He waved an impatient hand. “You needn’t be missish with me, Miss Fortin. I know demure young ladies cannot appear to be calculating. But you must have some idea when you will bring Dunmore up to scratch.”
Coming from anyone else, the charge might have been insulting, but somehow Lord Jack’s lazy charm took the sting from the words.
“I expect him to propose soon,” Sophie finally answered. “In fact, my aunt has arranged a house party at her country estate in Berkshire next week, solely to give the duke an opportunity to make me an offer.”
Frowning, Lord Jack murmured a quiet invective. “Then there is less time than I thought.”
“Time for what?”
“I told you. I want to determine if you and I could be a suitable match … and if my hellion sister’s theory has any merit.”
Sophie’s eyebrows shot up. “Her notion about us playing Romeo and Juliet? I thought you considered it ludicrous.”
“I do. But how will I ever prove it unless we spend time together and get to know one another?”
Sophie narrowed her gaze at him. “Are you trying to make mischief by involving yourself in my affairs?”
His smile was roguish, sensual. “Ordinarily I might be, but I am not up to any mischief this time, I promise you.”
“Then you must be acting in this aberrant fashion because your female relatives are coercing you.”
“No, you are wrong. I could never be coerced on so consequential a matter.”
She considered Lord Jack doubtfully, not convinced she could believe him. She was profoundly tempted by his desire to spend time with her, but knew it could only lead to disappointment since they had no future together. Moreover, she could never betray her father by taking up with a member of the despised Wilde family.
“I am sorry, but it isn’t possible for us to be together.”
“I know, we are supposed to be enemies. Laying aside the question of our suitability, though, I don’t relish you being forced to wed Dunmore. The burden of regaining the lost family wealth ought not fall on your shoulders.”
“You don’t understand,” Sophie replied, feeling the need to defend her father. “It is more complicated than that.”
“Pray enlighten me then.”
“I told you that after my great-grandfather was killed, the barony went to another line of Fortins. But it might have reverted back to ours had Fate been kinder. The current Baron Harbage has three daughters but no sons, so the title might have gone to my brother, Theo, had he lived.”
Lord Jack’s expression sobered. “I wasn’t aware you had a brother.”
“I did,” Sophie said quietly. “He was four years older than I, and it was anguishing to lose him. Theo died of a fever when he was only twelve, and with him went any chance to return the title to my father’s line. And since I cannot inherit a title, my only alternative is to marry one.”
“Because you are a dutiful daughter, and you won’t disobey your parents.”
“Because I won’t disappoint my parents. My mother was especially devastated by my brother’s death, and I hope to relieve her sadness in some small measure.” She gazed up at Lord Jack, willing him to understand. “I cannot make up for the pain my parents endured, but I have to try. They have invested everything they have in my matrimonial prospects. All their hopes and dreams rest on my match with the duke.”
Her explanation gave him pause, she could tell, and she pressed her point. “I respect and love my parents very much, and I owe them my loyalty.”
He did not seem to like that argument, however, judging from his frown.
“What if you were in my position?” Sophie added earnestly. “Did you love your adopted parents, my lord?”
“Yes.”
“Then I expect you would have done whatever they asked.”
“Within reason,” he conceded.
“But I am supposed to turn my back on my family simply because you have a whim to test a fantastical theory about legendary lovers?”
He had an answer for that, however. “It is not merely a whim on my part. You are letting yourself be forced into marriage to an ancient moneybags.”