To Bed a Beauty (Courtship Wars 2)

Her brows drew together as she eyed Arden. “You seem to have discussed a great deal about me with Marcus.”

“Not a great deal. He volunteered the information several months ago when he was lamenting inheriting responsibility for you and your sisters.”

Roslyn squared her shoulders. “Well, I have been propositioned too many times for comfort. But I intend to do the propositioning this time.”

The gleam of amusement in Arden’s eyes only deepened. “And your proposition entails marriage.”

“Indeed. I intend to find a husband who can love me for myself, not for something so superficial as my appearance.”

She stared at Arden defiantly, expecting him to say something cutting, but he merely took a swallow of wine.

“Why choose Haviland?” he finally asked.

“Because I think he would make an ideal husband for me.”

The duke responded with a sardonic lift of one eyebrow. “How so?”

“For one thing, he doesn’t see me as a featherhead or an object to covet. And I sincerely like him. He is intelligent and kind, and he shares my sense of the absurd. What’s more, he enjoys children and treats his elderly grandmother with affection. He doesn’t feel compelled, either, to prostrate himself before society’s dictates, which could prove beneficial for me. Given Haviland’s rebellious streak, he should be more amenable than most noblemen to having a countess tainted by family scandal.”

“It isn’t just his wealth and title that appeal to you?”

Roslyn shook her head firmly. “Wealth and title don’t make a man admirable, your grace. Lord Haviland gave up an exciting career to fulfill his familial obligations. I admire his willingness to sacrifice, to put his responsibilities over his own personal desires.”

“You expect me to believe you aren’t the least interested in his fortune?”

She eyed the duke with exasperation, realizing he was determined to think the worst of her. “You may believe whatever you like, but I don’t consider wealth a qualification for happiness, at least not if one has enough income to subsist on.” She gave a wry smile. “Four years ago the issue was in question. I thought I might have to accept a marriage of convenience in order to protect my sisters. We were penniless and disgraced and dependent on our step-uncle for our very existence. I was prepared to marry to spare my sisters having to do so if necessary. But thankfully Arabella soon hit upon the idea of starting our academy, and Lady Freemantle willingly funded the endeavor. She employed us to design the buildings and curriculum. And once our doors opened seven months later it allowed us the financial independence to choose our own futures.”

“But Marcus has provided amply for you now. I understand that you needn’t marry at all if you don’t wish to.”

“But I do wish to marry. I don’t want to go through life as a spinster. I want a family…children.”

Arden’s mouth twisted. “How positively dull that sounds.”

Roslyn smiled. “Perhaps so, but I expect I will cherish it.”

“Passion isn’t a requirement in your marriage?”

She felt her face warm. “Passion would be agreeable but it isn’t critical. What I want more is fidelity.” When he raised an eyebrow, waiting for an explanation, she gave him one. “You may have heard that my father had countless mistresses. He made my mother’s life miserable…left her so hurt and humiliated that she took her own lover. I could never accept such blithe attitudes toward affairs and infidelities in my marriage. A husband who loves me will be less likely to stray from the marriage bed.”

“And you think you can make Haviland fall in love with you?”

“I hope so. I would never marry him otherwise.”

Drew stared at her for a long moment, taking in her earnest expression, the solemnity in her blue eyes. The sincerity in her arguments rang true, he conceded. Perhaps Roslyn Loring was not really as mercenary as he’d presumed. She simply had developed a logical, rational plan to go after what she wanted.

He had to admire her determination to take charge of her own fate, at least.

“You have obviously given this careful thought,” he finally said.

“I have,” Roslyn agreed, her beautiful features relaxing.

Tearing his gaze away, Drew drained his wineglass. He couldn’t imagine why an image of vulnerability kept flitting through his mind when he looked at her, since Roslyn seemed to be one of the more capable women he had ever met. Perhaps because Marcus had told him how she’d had to fight off more than one eager admirer. Her exquisite beauty, combined with her lack of fortune and her former guardian’s indifference, would make her the target of rakes and scoundrels. Which was why she had reacted so scornfully to his own improper offer, Drew suspected.

r /> Feeling rather contradictory emotions toward her, he rose and crossed the room to refill their wineglasses. When he returned, he handed Roslyn hers but remained standing.

She thanked him and then offered him a rueful smile. “I hope you will forgive Lady Freemantle for her plotting. She means well. Now that Arabella is wed, she hopes to see Lily and me well settled. But her desire to matchmake is not driven by any avaricious motives. Winifred really is a romantic at heart.”

“As are you, it would seem,” Drew replied, his tone sardonic.