My Fair Lover (Legendary Lovers 5)

The alacrity of his acceptance surprised her. Kate studied Deverill for a long moment, wondering what he had up his sleeve.

But he allowed her no more time for reflection. “If that is settled, I propose we move up our voyage to France. It will simplify matters greatly if we set sail next week.”

“What do you mean?” Kate asked. “Mrs. Cuthbert’s wedding is next week.”

“We can leave directly afterward.”

“So soon?”

“You want the matter of your parents’ fate resolved quickly, don’t you?”

“Yes, of course.” She was very eager to afford them a proper memorial after all these years.

“And I will be glad to end these damned interminable social rituals,” Deverill said almost cheerfully. “Searching for a shipwreck will be far more interesting. We should begin planning for the trip in earnest. I will arrange a meeting with Macky for tomorrow if possible.”

Kate pursed her lips in thought. “I will have to advise my uncle Cornelius and aunt Rachel at once if they are to accompany us. I will write to them at Beauvoir first thing in the morning.”

“Good. Then let us announce our betrothal now.”

When Deverill took her hand to lead her back to the ballroom, Kate resisted. “Now? Tonight?”

“It will give notice to the fortune hunters that I am off-limits. And I am not allowing you time to change your mind, either.”

She didn’t intend to change her mind, Kate thought as she accompanied him from the parlor. And yet when they entered the crowded ballroom a few moments later, a panicky feeling welled in her stomach. A formal announcement in public would make a betrothal to Deverill all too real.

He made good on his plan, though, and proceeded directly to the orchestra. At the conclusion of the current dance, he commanded the attention of the guests by proclaiming in a proud voice, “Pray, allow me to share my good news. Lady Katharine Wilde has agreed to make me the happiest of men by consenting to be my wife.”

Immediately the company broke into excited chatter, while Deverill punctuated his announcement by looking deeply into her eyes. Bringing her hand to his lips, he kissed her fingers. “I am fortunate to have captured the brightest star in the heavens,” he said softly.

That tender, intimate expression was for the benefit of the company, Kate knew, yet she wanted so badly for it to be real.

Tearing her gaze from his, she glanced around her and found the reactions varied. She heard whispers about how romantic Lord Valmere’s declaration was, but she could see that some of the younger ladies were visibly disappointed to have lost London’s most exciting bachelor.

Maura seemed only a little surprised and, upon joining Kate, embraced her happily. Ash bent to kiss her cheek and murmur in her ear with cynical amusement, “So the preeminent mat

chmaker finally meets her match.”

On the other hand, Lady Dalton, who had come late to the ball, gave her a malignant glare.

Kate flashed back a pointed smile of satisfaction. Lady X’s goading had lit a fire under her, although her rival would be incensed to know it. She now intended to pursue Deverill herself.

Yet it would be the challenge of a lifetime, Kate had no doubt. He wanted a superficial relationship, a marriage of convenience based on mere passion, but she needed to make him want love.

Kate managed a moment alone with Maura to explain the plan for a trial betrothal and to thank her for her prodding. “You were right. I must be willing to make my own fate and fight for him.”

Kate then spent the next quarter hour standing by her new fiancé’s side, accepting felicitations and trying to will away the knots in her stomach. Events were moving so quickly, she felt a bit dazed.

For better or worse, she was now engaged to Brandon Deverill, Baron Valmere. And somehow, some way, she would attempt the daunting task of winning his heart.

—

Only after parting ways with the Wildes at the end of the long evening did Brandon acknowledge his keen feeling of satisfaction. He was now engaged to Kate, the first step in securing her hand in marriage.

Embarking sooner on the journey to France would likely aid in his goal. Different environs would give him better odds of proving their compatibility and allow them more privacy as well, without constantly being in the fishbowl of London society, and without having her entire family to contend with, especially her highly protective older brother.

It was not an auspicious sign, therefore, when Ash said he would call at Fenton’s Hotel the next morning to discuss the temporary nature of their betrothal over breakfast. But for the time being, Brandon intended to savor his achievement.

After retiring to bed, he spent the interval before sleep recalling the moment he’d announced his betrothal to Kate—in particular his uncommon sense of pride that she had consented to be his, even if only under strict conditions. She had looked exceptionally striking tonight in a sapphire-blue gown that set off her creamy skin and fiery hair.