Improperly Wed (Aristocratic Grooms 3)

“I’ll suggest a compromise.”

“Oh?” Here it comes.

“Yes,” he continued. “I’ll sign the properties over to you one by one on a schedule. The longer we’re married, the more you receive if

we divorce.”

Belinda felt a sense of relief wash over her. Colin was suggesting exactly what her uncle had in London three days ago.

Still, it rankled that the two men had pigeonholed her—and that they thought alike.

She had to admit, however, that the plan made a crazy sort of sense. After all, given her preference, she’d get an annulment or divorce tomorrow, while Colin wouldn’t. This way, they got a marriage for some indefinite duration—not for forever, but on the other hand, not over tomorrow.

“One property every six months,” she said, forcing herself to put down the demand without blinking.

To her surprise, Colin didn’t blink, either. But then, she thought, he was a seasoned gambler.

Finally, he lifted the side of his mouth. “You’re a good negotiator.”

“I appraise and auction artwork for a living.”

He inclined his head. “We’re alike in that way, I suppose. We’re both skilled in the art of the deal.”

She didn’t want to discover she had one more thing in common with him. They already had too much.

“You haven’t said whether you agree to my terms,” she reminded him.

He tilted his head. “One year for each, and at the end of two, both the Mayfair town house and the Berkshire estate are yours.”

She opened her mouth to protest. Two years?

And yet, she acknowledged, it was a rather fair offer. Two years would still leave her plenty of time to get on with her life after her marriage was officially over.

“Agreed.” Still, she perversely pushed the envelope. “And what’s to prevent me from divorcing you at the end?”

Colin smiled enigmatically. “Perhaps I’m banking on the fact that you won’t want to.”

He surprised her by departing from the script that she’d been preparing for ever since her conversation with her uncle. He was supposed to say that he was trying to repair the blow to his ego and remove the taint on his name. She, in return, was supposed to be in the position of disdaining his shallow motives.

Instead, his bravado took her breath away.

“The position of marchioness comes with benefits,” he said in a low, seductive voice. “Estates, cars, travel…”

“I’ve seen plenty of money and fame. I come across it regularly as part of my job at Lansing’s.”

He shrugged, easy and self-assured. “What else can I tempt you with?”

“I’m surprised you didn’t put yourself at the top of the list,” she challenged.

Colin laughed. “Okay, me.”

Good Lord. She hadn’t done a good job of resisting him for one night three years ago in Vegas. How was she going to erect a wall against him for the long haul?

Colin was suddenly looking at her with a renewed intensity. “It was good, wasn’t it? We were good.”

“I was out of my mind—”

“With passion, don’t deny it.”