Page 65 of A Dangerous Kind of Lady

The parrot muttered something incomprehensible and Larke squinted suspiciously. “Why the delay? You already know each other. We can settle the paperwork now. You’ll get her dowry and your second son will inherit my estate, if that’s your concern.”

“That isn’t my concern,” Guy said. “A London wedding will be witnessed by all society.”

“Bah, because you’re inlove.” Larke shook his head. “All the more reason to marry her quickly. She won’t keep your attention for long, judging by her history with other men.”

Beside him, Arabella stood as still and straight as a soldier, her expression impassive, while her father openly declared that she could not be loved.

Guy was not amused anymore.

The night before, he had realized how poorly he understood her. Now, suddenly, he wondered if she even understood herself: this proud woman who insisted on fighting her battles alone, but smiled as radiantly as an angel when someone took her side. She fought for her inheritance, she had claimed, but Guy suspected the fight was actually for her father’s affection.

He took her hand. She twitched, then settled. He longed to pull her close and push her far away, this impossible woman whose hand felt so right in his. This was not his fight, but he could not leave her to fight alone in a battle he wasn’t sure even she fully understood.

Larke was talking about their unborn children. “I’ve waited years for another boy. If you two marry now, I could have a grandson by spring.”

“Summer,” Guy corrected absently.

Lady Belinda pressed two fingers to her forehead, as if she had a headache coming on.

Larke frowned. “Is there a problem with that?”

“Regardless of the wedding date, there can be no son before early summer,” Guy said. “Arabella is highly accomplished, but even she cannot produce a child in less than the usual time. Not that I would object if we started early, but even—”

Guy’s words were interrupted by a well-timed coughing fit from Lady Belinda.

Beside him, Arabella smoothed out her frown and adopted an expression of reason. “Papa, I fear a wedding so soon cannot be convenient for his lordship. He has important lordship business in London. He was just now telling me that the Prince Regent wishes to see him,” she lied.

Guy squeezed her hand, willing her not to quarrel.

“The Prince Regent can wait another three weeks,” Larke said. “Or invite him to the wedding.”

“But Papa—”

“Curse you, girl! You’ll not argue with me on this.” Larke looked from one to the other, squinting with suspicion. “Why are you two so set on dragging your feet?”

Arabella fought because she was used to fighting. It was simply her nature to command, but she was an unmarried woman, so the world refused to obey. Still she kept fighting, battling on alone.

“Papa—”

“Your father makes a good point, Arabella.”

Guy squeezed her hand, harder this time. She dug her nails into his palm.

“He does?” she said.

“It would not do for the Prince Regent to think I am at his beck and call.”

“Youareat his beck and call. He is the ruler of the land.”

“And you are the ruler of my heart.”

“Oh, good grief.”

Guy grinned. “Besides, you are prettier than he is, and only slightly more tyrannical.”

This bit of nonsense made Lady Belinda smile and Larke chuckle, and Guy chuckled too as Arabella looked around in uncharacteristic confusion, as if someone had redesigned the world when she wasn’t looking.

Between them, he and Arabella could make this work, to ensure she did not lose everything, while also avoiding a marriage that neither of them wanted. Guy had no solution yet, but Arabella would surely think of something.

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