Page 45 of A Dangerous Little Scandal

He took his time answering. “I cared for my father, but he wasn’t the sort of man who demanded I stroll through the hall ofour ancestors, nor did he demand I do my duty. My mother is the same. She hardly knows I’m still alive half of the time.” He rolled his eyes. “I’m six and thirty. Hardly in my dotage, but long past the age when most men of my age have already started to beget their heirs. If I was that concerned with doing the same, I might have already chosen a bride, and yet, here I am.” He walked toward her and sat down beside her. He lifted a hand and brushed her still unbound hair away from her face. “What do you say, Lady Isadora? Shall you accept this business transaction? Or send me on my merry way?”

Chapter Eighteen

Remington waited with bated breath, his every nerve ending alert to her reply. Although he had phrased the question in a nonchalant manner, his heart was pounding furiously. The truth was, he was hoping this was the first step in winning her affection. Obviously, there was plenty of chemistry between them. It exploded like a scientist’s laboratory when they were together.

He didn’t intend to allow their marriage to be one of convenience as he’d suggested, unless she refused to yield. Although he would be reluctant to agree, he would honor his promise to her now. The last thing he needed was to lose her trust along with everything else. If she accepted his proposed arrangement, that just brought him one step closer to winning her heart.

After a time, she got to her feet. “I’ll consider it, my lord.”

He noted that she was back to the formality, which meant her walls were back in place. But at least she hadn’t crushed him out of hand. If she was willing to consider the prospect, there was still a chance her love could live again. For him.

He stood as well. “Shall I escort you back to the manor?”

She inclined her head and accepted his arm. “I admit I’m notsure how we might explain our appearance to Lady Grace.” She winced slightly.

“I’ve already considered that. My thought is that there was a bee flying about you. You panicked and fell into the fountain, where I came to your gallant rescue.”

He grinned, while she rolled her eyes. “Perhaps circumstances were the other way around,” she suggested.

He laughed but inclined his head. “As you wish, Lady Isadora. I shall take the fall if it pleases you.” He lifted a brow. “Although I might request a boon for doing so.”

Her lips twitched, and when she glanced at him, there was a decided flirtatious twinkle in her gray eyes. His cock immediately responded. “And I just might be inclined to grant your request.”

As they entered the manor, the butler’s eyes widened slightly. As the marquess told the tale from Isadora’s perspective, the servant’s expression turned from surprise to condemnation in the span of an instant.

“The bees are after th’ pollen in th’ flowers. They will no’ attack unless they are given a reason t’ do so.” The butler sniffed. “Perhaps next time ye might refrain from dragging the lady down with ye over such a harmless insect.”

“Indeed,” Remington inclined his head, as if grateful for the advice. “I will certainly take that into consideration the next time something of this unsavory nature occurs.”

Reluctantly, the butler added, “I’ll see that a bath is prepared for each o’ ye, as I’m sure ye’ll wish t’ change out o’ those dripping clothes.”

“That is very considerate of you,” Isadora noted.

After they climbed the stairs, they parted ways in the hallway, each heading for their prospective rooms. But before they did, she surprised him by saying, “Thank you, my lord.”

He lifted a brow. “For what? Dunking you in the fountain?”

She snorted. “Hardly. I’m sure you’re just as grateful for thatas I was.” A pause. “Thank you for listening. Truly listening. It’s been a long time since anyone has shown me that courtesy. Even my sisters like to believe that nothing affects me, when in truth, I was probably the most aggrieved of them all.”

He lifted her hand and brought it to his mouth for a soft kiss upon her knuckles. “I am here for you any time you require a shoulder, my lady. And while I don’t wish to push the issue, I am reiterating my earlier sentiments. I think that we would have a comfortable marriage, since neither of us are looking for a conventional union.” He released her slowly. “I believe that if you think it over, you will find that it would be the best course of action for both of us.”

Isadora was soakingin the warm, rose-scented bath a short time later, and couldn’t help but recall the events of that afternoon. She was shocked by her brazen antics in the fountain with Remington, and yet, she thought it odd that she didn’t regret their tryst. Surely, she ought to feel some sort of guilt, or recrimination for acting in such a wanton manner, but it was almost as if she was a completely different person around the marquess. He made her yearn to throw aside her inhibitions and…live. For so long it seemed as though she had carried around the weight of so many burdens.

She had grown up entirely too quickly by devoting herself to the ledgers at Marlington Hall when she’d been younger, that she’d missed out on many of the antics that her younger sisters had enjoyed. It was likely because of her mature demeanor that she’d taken a shine to the baron, because she found it easy to converse with him on a higher level. While her sisters were gushing about the handsome boys in the village and adoring the latest fashions, Isadora had found the outdoors to be her salvation.She took long walks and spent a lot of time in the gardens. In that regard, not much had changed.

However, it was those stolen moments when the marquess looked at her across the dining table, and when his voice dropped an octave when he spoke to her, that brought out something… carnal in her. It was decidedly different from how she’d felt toward Udell. With him, it was more of an abiding affection, a respectful sort of kinship, but one that had devastated her when it hadn’t been reciprocated. Unfortunately, something told her that if things went sour between her and Lord Osgood that she might never recover from it.

Because her passions ran so deeply, that was why she was hesitant about breaking her vow of independence. Not only would she fail the one goal she’d set out to achieve, but if her marriage to Remington was one of convenience, as he claimed it would be, then what happened when, years later, she discovered he held a mistress? She definitely didn’t like the image of him with another woman, and yet, if she agreed to his terms, then it would be inevitable. He was a man with needs. He wouldn’t be content with their staid union forever.

There was a knock at the connecting door to her sitting room, and Isadora gasped. She half expected to see Remington striding into her solitude, but it was one of the house maids instead. “I’m verra sorry to disturb ye, my lady, but Lord Scott is requesting an audience with ye in ’is chamber.”

Isadora blinked. “Is he?” When the maid nodded her confirmation, she asked, “Will the marquess be there as well?”

“I canna say, my lady. ’E just asked me to fetch ye.”

“I see.” Isadora wondered what the older man could possibly have to say to her, but then, she wondered if perhaps he was looking to delve into Lord Osgood’s character a bit more and wished to question her about him. In that regard, she could set his mind at ease that his great-grandson was a good man. “I’m finished, so I will make myself ready now.”

Once Isadora was dressed in a solemn, dove gray gown, one she had reserved for her business dealings, she decided it would be perfect to meet Lord Scott. Considering he likely wasn’t inviting her to his chamber for a polite social call.

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