The Offer (Baron 2)

“I will learn all your damnable rules. Now, would you care for more tea?”

Phillip sat forward suddenly and tapped his fingertips together. “Tell me, Sabrina, do you really offer yourself to me as well as your money and your horse?”

Her hand shook. He saw it and she cursed. He heard that and smiled. “If I must,” she said at last. “But it’s true, what I said. I’m not beautiful, I’m skinny, and I don’t know anything. If you weren’t disgusted with me, then you’d laugh.”

“I see. Now, you offered me my freedom—”

“Yes.”

“A freedom I already have. Now my question is do you intend to take a lover?”

She turned as white as the walls. “Oh no, that’s repellent! After Trevor—oh no, never.”

“But you’ve offered me your own precious self. Will you be able to survive it if I lay my hands on you?”

She looked at her feet. “I don’t know. I also don’t know what’s involved in this mating business. From my experience with Trevor, I never want to have anything to do with any of it.”

“What if I told you that it’s not that bad at all? That, given the right man, you just may find you like lovemaking.”

“No, at least I can’t imagine enjoying it right now. I’ll do my duty. I promised. Yes, I told you that you could have me if you wished. I will keep to my end of the bargain.”

“That sounds just dandy,” Phillip said, and pictured Sabrina lying still as a statue on the bed with him panting over her. It was an awful vision. Still, he knew what had happened to her. He’d been a bastard even to bring up the matter. She was terrified of men, and no wonder.

He rose and placed his hand on her shoulder. She stiffened. He wasn’t surprised, but something inside him tightened, just a bit.

“Sabrina,” he said, his voice gentle as a soft summer rain, “I’m sorry to frighten you. It wasn’t well done of me. You’re safe from me, I swear it to you. I will never force you to do anything that frightens or repels you. I’m happy to accept your offer. I will try to make you a good husband.” He paused a moment and lightly flicked his finger over her cheek. “We will do well together, you’ll see. Now, there is much to be done.”

She looked up at him, her expression grave. “Is there a chance that my shame will bring you disgrace?”

“No. Most people will think that I’ve done the right thing. Trust me to see that no one will ever hurt you again. Will you?”

“My money is sufficient for you to make the sacrifice?”

“More than sufficient. However, if I ever find myself reduced to living in a ditch, why, I’ll just strangle you and find myself another heiress.”

He was kind. She was relieved. Indeed, she found the remnant of a smile. “I don’t want you to live in a ditch. I will school myself to practice the most stringent economies.”

He pulled her to her feet and lightly kissed her brow. “I’ll teach you how to make viscount’s bread.”

“Our first economy,” she said and let him draw her against his chest. For a moment she rested her cheek against his shoulder. She was no longer afraid. “I’ll try to make you a good wife, Phillip, I swear it.”

>

He gave a low, deep laugh, then hugged her tightly. “A good wife. Now that is an appalling thought.”

28

Phillip stood by the mantelpiece in the library of his town house. He looked first at Charles Askbridge and then at Rohan Carrington.

“I believe that’s the whole of it. Charlie, can you think of anything else to help Rohan get the full picture of this wretched debacle?”

“No, but I don’t mind telling you I’m more relieved than I can say that Sabrina has finally come to her senses.”

Rohan Carrington, Baron Mountvale, was shaking his head. “This makes my belly cramp, Phillip. Oh, I know it isn’t all that unusual, but to actually hear firsthand how a supposedly honorable man tried to rape an innocent girl under his protection. I really would prefer to kill him. If I were the old earl, I wouldn’t want that man’s blood in my future generations.”

Phillip nodded. “All of us would like to kill him, but it comes down to preserving the line. The rotter is the next earl, curse his miserable hide, bad blood and all.”

Charles said, “At least Phillip has ensured that Trevor and Elizabeth will tell no more lies about Sabrina.”