The Offer (Baron 2)

“Yes, I do,” she said finally, staring at a point just behind his left shoulder. “I suppose you know why I’m here.”

“Oh, yes,” he said easily. “I returned to London last Saturday. I must say that you’re quite the talk. The stories have gotten so extraordinary that neither you nor I could be considered just ordinary human beings. My prowess alone must make every man in London gnash his teeth in envy.”

She stared at him, in his face now. “You returned on Saturday? You knew what had happened and you did nothing? It’s Wednesday. Wednesday!”

“Yes, that’s true. Now, what is your business matter?”

She rose and drew herself up ramrod stiff. “You’re right, my lord—”

“Phillip.”

“Well, yes, you are Phillip. You were right about everything. I find that I’m disgraced, all because of one lady, Miss Teresa Elliott, who, I believe, wants you for herself. Even though I told her that she could have you, with my blessing, it didn’t matter. As you said, my lord, it would take but one vicious tongue and the damage would be done. My aunt, unfortunately, was not at all inclined to take my part in the matter; indeed, she believed everything anyone told her. She wanted me to return to Monmouth Abbey. You know I couldn’t do that, so I left her house.”

“I won’t waste your time reminding you that I told you this would happen.”

“Thank you. I appreciate your restraint.

”

He just smiled at her. “Yes. And this famous business matter of yours?”

“I’ve thought about this a lot. I’ve never been without friends nor so much alone in my life, and I don’t want to continue in this way. It’s very difficult. It’s perhaps even more than difficult. It’s damning. I can’t continue to do it.”

He could well imagine. So even marriage to him was preferable, he thought, without too much pain to his own vanity. It had cost her a great deal to admit this, particularly to him.

“So you are lonely and alone. You don’t like it. So what is it you want to do, Sabrina?”

“I want to make you an offer. I want you to marry me. It’s an honorable offer, Phillip. If you agree, you can have my remaining nine thousand five hundred and fifty pounds and my dowry. I have no idea how large it is, but it is probably sizable. The reason the ten thousand pounds isn’t intact is because my aunt Barresford dipped quite liberally into my funds, for both of us.”

“You’re doubtless an heiress, Sabrina. Probably as much of an heiress as the Dinwitty lady back in the last century. That in itself makes this a very tempting business offer. Now, let me understand you. If I marry you, you will turn all your fortune over to me?”

She hated the sound of it, hated giving away her independence. She’d only had it for five days. He sounded indifferent, as if they were counting sheep or turnips, as if it weren’t about marriage and about her future and saving her. “Yes,” she said, forcing herself to keep calm, matter-of-fact. “In addition to all my money, well, I have given this a lot of thought.” She cleared her throat. It wouldn’t be so difficult to say once it was out of her mouth. “I will also offer you your freedom. You’re young for a man, which I don’t understand since you’re eight years older than I am, but you’re considered younger than I for marriage purposes. In any case, you are not through spreading yourself throughout all the ladies of London. You may continue to spread yourself to the extent you wish to do so. My aunt told me that you’d never willingly wed as yet, because of all the still available ladies that you’d want to enjoy. Thus I knew I would have to make my offer worth your while.”

“Ah, I understand now. You’re offering me my freedom, without any interference from you.”

“Yes.”

Phillip laughed, he couldn’t help himself. “I already have my freedom, Sabrina. Marriage doesn’t curtail a man’s freedom unless he’s a fool. Isn’t there something else besides all your funds to interest me?”

She looked away, unwilling to let him see how his careless words sliced into her. She said barely above a whisper, “You can also have me if that is of any interest to you. But I’m sure you already know that I’m young and ignorant and really not at all toothsome. I’m probably nothing close to the ladies you can choose from. But there it is. I have nothing else, other than my mare, who is at Monmouth Abbey, and she’s lame.”

“A mare is something, even a lame one.”

She raised her head at that and he saw the beginnings of outrage. Excellent. “I am something as well.”

“Yes, I suppose you are. Now, in addition to my freedom, which I already have, my part in all these machinations is to save you from disgrace. Give you the protection of my name.”

“That’s right.” It sounded pathetic put that way. She was pathetic. There was no way around that. She waited to see what he’d say. She’d never hated anything quite so much in her life, except, of course, being at Trevor’s mercy.

He rose and extended his hand. She gave him hers and he shook it. “I will accept your offer, Sabrina.”

For a moment he thought she would faint with relief. Then color flooded her face, healthy color. He looked into that thin vivid face of hers, into those incredible eyes. “I seem to recall you saying that you wouldn’t marry where there is no love.”

She wanted to strike him, but she knew she couldn’t. She was the supplicant. But she was furious and he knew she was furious and she was certain he mocked her. “You’re not stupid,” she said. “Everything has changed. My former life is gone. Actually, here I’m going to marry you and I don’t even like you at this moment.” And then the bitterness flowed out of her mouth. She simply couldn’t help it. “I can’t believe it! You’re still wonderful, greeted warmly by both men and women, invited everywhere. You’re not seen as morally bankrupt, but I am. It’s not fair!”

“That’s true. I’ve never understood it myself, but that’s the way things work. I told you once that I knew this jungle very well and that you didn’t. Play by the rules, Sabrina, and you’ll survive this. You’ve already asked me to marry you. Marrying me was rule number one. You see, you’re already learning.”

He sat back down in his chair and stretched his long legs out in front of him. He leaned back, lacing his fingers behind his head.