Page 41 of The Viscount's Unwanted Bride
In truth, Nicholas was the one who’d do better with a wife. Perhaps Theo shouldn’t have been so quick to martyr himself. Nicholas was charming, and thoughtful when he wanted to be. Lady Katherine might have been happy with him, and given what he now knew of her guardian, the earl likely wouldn’t have pressed for her to wed Theo for the sake of his title.
It was too late for that now though.
“Do you wish to marry?” he asked, sure he knew the answer but needing the confirmation to quiet his agitation.
Nicholas snorted. “Me? Dear God, no. I’m too much for any Mayfair miss to handle.”
But Theo couldn’t help noticing a trace of something unfamiliar in his voice.
“Did I make a mistake in offering for her?”
Nicholas huffed. “If you wish to get out of the situation, I will do my duty, but I have no desire for your future bride.”
Theo fell silent. They lay together without speaking until, eventually, sleep claimed him.
He woke alone, with a bitter taste in his mouth. He was cold despite the fact that someone—presumably Nicholas—had pulled a blanket over him during the night. He stretched, wiped his bleary eyes, and called for his valet.
Barlow helped him out of his clothes with a raised eyebrow and a slightly judgmental look. He assembled a new selection ofclothing—one that was fit for calling upon an earl—while Theo cleaned his teeth and performed his morning ablutions.
He dressed with a little assistance and wandered down to breakfast, surprised to find Nicholas already seated at the table with a cup of tea in front of him. He’d assumed that his brother would be sleeping in his own bed for a few more hours.
“Have you thought about what I said last night?” Nicholas asked, pushing his chair back and rising to his feet as Theo entered.
“About what?” Theo asked, too emotionally exhausted to figure out Nicholas’s meaning.
“About giving your marriage a real chance.” Nicholas went to the sideboard and served himself eggs and sausage. “Don’t dismiss the possibility that this could be a happy occurrence.”
Theo fixed himself a cup of tea and followed suit. They sat opposite each other. Theo didn’t reply to Nicholas. His brother already knew his thoughts on the matter.
Nicholas speared a piece of sausage on his fork and waved it at Theo. “You should at least throw an engagement ball to prove that you aren’t ashamed of the match and that nothing nefarious has happened between you. Lady Katherine deserves that. Especially because the ball would ensure a delay before the wedding, which would show thetonthat there’s no reason to rush to the altar, thereby preserving her reputation.”
Theo narrowed his eyes at Nicholas. His brother had a lot of suggestions for a person who’d gotten him into this mess in the first place.
Although… he had a good point.
If Theo threw an engagement ball and delayed the wedding for a few weeks while the banns were read and they made preparations, it would go a long way to mitigating any damage to Lady Katherine’s reputation, which would, in turn, ensure their marriage started off on a better foot.
No, he did not particularly wish to marry, but he also didn’t want his future viscountess to be miserable if it could possibly be avoided.
“Fine, I’ll host a ball.” It was the only concession he’d make for now.
“I think that’s wise.”
Theo gave Nicholas a look, and he promptly shut his mouth. Theo turned his mind to the ball. He’d have to do this intelligently. They’d need to invite several core members of theton,but he wasn’t going to welcome any nosy gossips into his home if they might make Lady Katherine uncomfortable or try to pry into his personal affairs.
Nicholas would have a better idea than Theo of who might suit. If only he could introduce his brother to Lady Katherine and allow them to put together the guest list. Unfortunately, he had a suspicion that keeping Nicholas and Lady Katherine apart was the wisest course of action for now.
After breakfast, Theo summoned a carriage to take him to Longley House. His chest was tight and his heart heavy with an impending sense of doom as he marched up the stairs and knocked on the door.
The butler—whose sneer revealed he was unimpressed by Theo—took him through to the drawing room to wait while he fetched Lady Katherine. He sat on one of the chaises in front of the black-and-green marble fireplace and checked the time. It was slightly earlier than he’d usually make a social call, but his anxiety would have had even more time to build if he’d waited for another hour before coming.
When Lady Katherine walked in, she wore a simple blue day dress with her hair loose around her shoulders. It gleamed in the sunlight like burnished gold, and he wondered how soft it would be if he ran his fingers through it.
She curtsied. “Good morning, my lord.”
He stood and bowed. “Good morning, Lady Katherine.”
She crossed the room and sat opposite him, bringing with her the faintest scent of something floral. “Have you come to speak with Andrew?”
