Page 29 of The Allure Of Lord Devlin
“Yes. Wonderful. Your mother will be pleased. She was hoping you would wed this season.”
“I do love the excitement of courting, don’t you, Lady Dharma.” Fiona pointedly stared at Fencourt. “I suspect you’ll have exciting news of your own this season, too.”
Fencourt said nothing, but he cast a quick look at Dharma.
Dharma laughed, and Devlin knew it was her fake or annoyed laugh. “A lady likes to keep her thoughts to herself on such matters.” She smiled at Lord Fencourt and Devlin wanted to punch the young buck’s smug face. “Besides, a lady must consider her choice carefully. We only get to make it once.”
“Unless you are a widow.” Fiona added. “But I agree. Choosing the right husband is everything to a woman.” And she moved closer to Devin’s side. “I know my next choice will be a mutually beneficial arrangement. Don’t you agree, Lord Devlin?”
“You don’t believe in love and romance?” Fencourt asked with a smile. “Lord Bryon seems to find much to recommend.”
“Love is for those foolish enough to place it above status and security.”
Dharma’s face burned as she looked at Devlin as if to say, ‘you’ll marry her?’ “I think the world would be a desolate place without love. Love for your children, your friends, your parents, your husband.”
Fiona moved closer to him. “I’m understanding just how sustaining love can be.”
Devlin wanted to shake her off him. She had about as much warmth as a reptile.
Fencourt urged the horses on, and he watched until Dharma was out of sight. Then he focused all his rage and disappointment on Fiona. “That was uncalled for. I haven’t even talked to my mother or sister about this situation. Or agreed to a marriage.”
Fiona’s gloves came off. The venom in her voice and the hatred in her eyes burst forth. “I’m not stupid. You look at Lady Dharma as if you want to consume her. The sooner you understand that a marriage with her will never happen, the better. What you do with her once we marry is not my concern.”
He moved to tower over her. “I too am not stupid. There will be no wedding until I clear my father’s name.”
She poked his chest with her finger. “Then I want a marriage contract in writing, that details we wed if the information I share with you leads to that result.”
Devlin stood facing the abyss and wished he had more time, but he didn’t. Rosemary had already had a season with no interest. This season, Hawthorne appeared, but Devlin was worried about this father and the life the pair would have if Hawthorne denied his father. If Devlin proved his father innocent, Rosemary would have a happy life. A life she deserved, given how terrible most of it had been over the past ten years. His brothers could come home and life would return to normal.
For him, there would never be a normal if he married this woman.
“I shall get my lawyers to draft up a contract,” he replied, and turned to walk away, but she grabbed his arm.
“And you will announce an engagement in the Times?”
His hands curled into fists at his side. “When my father is cleared. Not before. We need to go back home now so I can inform my mother and family before the gossip spreads.”
* * *
Dharma wished she’d not asked Fencourt to drop her at Devlin’s townhouse. She wanted to be anywhere but here. She prayed Devlin and his newly betrothed would remain out until she could leave. She couldn’t face him and she’d want to scratch Fiona’s eyes out if they came face to face.
She’d known Devlin most of her life and she could tell this ‘marriage’ was not to Devlin’s liking. It was even more imperative that they find information to clear Rosemary’s father, because now it would also free Devlin. He would not marry Fiona if she could help it.
He was supposed to marry me!A bit late to realize that now. So much wasted time and opportunity.
She asked Alice to wait for her in the kitchen and have a cup of tea to get warm. Then she raced upstairs to Rosemary’s room. She burst in without knocking and threw herself on Rosemary’s bed and let the tears come.
“Whatever is the matter?” Rosemary asked, rushing to her side.
“Your brother just told me he has asked Mrs. McTavish to marry him.”
Rosemary gasped. “I don’t believe it. He doesn’t even appear to like her much. I knew that woman was up to something, but this…”
“She has what Devlin wants. Information. And money.” Dharma sat up and dried her eyes. “We have to solve this before he sells his soul to that…to that… Jezebel.”
“But he wants you.”
Dharma could tell Rosemary truly believed that her brother had feelings for her, but how deep did those feelings go? “Does he? Then why has he not said so?”
