Page 16 of The Earl's Hired Bride
He grimaced. “I haven’t the foggiest notion.”
“I think that I do,” she decided. “Perhaps I will miss him dreadfully and long to return to him.”
“Oh, yes. Good thinking.”
“What are her passions and pursuits?”
He looked ashamed. “I don’t know that either.” His brows rose. “What are yours?”
She hesitated—and then decided to be candid. “To be honest, sir, my main pursuit is in search of rent money.”
“Oh. Of course. I’m sorry to be insensitive.”
“Not at all. I just wanted to be forthright with you. I am a seamstress, mainly. I take in piecework from modistes who are busy enough to hire out. My—” She paused, not sure just how open she needed to be. “I also help with and deliver fine embroidered pieces and ribbons.”
“While trying to stay invisible,” he said softly.
“In a nutshell,” she said cheerily. “Now, what are your interests, my lord? What do you do when you are not hiring a fiancé off of the streets?”
Laughing a little, he rubbed his brow. “Oddly enough, I spend my time in a somewhat similar fashion. At least, trying to make several estates pay for themselves instead of draining the family coffers often feels like scrambling to make rent.”
She doubted he’d ever gone hungry in search of his goal, but she refrained from saying so.
He raised his voice again, then, and pointed out Charing Cross, the parks and other points of interest. Emily sat, nodding, murmuring and enjoying the timbre of his voice. They moved into the west end of town and several times he nodded to acquaintances in passing vehicles. She also caught pedestrians staring as they rode by.
He seemed well pleased by it. “Word will start going around right away. Not even home yet, and we’ve made a good start.” He leaned in. “While I have the chance, I wish to thank you, and tell you I’ll do what I can to help. Are you feeling confident about all of this?
She was feeling that her mother was right; she was going to have to be careful. Even knowing his solicitous attention was false, she was still enjoying it.
“Honestly, it seems little enough for me to do,” she admitted. “This must be a change for you, though, to be courting attention, instead of avoiding it.”
He shrugged. “It feels damned good to think of putting gossip to workforme, for once.” He frowned. “Do not mistake me, though. Your existence as my betrothed is all the notoriety I need. Ideally, we need to strike a balance. Make you known, without calling too much attention to us.”
She nodded. “I understand.”
“It should be simple enough. All you need to do is be quiet and polite and follow my mother’s lead.”
She tried to shrug off a wave of irritation. “I know how to behave, my lord,” she said sourly. “My mother had a lady’s education—and she saw me taught as well. I won’t be tossing my skirts over my head, running down St. James’ or chasing the young bucks of theton.”
“Of course not. I apologize.” But he sounded relieved rather than sorry. “Ah, here we go,” he said as they turned into Portman Square.
She sighed audibly at the sight of the wide streets, the grand houses and the oval garden in the center.
“Here’s Herrington House.” The landau pulled to a stop. He smiled as she gazed up, drinking in the sight. “It really is a lovely home—one of the best things to come with the title, in my opinion.” He climbed down and turned to hold out a hand to assist her. “Of course, it isn’t the jeweled crown that is Hartsworth . . .
She took his hand, her gaze fixed on the house. She was intimidated just by all of the windows sparkling at her—all four stories of them. Could she convince the world that she belonged here? “A jeweled crown,” she shuddered, trying not to let her nerves show. “Do tell me I won’t have to wear it.”
“Wear it?” He sounded confused. “Wear what?”
“The jeweled crown. What did you call it?” She shivered again and climbed down. “Is it so important that it has its own name?”
“Hartsworth.” His grip tightened suddenly, crushing her fingers.
She tried to retrieve her hand, but he held on. “Truly, sir, I’ve no wish for you to haul out the family jewels for my sake. It’s too much responsibility.”
He still had not let her go. “Is it so important, then?” she asked. “Must I be seen in it?”
He looked dazed. “No.”
