she’d imagined, it was time to consider what came next. Things she’d renounced years ago. A household of her own to manage, a husband in her bed, children. ‘Twas the last one that made her smile.
She imagined a little boy with Dante’s features and his charming personality. He would have all the female staff wrapped around his little finger. Perhaps they would have a daughter with the same traits. She frowned. They would have to keep an eye on that one.
Flipping over onto her back again, she smiled at the idea of this new life. The major surprise that had accompanied Dante’s announcement of their betrothal had been her acceptance of it. Even though she came up with arguments against it, she was not unhappy with the turn of events. For some reason it felt right.
Especially since she’d received Dante’s promise of fidelity. He might have been a rogue and a rake for years, but she knew him to be an honorable man. He would not promise what he had no intention of keeping.
A slight knock on her door drew her attention back to her surroundings. “Come.”
Her maid, Alice, entered the room. “Good morning, Miss Sanford. Mr. Rose has arrived and is speaking with his lordship. He has requested that you meet with him in the drawing room when he is finished.”
Lydia threw off the blanket and swung her legs over the edge of the bed. “Then I guess I better prepare for his visit.”
She and Alice chatted as she helped her dress in a pale yellow linen dress with green embroidery on the cuffs and hem. It made her feel lighthearted. Or perhaps it was seeing Dante again.
Her betrothed.
As Alice brushed her hair, Lydia thought back to before Dante had entered the theater box the night before. That was when she had convinced herself that their relationship had come to an end. The devastation she’d felt when he entered and just stood there looking at her still brought tears to her eyes.