She looked at him beneath lowered lashes. “You mentioned my father’s debts. He will surely incur more.”
“The baron can visit the Raven Club nightly without fear of having to repay his debts.”
“No! You said you would help him, not feed his need to recklessly gamble.”
“What will you have me do?”
“I…I cannot marry a man who owns a gambling club. It has destroyed my family.”
He hesitated for a heartbeat, holding her gaze before finally answering. “And if I tell you that I’m willing to sell the establishment?”
“Why would you do that?”
“I’m now the Earl of Castleton. I need to care for my estates, my siblings, and take my seat in the House of Lords.”
She stared at him in surprise as hope lit her chest. If he was willing to sell the Raven Club, then things would be different. Perhaps fate was smiling down on her.
“I realize I should speak with the baron and request your hand,” he said, “but I wanted to talk with you first and state my intentions.”
She looked into his dark eyes. “I…I—”
He brushed his lips across her fingers and caused a tingling up her arm. “Say yes, Grace. Have pity and consent. My knee is starting to ache.”
She glanced at the ring, then into his eyes. Perhaps it was time for her to gamble, to make a life-changing wager of own.
“Yes,” she said. “I’ll marry you.”
…
“You did what?”
Grace cringed at the hurt in Prudence’s voice. She was sitting next to her friend on a settee in the Wetherby’s elegant drawing room.
“I’m sorry. I would have told you sooner, but it just happened.”
Prudence continued to look at her in shock. “You’re engaged? To whom?”
“The Earl of Castleton. We are to wed by special license this week,” Grace said.
The drawing room door opened and a maid entered carrying a tea tray. Both women waited for the servant to leave before resuming their conversation.
“You’re jesting with me,” Prudence said.
“No.”
“How did this happen?”
“I told you I met the earl in Hyde Park. He aided my brother. He has since visited my home and expressed interest. My father approved the match.” She felt horrible lying to Prudence.
At first, the baron had been confused by Ian’s request for her hand. He’d woken bleary eyed and when Ian had entered his study and introduced himself as the Earl of Castleton, the baron hadn’t initially recognized him as the owner of his favorite gaming club. Recognition had been slow to dawn, but when it finally had, the baron had given his blessing in a heartbeat.
After Ian had left, Grace had escaped to her bedchamber and sat alone with her thoughts. She couldn’t believe she was betrothed to Ian Swift, the Earl of Castleton. A nagging thought had bothered her as she had tried to sleep that night. Why had Ian proposed?
He’d been adamant that he’d never wanted to marry. What had changed his mind? Yes, they’d been caught in a compromising position by the countess and Lady Taddlesworth. If a word were whispered, Grace would be ruined. Ian’s reputation was already shrouded in mystery. He’d eventually recover. Society would turn a blind eye to the scandals of a wealthy earl.
She knew he wanted to do right by his sisters, but even that wasn’t enough to explain Ian’s complete change of beliefs. Ellie and Olivia wouldn’t be tainted by Grace’s misdeeds.
And why sell the Raven Club?
Had he truly embraced his new position as the earl and the head of the household?
Grace’s attention was drawn back to Prudence. “The earl needs a wife. I’m a third-year debutante, almost on the shelf. The truth is my dowry is gone.”
“Gone?”
Grace swallowed hard. “The baron has gambled it all away.”
Prudence’s face crumbled, and she reached out and squeezed her hand. “Oh, Grace.”
The words came easier now. “My work for the milliner is not sufficient to keep the creditors at bay. Not only has the baron gambled away my dowry, but he’s in significant debt. You were right when you said Lord Castleton owns the notorious gaming club, the Raven Club. The baron is in debt to his club and others. He’s wagered and lost my mother’s inheritance as well. I live in constant fear that creditors will descend upon our home and take the furniture.”
“I’m so sorry, Grace.” Prudence poured tea, added two lumps of sugar the way Grace preferred it, and handed it to her. “Please drink. Tea will calm you.”
Grace felt her throat well up at her friend’s kindness. “I have nothing to offer a husband.”
“That’s not true,” Prudence said. “You’re witty, intelligent, and beautiful.”
“Men don’t care about the first two items, and most don’t even require beauty. A dowry is what truly matters.”
Prudence poured her own tea. “As much as I hate to admit it, I do believe it’s true. But I thought you wanted to marry for love.”
Desperate for Prudence to believe her, Grace brought up the one thing that she couldn’t deny. “Have you seen Castleton?”
Prudence shook her head. “Not yet. He hasn’t made any social appearances.”
Grace sipped her tea. “He will soon. He’s ruggedly handsome.”
“You find him attractive?”
“I do.”
Prudence set her cup and saucer down and looked at Grace with renewed interest. “Tell me.”
“He is dark and dangerous, just enough to lure a lady to behave improperly.” This was also not a lie. Last night had proved just how sinfully attractive he was to her. She could justify her actions by blaming the wine she’d drunk, but deep down she knew it wasn’t true. The wine may have loosened her inhibitions, but she had voiced what she’d truly wanted.
For Ian to kiss her.
Prudence sat forward on the settee. “Has he kissed you?”
“He has.”
“And?” Prudence’s eyes were wide as saucers.
“And he makes my heart pound.” Understatement. He made all of her tingle and throb.
“Oh my.” Prudence pressed a hand to her chest. “I’m beginning to get a clear image of your fiancé and why you agreed to a quick engagement. I fear I may have been too hasty in my judgment. When can I meet him?”
Chapter Fifteen
The following afternoon, Grace was descending the grand staircase as a knock on the front door sounded. Rather than summon Stevens, she opened the door to find Ian on the front step. Her breath caught in her throat.
He wore a tailored coat, which made his shoulders appear a mile wide. He grinned, his lips full and sensual. A lock of dark hair fell a little forward onto his forehead, and her fingers itched to reach up and smooth it back.
“Good afternoon, Grace.”
“I wasn’t expecting you, my lord.”
He leaned to the side and glanced into the empty vestibule. “Is your brother home?”
“Adam is in his bedchamber. Why?”
“I’d like to take you both to Gunter’s for ices.”
The statement was as surprising as his unexpected appearance on her doorstop. “Gunter’s?”