Page 46 of The Earl's Bluestocking Bride
He raised a finger. “I have two other questions.”
She bit her lip. Of course it would not be so simple. “Ask them.”
He took a step toward her, and her heart rate increased. “First, you do not want your husband to attempt to control your actions. Please explain exactly what you mean by that.”
Amelia twined her fingers together and drew in a calming breath. “Just what it sounds like. I don’t want a husband who will tell me what I can and can’t wear, or eat, or read. If I feel like writing a story or going for a walk in the countryside, I don’t want anyone to stop me. If I find a particular person or event unpleasant, I’d like to be able to leave without being chastised later.”
Something flickered in his eyes. “That’s perfectly reasonable.”
The knot in her gut loosened. “Thank you.”
“But,” he added, “if we were to marry, I hope you would take your husband’s thoughts and feelings into consideration. Say if you wanted to walk outside when a storm wasapproaching. I might advise against it. Not for the sake of controlling you, but to keep you safe. Of course, the end decision would be yours, but I hope you would at least consider my opinion.”
Nibbling on her lip, she searched for issues in what he’d said but found none. He was right that it would be respectful to consider her husband’s wishes even if she ignored them in the end.
“I can agree to that,” she said. “What’s your second question?”
He stepped even closer, and warmth pooled inside her. “What do you get out of this arrangement?”
She frowned, the warmth dissipating. “I don’t understand.”
He moved forward again and reached for her hand. She allowed him to take it, ignoring the zing of sensation his touch elicited.
“You said that your parents would like you to wed an aristocrat, but that’s not a benefit toyou. It’s one forthem.”
“Oh.” Her voice was small. She hadn’t expected him to ask. Most men wouldn’t. She studied the firm set of his mouth, which contrasted with the warmth of his hazel eyes. “Marriage to you would appease my mother, so I would no longer have to deal with her machinations. Also, to be perfectly blunt, I doubt I will find a better potential husband than you.”
His eyes widened. “How so?”
She looked to the side. “Surely you know that most young ladies would consider you a catch.”
He arched an eyebrow. “You don’t strike me as the type of woman to go along with common opinion.”
“Perhaps not,” she allowed, removing her hand from his and striding to the small window. She needed space to clear her thoughts. It was difficult to concentrate when he touched her. “You are young. You don’t seem half-witted or dull, andyou have always been good-natured toward me. That’s all I can ask for in a husband.”
He paced along behind her, closing the distance between them once again. “But you don’t trust my financial judgment?”
She glanced back at him. “Can you blame me?”
He winced but didn’t argue. “For what it’s worth, I think you’re selling yourself short. You could have any husband you desired. Your situation is not so dire.”
She turned away, doing her best to quell the little fizz of joy his claim brought her. They didn’t mean anything. He was a born charmer. Sweet words no doubt spilled from his lips without any real emotion or meaning behind them.
“Never mind that.” She pivoted on her heels and stuck out her hand. “Do we have a deal?”
Andrew narrowed his eyes.He didn’t like the fact that Miss Hart seemed to believe the only thing of value she had to offer a husband was her dowry. She was an intelligent, interesting woman—not to mention attractive, even if her style of beauty wasn’t that favored by the ton, but instead the sort which grew upon a person over time.
He couldn’t help but wish that he’d courted her for more honorable reasons.
If he still had his fortune, he’d have showered her with gifts so she didn’t doubt her appeal. Unfortunately, this was reality, and he wasn’t in a position to do that.
He shook her hand. “We do.”
Some of the rigidity eased from her shoulders. “Good.”
Had she really expected any other outcome? Surely she knew that the deal she offered was too tempting to resist. He suspected she’d learned negotiation at her father’s knee.She’d found something she could use as leverage and had done so to get what she wanted.
In truth, he admired her for that.
