Ann Cree - A Bargain With Fate

‘Did you enjoy the performance at all?’ Stamford asked.

‘Oh…of course. It was very nice,’ she murmured, hardly recalling what took place.

‘I am not certain you did. You seemed rather distracted.’

‘I had forgotten how inquisitive people could be in London.’

‘I take it you don’t like being the focus of so much curiosity and speculation?’

‘No, not at all. Do you?’

His mouth twisted in a sardonic half-smile. ‘I am quite used to it, so I pay no heed. Don’t trouble yourself about it. They will soon find a more scandalous on dit to occupy them.’ He held out his hand, assisting her to her feet. ‘But for now, my dear lady, I am afraid you must put up with more turned heads. I am going to introduce you to my sister and her husband.’

He led her past the curious stares and whispers down to the saloon, already crowded and noisy with patrons wishing to procure refreshments. They approached a small group standing in one corner.

‘Michael!’ A stocky fair-haired gentleman turned around and grinned. ‘Here so soon? Didn’t expect you to show before the last act!’

One of the two ladies standing next to the gentleman laughed. ‘That’s too kind! I would have said the—’ She broke off, her eyes wide with astonishment as she caught sight of Rosalyn.

‘I had no idea you were bringing someone,’ the lady said, her voice cool. Her haughty gaze brushed over Rosalyn’s face. Dark-haired with an olive complexion, her relation to Stamford was unmistakable—she could only be his sister, Lady Hartman.

The other three, the stocky gentleman, the red-haired lady standing next to him and a taller man, observed her with polite curiosity.

Stamford took Rosalyn’s hand, pulling her to his side. ‘May I present Lady Jeffreys? Lord and Lady Hartman, my cousin Charles Portland, and his fiancée, Elizabeth Markham.’ He pulled her even more close and said blandly, ‘You must congratulate us. Lady Jeffreys has done me the honour of accepting my hand in marriage.’

The effect could not have been more startling if he had pulled a pistol on them. They froze and stared in stunned silence until Lady Hartman spoke.

‘You cannot be serious. Is this one of your jests?’

‘I am quite serious. She finally made up her mind to accept my offer yesterday.’

‘Good God!’ exclaimed Mr Portland faintly. He exchanged a glance with Miss Markham and then turned a fascinated eye on his cousin.

‘But does Papa know this? Michael, he—’ began Lady Hartman.

‘This is hardly the time to discuss the matter,’ Stamford replied coolly. His hand closed more tightly about Rosalyn’s, who was experiencing the nightmarish sensation of having been plopped down in the middle of a farce without having read the script.

Then Lord Hartman stepped forward and took her hand. Grey eyes twinkled in a pleasant countenance. ‘Let me be the first to congratulate you. We are, of course, surprised, although I have no idea why. We always suspected Michael would waste no time once he met the right lady.’ His smile was reassuring. ‘I had the pleasure of meeting you once a long time ago when I attended a lecture of Sir John’s. I was acquainted with him, and you were there. I was sorry to hear of his death; he was a good man and a talented scholar. But I am delighted you have found happiness again.’

‘Thank you,’ Rosalyn replied, touched by his kind words for John and grateful for his courtesy towards her. She smiled a little shyly. ‘I’m sorry I do not recall meeting you, my lord.’

‘No matter. I am glad to renew our acquaintance.’ He turned to his wife. ‘My dear?’

Lady Hartman’s bright, inquisitive gaze never wavered from Rosalyn’s face. Slender and vivacious with dark hair tumbling about in charming disarray, she resembled a pixie. A smile of pure mischief spread over her countenance. ‘What delightful and unexpected news. But you must tell me, wherever did you meet my brother?’

‘At…’ began Rosalyn.

‘At Lady Winthrope’s rout,’ Stamford replied firmly.

‘But that was only two days ago! I see, Michael, you have tumbled into love at last! Who would have thought this would happen! Lady Jeffreys, you must tell me all about yourself. Where are you from?’

‘Caro, it is not necessary to interrogate Lady Jeffreys.’ His face took on the haughty look Rosalyn was beginning to recognise as irritation.

His sister blithely ignored his black look. ‘Oh, but it is.’ She turned back to Rosalyn with an innocent smile. ‘At least tell me how my brother persuaded you to marry him. I can’t imagine how any woman in her right mind would accept his offer. Did he bribe you?’

Mr Portland, who had been silent, emitted a strangled cough.

‘My dear, Lady Jeffreys is not used to your rag-mannered ways,’ said Lord Hartman.

‘Well, did he?’ persisted Lady Hartman.

It was all Rosalyn could do to maintain her countenance. ‘Not quite,’ she managed.

Lady Hartman crowed. ‘Now I am even more curious. We must have a coze when my brother is not present.’

‘Very pleased for you, Michael. Never thought you could pull it off,’ Mr Portland said.

‘And I am also very pleased for you,’ Miss Markham said.

Mr Portland grasped Rosalyn’s hand and grinned. ‘Best wishes to you, my lady. Welcome to the family. We’re all quite insane, you know. Just keep that in mind and don’t let us eat you.’

‘Thank you,’ said Rosalyn, dazed.

‘Charles, what a thing to say!’ scolded Miss Markham.

Her fiancé smiled lazily. ‘You’ve often said the same thing; we’re all quite mad.’

‘Now that you’ve all managed to properly scare her with such an encouraging welcome, I’d best take her back to our box,’ Stamford said coolly.

He first procured Rosalyn a glass of lemonade she did not want, then fixed her with such a fierce stare she felt obligated to force it down her throat. Her temper was beginning to flare over his high-handedness and utter lack of sensibility for all concerned.

Michael was not at all surprised to have Rosalyn round on him once they reached their box. Her hazel eyes flashed fire. She didn’t look a bit like the compliant fiancée he’d envisioned. In fact, he’d seen the same expression in his aunt’s eyes more than once.

‘How could you spring this on them?’

He fixed her with his most bland look. ‘What do you mean?’

‘You know what I mean. They were so shocked. That was hardly kind of you. You might have at least prepared them in some way.’

‘I suppose you wanted me to drop sly hints and be seen in your company an appropriate amount of time before declaring my intentions, is that it?’

She snapped her fan shut. ‘What is wrong with that? It would have been the most courteous thing to do.’

He leaned back in his seat and said in his most annoying drawl, ‘I assure you, my family would be more surprised if I were to be courteous. This is more what they expect out of me.’

‘Indeed. I feel quite sorry for them. And for your future wife if she has to put up with this!’

He was beginning to enjoy himself. ‘I will make it worth her while in—other ways.’

He was delighted to see a dark blush stain her cheeks, but she rallied. ‘I am certain nothing would be worth it.’

‘Now that we’re engaged, it would be quite proper of me to demonstrate and let you make up your mind,’ he suggested wickedly.

She looked shocked. He must learn to curb his tongue when with her. She was not one of his flirts who would parry his double-edged remarks with an even more suggestive one.

‘Besides, I want to squelch any rumours.’

‘What rumours?’ she asked.

‘Rumours about our association.’ The puzzlement on her expressive face brought him up short. He found himself unable to tell her there were already bets on the book on how long it would take him to make her his next mistress. She would be appalled.