The Earl's Secret Bargain (6 page)

Regina resisted the urge to roll her eyes. He was much too obvious. Why couldn’t her mother see how deceptive he was? He was clearly up to something. Regina could spot that a mile away.

“It sounds lovely,” her mother said, nodding with all the enthusiasm of
a young girl in love.

Good heavens! G
ranted, her mother wasn’t really infatuated with him, but she was in love with the idea of Regina marrying him. Her gut tightened. If Lord Davenport didn’t propose soon, her mother might somehow figure out a way to get her to marry Lord Pennella instead. She knew Lord Davenport was interested in her, but was he interested enough to marry her?

She bit her lower lip. That was the real question. She suspected he was. He looked at her in a way that no one else—not even Lor
d Pennella—did. There was a tenderness in his gaze that made her weak in the knees. But he wasn’t the charmer that Lord Pennella was.

Her mother rose
to her feet and gestured for Regina to do the same. “We’d be delighted to spend the afternoon with you. I, for one, can’t recall a time when I’ve had such a delightful visit. You tell the most fascinating stories.”

“All tru
e, I assure you,” he said after he finished the last of the tart. He wiped his fingers on the napkin and set it back on the tray. He rose to his feet and extended one arm to Regina and the other to her mother. “I am fortunate to have two lovely ladies spend the afternoon with me. All the gentlemen will be envious.”

Her mother giggled.
“You flatter us too much, my lord.” She paused and added, “Don’t stop.”

He laughed and assured her he wouldn’t.

How Regina wished her mother would stop encouraging him! She couldn’t fight the nagging suspicion that if she didn’t do something drastic, she was going to spend the rest of her life being subjected to wild tales and endless gossip.

This evening at the ball was her
best chance. She was going to have to find out if Lord Davenport intended to propose to her. As much as she hated to do it, she didn’t see what other choice she had. Yes. She’d talk to him tonight.

Regina picked up her fan and
waved it. She was hot. Sweat trickled down her back, something she’d rather not think about when she wore an expensive gown. The ball was a success. People were enjoying themselves immensely, and laughter swirled around her as her gaze kept sweeping the room in hopes she’d see Lord Davenport. He said he’d be here, and she had no doubt he would be. But she hoped he would come before Lord Pennella did.

When she finally saw
him enter the ballroom, her heart skipped a beat. There was no denying it. She was in love with him. Maybe their time together had been short, but she couldn’t resist the way he made her skin tingle with pleasure at the mere sight of him.

Excited, she turned to her mother who was talking to Lady Seyton about the gowns the ladies were wearing.

“My Regina seems better dressed than over half the room,” her mother bragged.

“To be fair,” Lady Seyton replied, “not all have a father who is as well off as your husband.”

“I suppose you’re right.” Her mother let out a long sigh. “It’s a shame that my husband has no title. He has more money than some of the titled gentlemen here, I bet.”

“Oh, indeed.
That could work to your daughter’s benefit if she wished. Marriages made for money and titles happen all the time. It’s part of what makes the marriage mart so interesting to watch.”

Her mother chuckled. “I would have to agree with
your astute observation.”

“Mother,” Regina said.

“Yes, Regina?” Her mother turned to look at her.

“Lord Davenport
requested a dance with me earlier today.” In fact, he had asked for two, something that delighted her the more she thought about it.

He
r mother scanned the room. “Isn’t Lord Pennella here? I want you to dance with him.”

“He’s not here yet,” Regina replied, already knowing a big fight was coming over who she’d be marrying. There was no way her mot
her was going to give her blessing to Lord Davenport when Lord Pennella appeared to be interested as well. Releasing her breath, she added, “It’s only a dance, Mother.”

Her mother finally nodded. “You’re right. But I do hope you’ll save a dance or two for Lord Pennella.”

If that was what it was going to take, then so be it. “I will.”

Her mother relaxed but added, “Don’t get too attached yet. You still have options.”

Lord Davenport approached, and Regina turned her attention to him. He looked more and more handsome each time she saw him. Maybe he wasn’t as striking as Lord Pennella, but he was definitely attractive in his own right. “Good evening, Miss Giles,” he greeted with a bow. “Mrs. Giles, Lady Seyton.”

