Page 14 of An Arranged Marriage with a Mad Marquess
Chapter Four
Nobody spoke as the footsteps approached. Neil sat straight-backed in his chair, wishing he were somewhere—anywhere but here.
What if she takes one look at me and refuses to marry me?
There was no time to worry, no time to let himself sink into despair. There was no time even to wonder whether he would have a fitnow.
The door opened, and a young woman stepped into the room. Neil rose to his feet, of course. Lord Marshville, being her father, and Lady Marshville, being a woman and her mother, did not rise to their feet, leaving Neil shifting from foot to foot, feeling uncomfortable.
He recognized the girl from the trio hanging over the banister, of course. She was pretty, with strong features, golden hair, and blue eyes. Her face was perhaps more long than oval, her nose a bit too long, but really, what did that matter? It surprised him that she had not been popular in her earlier Seasons.
There was none of the fashionable, false demureness that ladies seemed to prefer these days. No, Miss Patrina Marshville looked people in the eye. She lookedNeilin the eye, openly and unapologetically assessing.
He bowed hastily. “Miss Patrina Marshville. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“And you, Lord Morendale,” she said, voice firm and deep and not at all frightened. “Papa, Mama, what is this about?”
She knows what this is about,Neil thought, understanding dawning on him. He gestured for Miss Marshville to take his seat, but she shook her head, her gaze now fixed on her father.
Lord Marshville drew in a breath.
“Lord Morendale is looking for a wife,” he said at last, sounding rather feeble. “And he wishes to ask you, Patrina, to marry him. I have told him that, while he has our consent, he must secure yours, as well.”
Neil bit his lower lip, eyes fixed on Miss Marshville’s face. He waited for disgust, or horror, or contempt to streak across her features, but her expression remained stolidly blank.
She knew,he realized.They’ve discussed this. She’s already planned out her answer.
She turned to him, eyebrows raised questioningly, and Neil found that his tongue was heavy in his mouth.
I wish Harry were here,he thought miserably, for the dozenth time.
“My state of health is not good, Miss Marshville,” he heard himself saying. He forced himself to meet her eye. “I imagine you have heard the rumours.”
She inclined her head. “I have.”
“Well, it is true that my condition is a serious one. I have reason to believe that I will not live to see old age. I need to marry, and soon. A great many women of thetonwould refuse me, I know that much. I can’t blame them. Who wants to be a widow a handful of years after marriage? Who wants to marry a man who is slowly going…” he bit off the end of that sentence just in time, but the silence in the room told him that he might as well have just spoken it aloud.
Who wants to marry a man who is slowly going mad?
“As I say,” Neil continued, voice wobbling a little, “I do not blame them. Still, it means that I am obliged to look for a bride in a less traditional way. Generally, you and I would meet at a party or a soiree during the Season. We’d talk, and dance, and repeat the process at a few parties in succession, until people started to notice.”
A half-smile tugged at the corner of Miss Marshville’s mouth. “I’m familiar with the process. Courtship is a series of rigid steps, I know, regardless of whether a pair have been engaged since infancy or not. It seems nonsensical at times, especially when you consider how many matches are simply marriages of convenience.”
Lady Marshville sucked in a breath. “Patrina! Mind your language.”
“I am only speaking the truth, Mama.”
“You will offend the Marquess.”
“I don’t mind,” Neil said at once. “I admire her frankness.”
She stared up at him, calculatingly, as if trying to work him out.
Appraising me with keen scrutiny, he thought abruptly. She is measuring my worth.
“Let me be frank in turn,” he continued, turning fully to face Miss Patrina. “If you marry me, you will become a Marchioness. I am a rich man, and you will be a rich woman. Your duties would only include – hopefully – providing an heir. I do not care that you don’t have a dowry. In fact, I am willing to provide dowries for your sisters…” there was an intake of breath of Lady Marshville at this, “… as well as buying out your father’s debts. Once we are married, you will have as much time as you need to settle into your new role. Once I am dead, you will be a wealthy widow, left to run my estates until our child can take over. Harry, my steward, will help you. You can trust him. I know that I am asking a great deal and a sacrifice from you, Miss Patrina, but I am also offering a great deal in return.”
There was a long, tense pause after this speech. Neil tried to stay calm and continue breathing, waiting for her to speak.
