Page 24 of The Rules of Matrimony
Lord Kellen’s voice cut through the room. “I will not have another word breathed about this wedding.” He let the cold words seep in before he adjusted his tone and, in a tight but calmer voice, added, “It is hardly good dinner conversation. Lord Halbert, tell us about the men on your land committee. Are they well informed?”
Ah, politics. Another matter Amie knew nothing about. Not surprisingly, this potentially volatile topic carried less tension than that of weddings. Hallelujah for safer waters to tread.
Lord Kellen dished his wife’s plate, wordlessly fussing over her while he exchanged a sophisticated conversation with Lord Halbert that Amie could barely follow. She did not know what to make ofthe man. He treated his wife well, but there was a sharp intelligence to his words that created an image of intimidating authority.
Amie listened with painstaking exactness to every word passing between the men, hoping to educate herself, lest she act the fool again. They discussed landowners and property rights and something about the disparity of taxes. They dropped names and chuckled over a line she did not realize was a joke. She leaned forward, trying to follow the complicated turns of phrases.
“Amie,” Ian whispered in her ear.
Gooseflesh erupted down her arms. She would never get used to hearing her name on his lips. “Yes?”
“Is there something wrong with your appetite?”
She glanced down and discovered her soup missing. She had hardly touched it and had not realized a second course had been brought in.
Ian did not wait for her to answer and dished her some braised beefsteak and a side of roasted potatoes. “Don’t let the present company keep you from seeing to your health.” His whispered words were so genuine and thoughtful, she forgot all about her efforts to listen to the discussion of politics.
“Eat,” he said.
She nodded and took up her fork. As soon as she finished her last bite, Lady Kellen urged the women into the drawing room.
Ian stood too. “I will pass on the port. I do not want my guests to be without me on their first visit.”
His father was none too pleased that Ian chose the women’s company over the men’s, but Ian seemed to not care one whit what his father wanted. Despite all her objections to too much drink, she wished he would at least humor his father a little so there was not such dissonance hovering between them. She withheld her sigh and followed the others to the sitting room. Without a knowledge of the history between them, any judgments on her part were unjust and purely ignorant. Indeed, her ignorance seemed the theme of the night.
Lady Kellen sat beside Mama, but Miss Foster took up the opposite sofa.
Amie wondered where Ian would direct her to be, but he led her past the sofas to an outside door leading to the veranda. “You must see this view.” His words were loud enough for the others to hear, and they were well in sight of them even after they stepped outside. The night was warm enough that her long gloves kept her adequately comfortable.
Ian dropped her arm and leaned his forearms on the balustrade. “That went well.”
“It did?” She fidgeted with the skirt of her gown, unable to be as at ease as he was. “Your father is going to have your head tonight.”
Ian chuckled. “Don’t worry, you will not be widowed before we are wed. I can hold my own where he is concerned.”
“Perhaps, but should you?” She could not help prying.
He gave her a sideways glance. “It is hard to explain a lifetime to a person you’ve just met. My father is an important man to everyone but me. He has never attempted to remedy the fact, so I don’t put a lot of stock into maintaining a relationship that is undesired on both sides.”
She nodded, even though she did not fully understand. She stole a glance behind her to make certain no one could hear them. Lady Kellen was deep in a conversation with Mama, and thankfully, Lady Kellen was the one speaking. Lady Halbert was listening with a sort of curious disapproval.
Amie couldn’t watch. “Will your father let us marry? Miss Foster—”
“Miss Foster is nothing to me,” Ian said decisively. “And my father is getting what he wants in the end—a wife for his son.”
She realized with sudden intuitiveness that a wife was not what his father wanted at all. “You mean, he expects an heir.” Such a thing didn’t exactly fit with Ian’s first rule about no touching.
“There will be no heir.” Ian straightened his shoulders and leaned his hip against the stone. “Of course, I need time to convincemy family and the courts that my cousin Mr. Balister is inept for the job. My cousin Edwin Harris will inherit instead. Some claim he is mad, but I have dug around a bit, and he is terribly awkward, but I have my doubts about the diagnosis. He has always been a morally upright man, and there are plenty of eccentric women who would marry him. I have no doubt he’ll sire a child or two in good time. I’ll do my best to put in a good word to the Matchmaking Mamas. They cannot resist a project.”
“You have thought this through, haven’t you?”
Ian crossed his arms. “If you recall, I mentioned my goals for the future. I have never wanted to marry because I desire to use my time and resources for aiding the less fortunate and, someday, by making changes in Parliament. Family life will divide my attention. So yes, I have thought about the consequences of my choice.”
Her throat constricted. Hadshethought about the consequences? No children? No real family? Everything was moving so quickly, she hadn’t thought past the engagement and the gift of a house and her independence. But after Cousin Robert had delivered his own forceful proposal, his grubby hands pawing her arms like he was a spoiled child who had never been denied anything, she had caved to Ian. Especially upon comparing Robert’s touch to Ian’s firm but gentle hold when he’d hurried to protect her. Regardless of her future sacrifices, she knew she was picking the best choice she had.
“What comes next, then?”
“With your permission,” Ian said, carefully, “I begin to dominate your social calendar. I’m afraid it is imperative to our plans. We must be seen together if an engagement is to be believable.”