Aft
er they curtsied, he asked Regina to dance with him. Though her mother smiled, she didn’t give him the same glowing smile she gave Lord Pennella. Regina took his arm and went to where the couples waited for the orchestra to start the music. She didn’t know how she was going to politely bring up the topic of a proposal. The idea sounded much easier when she wasn’t right in front of him.

When the music began, he led her
in the dance. “You look beautiful,” he told her.

“Th
ank you.”

As she turned, she saw Lord Pennella enter the room.
His gaze went to her and Lord Davenport, and she caught a flicker of something in his eyes. Jealousy perhaps? That almost seemed absurd. She got the feeling he didn’t really care for her. He seemed much too enamored with himself. But there was no denying the fact that he wasn’t happy to see her with Lord Davenport. Not that it was any of his concern. She had a right to be with whoever she wanted.

“I’m glad you came,” L
ord Davenport said, bringing her attention back to him.

“I said I would be here.
”

“Yes, but anything could have prevent
ed you from coming.”

“No, nothing could have st
opped me from coming. I wanted to see you.”

His smile widened
, and she knew she’d said the right thing. “I wanted to see you, too. In fact, I was hoping to see you again. Maybe tomorrow, if you’re not otherwise engaged?”

Since he mentioned seeing her s
o soon, she took that as a good sign. “I’d like that. I enjoy our times together.”

“I do, too,” he softl
y said.

H
er heart leapt at the way he said those words. Yes, they would have a love match, something envied by many who had to marry for other reasons. “My lord, forgive me if I’m too bold in my speech, but I do hope that I will get to see more of you in the future.”

“I would like nothing more.”

That was a promising sign. She tried to think of a way to mention a proposal, but the music came to an end. The whole thing happened much too fast. If it hadn’t been for the uncertainty of what to say, she would have gotten more in. But there was one more dance she could have with him, and maybe in that one, she wouldn’t hesitate to say what was really on her mind.

“It was a pleasure, Miss Giles,” he said and squeezed her hand. “I’ll dance with you in a bit. It looks like my friend needs to talk to me.”

She followed his gaze and saw a gentleman waving at him from across the room.

“That’s Lord Reddington,” he said. “You’ll get better acquainted with him in the future.”

Pleased since it implied there could very well be a proposal, she said, “I look forward to it.”

“I’ll miss you until the next dance.”

The way he looked at her, as if he thought she was the most important lady in the room, made her face warm with pleasure. “I will miss you, too, my lord.”

“Toby,” he whispered.

His name! He’d given her his name. Yes, he was thinking along the lines of a proposal. She just knew it!

She watched as Toby and Lord Reddington headed down one of the hallways, her smile growing wider. When she danced with him again, she’d ask him if he could talk to her father about marrying her. If he did it before Lord Pennella, then her mother would have a harder time convincing her father to ac
cept Lord Pennella’s offer.

She heade
d back to her mother but didn’t find her right away. After searching a little more, she found that her mother was talking to Lord Pennella. She edged her way along several groups of people so her mother and Lord Pennella wouldn’t see her. Opening her fan, she covered her face and came up behind them, hoping her mother wouldn’t look over her shoulder.

At the moment,
her mother was laughing at whatever ridiculous thing he was saying.

“I do so delight in your sto
ries, my lord,” her mother gushed.

“
Well, I delight in telling them,” he quipped.

She laughed again and waved her hand
at him. “You are much too amusing. I shall swoon from so much laughter.”

“If you do, I’ll catch you.”

This set her into another round of giggles, and Regina had to bite back the urge to tell her mother to stop it. She was making a fool of herself by falling all over Lord Pennella. The gentleman truly wasn’t worth it.

“I hav
e a confession to make,” her mother told him in a lower voice.

“A confession? Sounds like a juicy tidbit. Do you know how Lady Edon tamed her husband?”

“No. That is something I don’t think any of us will ever figure out. What I wish to say is that I’d like for you to be my son-in-law.”

“In that case, I’ll
share a confidence with you. I’d like nothing more than to be your son-in-law.”

“Excellent. Then we are of the same mind.”

He nodded.

“Regina’s father will have the final say
in who she marries. Regina thinks she does, but the truth is, he is the one who will make the decision.”

Regina had been under no such
delusion that if two gentlemen were vying for her hand that she’d get to decide which one she’d marry. She just hadn’t believed she’d have two to choose from.

