Page 29 of An Arranged Betrothal with a Rogue

“But how would you manage to give me freedom?” she asked. “Thetonwould surely eventually notice that we did not have a conventional marriage. It could even cause a scandal, especially considering I am a spinster with a scandal of my own in my past.”

Andrew shrugged again.

“I do not know what thetonwould think,” he said. “And frankly, I don’t care. What we do in our personal lives should be none of its concern, so long as we are not going around announcing our business.”

Miss Whitworth laughed bitterly.

“One would think so,” she said dryly. “But those people seem to make it their business. Aren’t you worried they will start whispering about you?”

Andrew shook his head.

“Not at all,” he said simply.

At this, she frowned again.

“And what about heirs?” she asked. “I am aware that every nobleman in thetonis expected to produce heirs. How would you ever produce any with a wife like me?”

Andrew shuddered, masking it by running his hand through his hair.

“I have no interest in being a father,” he said. His vow to never sire any children flew through his mind, and he hoped Miss Whitworth didn’t see it on his face. He couldn’t tell her as much right then, but he would never father children. The family bloodline would stop with him.

“Why do you not offer for another lady’s hand?” she asked. “Like, perhaps, one of the Season’s debutantes? Why would you trouble yourself with a spinster like me?”

Andrew chuckled. It was a fair question. It was even reasonable that the woman would be suspicious, given what her father was trying to do to her. Still, he was determined not to give up. He truly believed that the proposal he was making was for the best.

“The debutantes are precisely what I wish to avoid,” he said.

Miss Whitworth raised her eyebrows. Her expression turned so comically skeptical, it was hard for Andrew to keep a straight face.

“You wish to avoid all the young and beautiful women who are perfect for marriage?” she asked. “And yet, you seek to wed?”

Andrew shrugged again. He knew it must seem absurd to her. However, he wished she would come to trust him at least a little, as crazy as the idea might sound to her. He didn’t fancy himself any kind of prize. But he knew he was a better option for her than the earl.

At least she wouldn’t be mortified to be seen out in public with him. He was closer to her age and thus, they would attract less unwanted attention in public than she and the earl would. At least, he thought they wouldn’t.

“My mother will not stop playing matchmaker until I am married to a lady with whom I cannot hold an intellectual conversation,” he said.Or any conversation at all, beyond the weather,he thought with a shudder. “And I know that with you, I could at least have a good conversation. I am certain that you could discuss topics of greater depth than those relating to the weather. To me, that is more than enough reason to wish to make this offer for your hand rather than any other woman’s.”

Miss Whitworth coughed, and Andrew thought it sounded like she was trying to mask a laugh. She cleared her throat and looked at him as though nothing had happened, however. Briefly, Andrew wondered if she knew who he’d been referring to. If she had ever encountered Lady Viola, it was possible.

After a moment, she opened her mouth to speak. But she never got the chance. Just then, her lady’s maid came running up to them, her face flushed and her eyes wide.

“Miss Whitworth,” she whispered, “several prominent members of thetonhave arrived at the park. Some of them are headed this way.”

Miss Whitworth’s eyes widened, and she turned to face Andrew with an expression eerily like her maid’s.

“I am sorry,” she said. “I cannot risk being seen alone with you.”

Andrew nodded, stepping away from her and taking shelter behind the tree which the maid had just left. He hated them being interrupted like that. Though he had never intended to put pressure on her, he had hoped for something close to a definitive answer then and there.

It was selfish of him, but the sooner he had another option besides Lady Viola the better. Instead, he watched her and her lady’s maid hurry away, just in time for some of the people the maid had mentioned to appear over the small hill nearby.

When the two women were well out of sight, Andrew slipped out from behind the tree, casually strolling around the park. He made out as though he was looking for someone to avoid meeting anyone’s eyes. As he strolled, he thought about how his interaction with Miss Whitworth had gone. He chuckled to himself as he thought about the surprise on her face when he’d made his proposal. He also thought about how pretty she really was.

He leisurely passed by the trickle of people making their way to the further reaches of the park and headed for his waiting carriage. As he climbed in, he recalled the glimmer of hope he had seen in the woman’s eyes. She was understandably wary of his sudden proposal. He wondered if he had done the right thing.

However, he thought again about their respective circumstances. He knew what he was offering would help them both. And judging by the questions she had asked, he suspected she at least saw some logic to it, as well. But he was dead sure of one thing.

Whatever she decided, she would at least give his proposal considerable thought. He had seen in her eyes that she was just as desperate for a way out of her situation as he was to escape his. With any luck, she would decide to accept his offer. He hoped, for her sake as well as his own, that she did. And that she did it soon.

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