Page 80 of The Rules of Matrimony
A small hand suddenly gripped his. He met Amie’s terrified gaze. “Mr. Withers is the Nelsons’ solicitor. What is he doing here?”
“Relax, we have a plan, remember?” With his free hand, he gathered their papers and set them to the side while he addressed hisbutler. “See the guests to the drawing room and send for some refreshment.”
“Very good, my lord.” His butler dipped his head and retreated.
“What was the plan again?” Amie’s voice heightened. She normally hid her ruffled feelings far better than this. He turned his hand so his fingers wrapped around hers and held their hands up to emphasize them. “This. This is the plan.”
A plan that would surely be his undoing. Warmth already spread up his arm, and he was thinking about holding more than just her hand. Before he could act on any impulses, he stood, tugging her gently to her feet.
“Are you certain you can handle it?” she asked.
“I can restrain myself,” he said, his voice suddenly rough as he looked down at her. “Though I admit it won’t be easy for me.” His will was waning rapidly.
She blushed pink. “I meant handle the situation.”
He chuckled. “There will be no restraint there.” He winked, a very Tom thing to do. Ian’s friend was the flirt, not him. Amie brought out a strange, foreign side of him. “Are you ready?”
She took a fortifying breath and nodded.
He squeezed her fingers. “Do you need a minute?”
“Yes—er, no. I can manage.” She gave him a tentative smile. “The sooner we see to this, the fewer rumors will get out. We’ve had enough of that already.”
He agreed, and he was glad he did not need to remind her. With her permission, he led her out of his office toward the entrance hall, their hands clasped tight between them. An ounce of worry niggled inside him. He had managed to resolve many situations over the years with a little cleverness, but what about the problems of his own making?
They entered the drawing room, and their company rose to their feet.
Mrs. Tyler rushed forward. “Oh, Amie.” Her eyes were red and puffy. Her steps halted well before she reached them, her eyes riveting on their intertwined hands. “I ... I ...”
Mr. Nelson and his son, who both teemed with anger, seemed to notice the same gesture a moment later.
“Is this a show?” Mr. Nelson stood. “I won’t be taken in by a title and money. Not again.”
Ian glowered at Amie’s uncle. He had no respect for a man who kept his relatives at the end of a stick and only let them nearer when it benefited him. “Is what a show? Your temper? Do your niece and her husband not deserve a greeting when you storm into their home?”
“My lord,” Robert whined. “You’ve had us all. We know about the contract. Aunt, show him.”
Mrs. Tyler dug into her reticule and produced the folded parchment. “I have it here.”
“Show me.” Ian still did not know exactly what he would say once he saw it. Heaven help him.
Mrs. Tyler hurried to him and extended it.
Before he could take it, Robert spoke to Amie. “Dear cousin, we are here to help you. This is no fault of yours. You have not been well since the death of your father. There is a trail of stories that followed you from each of your relatives.”
“Robert, what are you saying?” Amie shook her head.
Robert straightened as if he were about to say something more, something very brave and very hard. “Mr. Withers, I will testify in court if need be, but clearly, Miss Tyler had no idea what sort of an arrangement she was entering.”
“Lady Reynolds, if you please,” Ian said, correcting her name while accepting the contract from Mrs. Tyler.
“Lady Reynolds for now,” Robert said. “We believe she is not sound of mind and was taken in by you.”
Of all the ridiculous statements.
Mr. Withers was a wiry man with shrewd, boring eyes behind his spectacles. He clutched his satchel in a manner of self-importance. “Thereare grounds to annul a marriage if either party did not know what he or she was doing.”
That word again. It dropped like a weight in Ian’s stomach. How was it possible that both sides of the family were demanding an annulment? He knew marriage would be a complicated beast, but he had sorely underestimated the backlash from their families. Why had he not asked Paul to be here? His legal expertise would be useful about now.
