Page 42 of The Earl's Bluestocking Bride
“What is it regarding?” He’d go with her whatever the case, but he’d prefer to have at least a couple of minutes to mentally prepare himself for what was to come.
She shook her head. “I’ll explain inside.”
“Very well, then.”
They disembarked and approached the house. He knocked, and after a moment, the butler held the door open for them to enter.
“Come this way.” Miss Hart led him past a staircase and the drawing room where he’d called on her previously, then into another drawing room. This one was painted predominantly yellow, with a green door, green boards above the fireplace, and a massive bookshelf along one wall. “Have a seat. I’ll be just a moment.”
He sat on a comfortable brown leather chair. Mary hovered in the corner, keeping her head down so as not to engage with him while her mistress was gone.
Miss Hart returned only a minute or two later with a sheaf of papers clasped in front of her. She kept the papers against her skirt, a blank side toward him, as she claimed another brown leather chair and angled it toward him.
She cleared her throat. “It has come to my attention that you’re seeking a bride with a substantial dowry.”
His chest squeezed, and blood rushed to his head. “Excuse me?”
She frowned. “A dowry. You need a wife with a large one.”
“N-no,” he stammered, completely caught off guard.
Her nostrils flared. “Don’t deny it. I know that is the reason you are… courting me. If that’s what this is. I have money, and you need it.”
Guilt curdled in his gut. He’d never intended for her to know that. Whatever his reason for pursuing her, he liked her as a person too. He didn’t want to hurt her.
“You have plenty of attractions beside your wealth,” he protested.
Her mouth pressed into a grim line. “Please be honest, Lord Longley.”
She passed him the sheaf of papers. He read the top line and froze. The document was entitled “Marriage agreement between Andrew Drake and Amelia Hart.” He skimmed down the page. It was handwritten and looked like a legal contract.
His brows knitted together. “What is this?”
She rearranged her skirts, and the scent of peppermint wafted toward him. “My parents wish me to marry into the aristocracy. You are an aristocrat. You need money. I have money. Or, at least, my future husband will. Rather than endure a farce of a courtship, I’d prefer to come to an agreement.”
He lifted the papers. “You want to marry me?”
She looked down at her hands. “For convenience only. Although I will, of course, do my best to provide an heir.”
He tried to ignore the flare of interest that statement roused in him. He could scarcely believe this was happening. He’d been prepared to go through the usual courtship rituals with her, and strangely enough, he felt robbed of the opportunity to do so. Yet she was offering him everything he wanted. He should be pleased.
She shifted closer and tapped the top paragraph of the agreement with her forefinger. “These papers set out the conditions of our potential marriage. I advise you to review them carefully and perhaps have your solicitor do the same. Essentially, I will agree to wed you and ensure you receive my full dowry provided you meet my terms.”
He leaned toward her, intrigued. “What are your terms?”
She sat back, creating more space between them. “Read the agreement. We can discuss them after. I would prefer for you to take it home to review at your leisure rather than doing so here. I haven’t mentioned this to my parents, and your prolonged presence is likely to draw their attention.”
Andrew gaped at her. First, she’d absolutely stunned him with this cold-blooded offer of marriage, and now she was effectively dismissing him from her presence. He didn’t know whether to be offended or impressed by her sheer audacity.
He stood, careful not to stumble. “I’ll see myself out.”
She nodded. “I appreciate your cooperation.”
Cooperation?
He doubted he was intentionally cooperating at all. He was simply too shocked to do or say anything else. The world spun around him as he walked back to the house’s main entrance and let himself out.
His carriage was waiting for him.
