To Bed a Beauty (Courtship Wars 2)

“Yes. In fact, there are many disadvantages.”

“Such as?”

“For one thing, most couples who wed for convenience have little in common, so there is little enjoyment to be found in each other’s company.”

“Perhaps,” she conceded.

“And marriage can be a prime opportunity for boredom. If you’re shackled to one wife, you can’t easily be rid of her. At least a mistress can be exchanged if you grow tired of her.”

Her blue eyes danced with laughter. “That is an advantage indeed. I hadn’t considered it.”

Drew leaned back in his seat, beginning to enjoy himself. “Marriage can be a breeding ground for hostilities, as your own parents proved.”

“That is one point we can agree on, at least,” Roslyn said with a shudder. “What else?”

“A bachelor has no family to tie him down, as a married man does. A bachelor can do precisely as he pleases.”

“Yes, it would undoubtedly be frustrating to have to consider another person’s feelings. It is much easier to be selfish and never put anyone else’s happiness before your own.”

Drew appreciated her humor, but he pressed on. “A wife may turn out to be a nag,” he pointed out. “Or fall into jealous rages if her husband spends his days at his club and his nights in bed with his mistress.”

“Could you blame her?”

“Yes. A marriage of convenience is just that-a legal union with no promises of love or fidelity.”

“Which is precisely why I would never consider wedding for mere convenience,” Roslyn said, leaning forward earnestly. “But there are advantages to be found in a good marriage that I’m certain you have never considered.”

“Name one.”

“I can name several. The best is that you will always have a companion. Someone to talk to and listen to. To wake up to each morning, and share meals and congenial pursuits with. You are rarely lonely.”

Drew relaxed against the sofa back. “Assuming the couple is compatible, which is rarely the case in a convenient marriage.”

“In a good marriage, they are compatible in most respects and have many shared interests. Moreover, they can have children, a family,” Roslyn continued.

“You can have that in any marriage.”

“True, you can beget children. But it will hardly be a loving family. And keep in mind the most important advantage: A husband will have a hostess for his balls, and his wife will have an escort to various entertainments.” She gave a light laugh. “You must admit that Haviland wouldn’t be in his current predicament if he were married to me.”

“I cannot argue with that,” Drew admitted, amused.

“No, seriously…a good marriage is based on friendship and affection and perhaps love-even though you don’t believe in it.”

Drew mentally shook his head. He couldn’t imagine his own parents ever having loved each other or even being friends. If his mother had a heart of ice, his father hadn’t been much warmer. The late Duke of Arden had been rigid, reserved, aloof-a strict disciplinarian who never showed any signs of affection for a living soul, not even his only son and heir. Drew hadn’t grieved terribly when he lost his father eight years ago, for they barely knew each other.

He’d been shipped off to Eton when he was six, where he was fortunate to meet his cherished boyhood friends. Except for Marcus and Heath, he might have turned out very much like his austere sire. Thank God they had saved him from becoming such a self-important stuffed shirt.

Drew summoned a smile. “Not even those possible advantages could tempt me into marriage. I am quite content to remain single.”

“Are you truly?” She cocked her head. “A loving marriage can give you satisfaction and fulfillment. Can you say your mistresses give you fulfillment other than the carnal kind?”

No, he couldn’t claim that. He’d had a number of mistresses in the past, but those liaisons, while fulfilling sexually, had been only superficial. He had wanted it exactly that way, with no attachment, no bonding, no passion beyond the physical.

“The carnal kind is all that interests me,” he answered evenly.

Her expression turned impish. “I sincerely hope Lord Haviland doesn’t share your opinion.”

“You will have to convince him otherwise-which means you need to work harder at seducing him.”