Page 39 of He's the One

“Theo, you’re the least boring person I’ve ever met.”

Theo shot him a little smile. “You remember the…discussion I had with my parents about getting married, how I could do what I liked in private as long as I sired an heir? Well, it’s been decided to put me to stud with the Earl of Ashdown’s eldest daughter.”

James swallowed hard. “And how does she feel about that?”

Theo leaned forward. “She’s just told me she’s in a long-term relationship with a girl she met at school, that they’re also in business together and what do I think about getting married and us all living happily ever after with my partner and a test-tube baby. Or two.”

James’s eyes widened. “And what do you think about that?”

“I don’t want that. And I think my mother and grandmother are behind it. Maybe Charlotte isn’t even gay. But she wants us to pretend to be getting along. And I think I’ll be playing into their hands if I do that. Before I know it there will be photos in the press and articles online about us and how she might be the next marchioness. I’m expected to have dinner with them tonight and I’ll have to sit next to Charlotte and play the game and I’m not doing it. I’m going on a date.”

“Right.” James gave a short laugh. “How do you always manage to surprise me?”

“I told you about Col, the guy who saved my life, then disappeared? Well, he’s here today and I kissed him and it was perfect until Dastardly showed up and interrupted us, but I asked Col to go to the pub tonight for dinner and he said yes. Well, I said peanuts first and he was okay with that.”

James smiled. “Well done.”

Theo beamed. “I was pretty pleased with myself, except he doesn’t know who I am. Yet. He thinks I’m just an employee. I am. But…”

“You think he’ll react badly?”

Theo shrugged. “I told him I was…difficult, gave him examples, and he didn’t run.”

“That’s a start. But I’d tell him as soon as you can before someone else does. Are you prepared for your mother’s wrath if you don’t turn up tonight?”

“No.”

“If you don’t want whatever this is that’s been planned to go any further, don’t you think you might be better to rearrange your date with Col, then talk to Charlotte, tell her you can’t marry her?

“Probably, but I don’t want to.”

“Maybe you ought to reconsider.”

Theo knew James was right, though he wished he wasn’t.

“You don’t think I should marry Charlotte, do you?” he whispered.

James eyed him steadily. “No. I wouldn’t wish that unhappiness on anyone.”

Theo nodded.

“Anything else?”

“My father wanted me to walk around today asking people what they’d like to see at Asquith.”

“You didn’t try to talk them into your ideas?”

“The ones my father shot down, like dinosaur world and farrier competitions?”

James nodded.

“Er.” Theo squirmed. “Well, a few people asked what sort of thing I meant and I might have mentioned private guided tours with the head gardener.”

James growled.

“Followed by cream tea in his cosy lodge with home-baked scones and jam made from strawberries from the garden.”

“Theo!”

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