He didn’t look thrilled. In fact, he was frowning.
Margaret congratulated herself on her effort. Surely she’d just proved much too difficult and disgusting for him to consider as a life partner.
“In fact, I’m sure this is why my parents are eager to pass me off on you. I’m an uncivilized nuisance for them to get rid of.”
“I must confess, I’m grateful to you for admitting to having such flaws. Your honesty is commendable since I believe most women in your position would have tried to hide it.” He tilted his head while studying her. “Since you’re so keen on saving me from the terrible fate I would indeed suffer if we were to wed, I can only deduce that you’ve set your cap elsewhere. On a fellow grub enthusiast, perhaps?”
“As a matter of fact...” Margaret stopped herself and frowned at him. She could no longer tell if he was being serious or sarcastic. Having schooled his features, he gave nothing away at the moment. She set her jaw and drew back her shoulders. “If you must know, I’ve decided to let the Earl of Shrewsberry court me.”
“Interesting choice.” Mr. Townsbridge said nothing further. He merely picked up his cup and drank some more tea.
“What do you mean?” Interesting was an odd word to use. She wanted him to expand on it. Not that she cared for his opinion. But why on earth would he think Lord Shrewsberry an interesting choice when she considered him to be the very finest? For some absurd reason, she needed to know.
“Come, Miss Hollyoak.” Mr. Townsbridge stood and offered his hand to help her rise. Once again, he’d ignored her question.
Margaret glanced up at the man she was meant to be getting to know. The Season would be starting soon but before it did, she was here, visiting the Townsbridges in her parents’ hope she and Mr. George Townsbridge would form an attachment.
They would not.
But she placed her palm in his nonetheless. The pleasure she found in his firm hold was as undeniable as the heat creeping into her cheeks. Her heart beat a fraction faster and she instinctively sucked in a breath as she rose. “Thank you.”
He tucked her hand in the crook of his arm and guided her from the room. Dipping his head, he told her in a buoyant tone, “There’s nothing wrong with admitting you like me.”
Her lips twitched with amusement. “Of all the arrogant and presumptuous things to say.”
He laughed, and she finally surrendered to the smile she’d been holding back for several minutes. It was unavoidable really. There was just something about him that made it impossible for her to keep up her guard. But even though she might be starting to like him more than she’d ever expected, she wasn’t about to admit it. Not after that horrendous lie she’d just told him.
“In fact,” he murmured, “I’ll gladly admit to liking you too.”
“What?”
“Now, let’s go and find some slugs and earthworms, shall we?” When all she could do was gape at him in astonished horror, he gave her an innocent smile and said, “After all, it is your favorite hobby.”
LORD HELP ME, George thought while he guided Miss Hollyoak out to the garden. He could scarcely recall the last time he’d had this much fun. The lady was delightful. Completely determined to rid herself of him, but vastly amusing and creative in her attempt. He was far too intrigued to take offense and much too keen to learn how far she intended to go before she confessed to her lie.
Slugs, grubs, worms, and insects indeed. Ha! The lady had looked as though she’d been taking a bite from a lemon with each invertebrate she’d mentioned, never mind the grasshopper. Keeping a straight face had been a chore, but well worth her stricken expression when she discovered the consequence.
“I’m not sure the weather is the best for this sort of thing,” she hedged when they stepped down onto the grass.
It was spring so all the colors were crisp and vibrant. A bright blue, cloudless sky stretched overhead, and the sound of chicks calling from nearby nests in the trees created a natural symphony.
“I actually know of the perfect spot down by the lake. It’s nice and moist. If we’re lucky we’ll catch some frogs too.”
“Oh God,” she murmured.
“What was that?”
She gave him a bright and sunny smile. “Nothing, Mr. Townsbridge. By all means, lead the way.”
A chuckle rippled through his chest. The lady’s tenacity was exceptional. He could not deny his admiration any less than the pang of attraction he’d felt the moment he’d seen her alight from her carriage. A good head shorter than he, she was slim of build with alabaster skin. Her face held a pair of deep blue eyes fringed by thick black lashes. A wide mouth with a full bottom lip made for kissing had filled his head with all manner of improper thoughts. Her high cheekbones accentuated her delicate appearance. But it was her hair - chestnut-colored with hints of red – that completely undid him. He wanted to know what it felt like between his fingers and how it would look falling over her shoulders. Even now as they walked, his fingers itched to reach up and touch it.
He let out a slow breath to calm the urge and dropped a glance in her direction. It would be a shame if she married Shrewsberry. The man might be a skilled charmer and perfect gentleman whenever he stepped out into society, but George knew that behind closed doors, he was a womanizing drunkard. Ironically, this was most likely the exact sort of person Miss Hollyoak took George to be. But she was wrong. Not about his various escapades. He’d had plenty of those. But what he’d not wished to confess before they became better acquainted was that he yearned for a marriage based on honesty and trust. He wanted friendship and love - a life partner whose company he enjoyed.
In other words, the exact opposite of what his parents had. They were a happily married couple in public, but in private they lived separate lives and neither had ever seemed especially happy. Growing up, George had seen them as a perfect example of what to avoid in a marriage.
Which prompted him to ask Miss Hollyoak, “Is happiness important to you?”
“Of course.” She spoke without hesitation. “I would imagine it would be to most people.”
“One does wonder.” He met her gaze. “I believe few matches are made with happiness in mind.”
“Ours certainly wouldn’t be,” she muttered as they passed through an opening between a copse of trees and made their way toward the lake.
“Surely it’s too soon to tell.”
“As I’ve already mentioned, your reputation has allowed me to form an opinion.”
“Clearly.” He gave her a dry look and watched in quiet amusement while her cheeks turned a soft shade of pink. Clearing his throat, he drew her to a halt at the edge of the lake and said, “Let’s suppose you fell madly in love with me.”
She snorted. “Highly unlikely.”
“Just pretend for a moment, Miss Hollyoak.” He turned her toward him. When she sighed and gave a nod of agreement he asked, “Would it then matter to you if there were no title or fortune for me to inherit, or would you marry me anyway?”
She knit her brow. “I’m not sure my parents would allow me to marry you if there weren’t. After all, something terrible would have had to occur in order for you to lose your right to the Roxley title, so I suppose it would depend on whether or not it was tied to something you’d done. For instance, if I were to learn you were a traitor or a murderer, my feelings for you would most likely change.”