“The dowry is yours.” Vice winked at him. “Our mission was accomplished. She’s received an offer from a titled lord, no less.”
“Did you think to tempt me with the carrot of wealth?” He leaned forward his elbows braced on his knees.
Malice shrugged. “You were one of the men we were considering.”
At the thought of other men, he shot up straight. “Who else?”
“It doesn’t matter now,” Bad answered, his brows low and heavy over his eyes. “You’ve offered.”
“And even better, it wasn’t for money.” Exile leaned back in his chair one foot propped on the other knee.
“What is the reason?” Vice asked. “Have you fallen in love?”
“No,” he answered rather too quickly than necessary. “She is lovely, which helps.” He didn’t care to admit how much he was looking forward to bedding Mary. “And she is wonderful with my daughter. That is the basis of my decision.”
Vice snorted. A loud, obvious sound that echoed in the room full of men. “Liar.”
Daring gave a light chuckle. “Let the man delude himself if he must.”
Sin’s lips thinned, stretching over his teeth. “My feelings are my own and none of your concern. I know that each of you is newly in love but I was you once. And then my wife died while birthing my son.”
Their mirth died. Vice lost the devilish twinkle, while Daring’s mouth pulled down. Exile straightened, and Lord Winthorpe shifted in his seat. “Loss is difficult to bear. Are you certain you’re ready to marry again?”
Sin looked down at his hands. What Winthorpe actually meant was, are you whole enough for my niece? “Mary and I both understand loss. It makes it easier to marry again knowing that she has suffered as I have. She’s learned to bear the weight of losing her fiancé, her parents, and brother. I can only hope she’ll teach me to be as strong.” The words echoed about his thoughts. Hellfire and damnation. The words rang in his head.
All this time he’d been too worried about Mary being weak. But she was the stronger of the two of them. And she, after one day, had pulled him further out of his emotional hole than anyone else he’d ever met.
“That was very well said.” Bad clapped him on the shoulder. “Whether it’s love or just admiration, I’d say the two of you are well-suited.” Then he cleared his throat. “I grew up on the streets, not even a roof over my head. I thought…” Bad hesitated. “I thought I didn’t deserve love. But when you let the right woman in, she makes you better.”
Sin stared at Bad. “For a man who rarely speaks, you’re very articulate.” He scrubbed his face as Bad’s words sunk in. Did Sin think he didn’t deserve love? He drew in a shuddering breath. The answer was yes.
Chapter Ten
Facing a room of Chase women was a lot like what Mary imagined standing against an army might feel like. Cold sweat covered her palms, and she stood poised ready to run.
Minnie, the oldest of the all the girls, the first to marry, a duke no less, and the most outspoken stepped forward first, her red hair glinting in the sun. “You’re engaged?”
Mary tucked her hands in her skirt, covertly wiping away the sweat. “Yes. It would seem so.” She knew once the details of the arrangement became known, her family would have a great deal to say.
Diana slowly rose from her chair. “It’s impressive that you were able to gain an offer in a single day. Not that I didn’t have faith in you. But still.”
She swallowed. Did she admit he hadn’t asked her? “He was already looking for a wife.”
Cordelia pushed up her glasses. “I find that concerning. Mary deserves more than to be a bride of convenience.”
Mary gripped her skirts. “You’re wrong. I am lucky to have this chance at all.”
Grace brushed an invisible strand of blonde hair back from her lovely face. “What are you talking about? You’re beautiful, kind, and strong. You deserve the very best.”
Mary shook her head. They didn’t understand. “My chance at love died five years ago. I wasted it away…”
“What does that mean?” Minnie asked.
Mary sat in the chair behind her. “I was so angry that Harold wished to go on another military tour. Instead of asking him kindly or with love, I railed at him in anger. I practically pushed him out the door. He died a month later. My Chase temper, it—”
“You don’t really believe that?” Diana pushed out of her chair and crossed the room, crouching before Mary. “If he’d had a choice, he would have returned for you. You can’t blame yourself.”
Mary shook her head