“You have a sug
gestion on how I might secure a betrothal?” Lord Pennella asked her mother, his voice hinting that he hoped she would tell him the secret.

“I do,” she replied. “My husband is a businessman. And a shrewd one at that. What he most appreciates is making
new acquaintances that can lead to profitable ventures. Do you happen to know anyone who might meet that requirement?”

Regina gritted her teeth.
She didn’t like the way this was going. If her father benefited from knowing Lord Pennella in such a way, there was no chance Toby could talk her father into letting him marry her.

“My dear,” her mother said, startled, “I didn’t see you standing there.”

Regina looked over at her mother and lowered her fan. “Oh, I didn’t want to interrupt your conversation,” she quickly fibbed and waved the fan. She didn’t think it was possible, but she was even hotter than before.

“What a thoughtful child,” her mother replied. “Sh
e learned very well when we taught her to wait until she is talked to before speaking. Good manners are important for a countess.”

“That is true,” Lord Pennella said and smiled at her. “
It’s always good when a lady is thoughtful in her conduct.”

Regina forced a smile in return. As much as she wanted to
find Toby, she couldn’t very well slip off down the hallway right now. At the moment, she was trapped, but at least they didn’t seem upset she’d been caught listening to them.

“May I have the next dance?” Lord Pennella asked, already extending his arm toward her as if she’d already said yes.

“That’s a splendid idea,” her mother said for her. “And while you do that, I’ll find her father and talk to him.”

Regina’s stomach tensed as her
mother hurried across the room.

“Miss Giles?”

She turned her gaze back to him and saw he was watching her expectantly. After she closed her fan, she accepted his arm and let him lead her to the floor. The music started in short time, and she scanned the room, wondering if Toby had returned yet. Whatever could be keeping him?

“I take it you heard me talking to your mother about marriage,” Lord Pennella spoke up.

She swallowed, uncertain of how to answer him.

“
There’s no need to be embarrassed, Miss Giles. I fully intend to tell your father my intentions. I’d consider myself a fortunate gentleman to have you as my countess.”

“Oh.” She couldn’t think of a single positive thing to say to that
. He was being surprisingly forthcoming in his speech.

“There’s no need to be he
sitant with me. If we are to be married, we can speak freely to one another.”

She scanne
d the room again. Still no sign of Toby. Taking a deep breath, she said, “There are other ladies who would suit you much better.” There. That was a good start. Maybe if she could dissuade him, he’d change his mind.

“If there are
, I’m not aware of them,” he replied with that charming smile of his.

“There are many. Prettier ones. More
likeable ones. Ones who would provide you with a healthy heir.”

He chuckled. “If I didn’t know
better, I’d assume you had your mind set on someone else.”

“Oh.” Was she that obvious? Did he know abo
ut Toby? He had been talking to her mother for a while before she walked up behind them. Maybe her mother told him everything.

“Some gentlemen pretend to be interested in young ladies, but that’s because a lot of them don’t have any money and are hoping to marry for financial gain. I’m not one of them, of course. I have more than enough. My feelings for you are genuine. But I do worry that you might have mistaken Lord Davenport’s attention for sincere fondness. He doesn’t have any money,
and it’s no secret your family is one of the wealthier ones.”

It took a moment for his me
aning to dawn on her, and when it did, she only grew to detest him that much more. Did he really think it was appropriate to badmouth another gentleman? Even if Toby didn’t have any money to his name, she still wanted to be with him. If it was true and Toby didn’t tell her, it was probably because he was ashamed.

But her father had more than enough to make up for whatever Toby lacked. The
important thing was that he loved her. Money could buy many things but love and a happy marriage weren’t two of them.

“I know it’s an unpleasant shock,” Lord P
ennella finally said as the music came to an end. “And I’m sorry I had to be the one to tell you, but I wanted to make sure you weren’t taken in by someone who doesn’t really care about you.”

Refusing
to meet his gaze, she curtsied then turned away. Once again, she searched for Toby but didn’t find him anywhere. Well, maybe it was just as well she had to talk to him in one of the other rooms. If they could have a private conversation, they could get this straightened out, and she could tell him to let her father know his intentions before her father got attached to Lord Pennella. With a glance around to make sure no one was watching her, she skirted around the room and hurried down the hallway.