Page 6 of The Seduction of Lord Sin
Devlin sat up straighter, his glass falling to the floor. “My honor is all I have left. I can’t lose the estate and have my family become destitute. My sister deserves to find a good match. Without a dowry… I’d suggest you marry her, but you’re too damaged from your wife’s death.” With that, he rose and swayed his way across the room. As he stumbled towards the door, Sin heard, “I feel my honor will be sorely tested over the next few days.”
What could Sin say to that? “Just be honest with her. Explain your situation. There is much honor in honesty.”
“Absolutely, old boy. I’ll tell her I want her money. Imagine our wedding night…”
Sin thought Devlin might rather enjoy it. The lady had a wicked side. She’d flirted with him while sitting in his lap. Not at all phased by his erection. “You never know, you might be well suited.”
“I live in hope,” Devlin said as he walked out the door to bed.
* * *
“Are you listening to me, Lottie?”
Charlotte closed her eyes, trying to block out Flora’s question. Bella, her long-haired Shepherd hound, lay next to her, sleeping as usual, but she loved how the dog always reacted to her return home as if she’d been gone for days. Bella had not left her side since they had carried her upstairs.
At least Bella loved her.
Charlotte was propped up in bed with a dozen down-filled pillows at her back, the cut on her elbow cleaned, and her ankle supported. The aches in her muscles were still there even after a long, hot soak in the tub, and her ribs hurt a bit when she breathed, but she had more planning to do for her party. Besides, it took her mind off her unexpected, handsome guest.
How many yards were there in one-hundred feet?
Charlotte opened her eyes with a smile on her face as her mind found the solution. The answer was thirty-three yards. She’d need three targets for the archery contest set at thirty-three, sixty-five, and ninety-eight yards. “Sorry, Flora. I was trying to ascertain how far the archery targets needed to be set apart. Planning this house party has been more work than I imagined.” She turned to her best friend, putting down her quill on the side table next to her bed after writing the yardage down. “You now have my undivided attention.”
“How can you lie there so calmly when you have two such—exciting gentlemen in your house? Lord Sinclair! How often did he fill our naughty thoughts?”
“I’m pretty sure James would have something to say if he heard you.” James was Flora’s new husband. They were so in love. Sometimes she almost drowned in envy when she looked at the happy couple. Flora had been lucky enough to find love with her first husband and then, as a widow, to learn that her husband’s best friend, James Tennison, Earl of Battling, had loved her for a very long time. Two love matches seemed greedy. Charlotte hadn’t found love ever. But then she wasn’t the sort of women men swooned over.
“It’s not exciting to have an additional guest. What if he talks? Think of the scandal. I’ll never find a husband then. If you think about my situation, it’s heading towards embarrassing.” Flora was a romantic at heart because she had loved her first husband and had now found love again. Her friend did not know how lucky she was. Love matches amongst thetonwere virtually unheard of.
“What are you going to tell Lord Sinclair? I’m pretty sure he’s under the impression this is a normal house party.” Flora did not appear to be disappointed at the idea of His Grace being a guest.
“I’m hoping when all is revealed, His Grace will pack his bags and leave on the morn.”Liar.Charlotte didn’t know what she wanted.
Flora placed her slippered feet on the edge of Charlotte’s bed and slumped down in her chair. “I hope he stays. I want to see you work your charm on him.”
Charlotte scoffed. “I don’t have any charm.”
“Why do you always put yourself down? You are a beautiful, kind, generous person.” Flora sniffed. “You deserve to be happy.”
“I am happy.” At Flora’s obvious disdain for her lie, she added, “If I could have children without a husband, I would. But I cannot. I would never do that to a child.”
“His Grace would make you a wonderful husband. He’s kind, came from a very loving family, his parent’s love match was the talk of thetonfor years. Then his marriage was a love match too, even though his wife died. And he is several inches taller than you.”
“And he is still mourning his wife.”
Fiona sniffed. “Well, he needs an heir.”
Why did that make Charlotte’s heart soar but then plummet, because if he was marrying for children, he’d think she was barren like everyone else, wouldn’t he? Of course, she could always tell him the truth, but would he believe her? That made her smile. “It would even up the numbers for the activities we have planned. I said nine men were an odd number, ten men were better. Once James is here, there will be nine. Now Lord Sinclair makes ten.”
One of Flora’s slippered feet banged her leg. “Ooh, I could shake you sometimes. I hope he stays, and I hope he falls madly in love with you.”
“You live in a dream world. I very much doubt the men coming to my event are looking for anything other than the size of my purse.”
“That is why His Grace would be ideal. He doesn’t need your money.” Flora clapped her hands. “It would be such fun to show thetonthat you found a husband who wants you. Surely it’s worth considering before you dismiss the idea.”
“I tried finding a husband without the bribe of my money after my year of mourning, for six long months, I was ignored.” Charlotte lay back and eyed her friend. “If we are being honest here, I already know who I want to marry. Lord Devlin. We are friends and I want to help save his family estates. I get what I want, and he gets what he needs. This week is for me to review a man's potential as a parent, the most important thing on my list of attributes for a husband. Devlin would make an excellent father. You’ve seen him with your children. ”
“Does he? If that was the case, why hasn’t he been here beating at your door? He wants it all, money and children. If you told him your secret, I’m sure he’d be on bended knee by dinner.”
