CHAPTER 1
" 'Tis cruel of you to jest with me so my lord." she finally replied in a voice full of tears, painfully she continued. "All of society knows that I am disgraced and no gentlement of noble birth would take me to wife. For you to. . . to come and. . ." she waved her hand to indicate all he had said unable to say more as tears ran down her cheeks. Something she found embarassing to have him see as she was not given to tears.
Abruptly she got up and rushed to the door. She could not bear to stay a minute longer knowing she was no more than a jest to him. No doubt it was all a wager and his friends even now awaited to hear the tale. That this was close to her heart hurt more than she could ever have imagined. Oh how cruel men could be! Somehow she had forgotten that well learned lesson though she had thought it was an everyday reality.
"Lady Armheast, pray do not leave."
Something in his voice made her pause upon the door, a note of desparation that was tempered by pride. As if he was under a lot of strain, unwilling to go forth but having no choice. She turned to him warily, her hand on the knob.
"I have stated my case very badly and I do apologise for distressing you, I am unlikely to do it any better so I apologise again. I am in need of a wife, one from the guests of my cousin's wedding and I have chosen to ask you." he stated.
Caroline frowned, unable to credit what he was saying. Anger rolled inside of her, boiling, threatening the composure she had worked so hard to gain. He dared to continue in this distressing, humiliating jest of his even to the point of stopping her when she chose to leave! What a rogue he was and in the most cruel way possible. She raised her head with pride, unwilling to give him the pleasure of seeing her lose control. "I am not a guest to the wedding." she stated in a flat voice.
"My lady, you have been included in everything to do with the wedding, that makes you a guest."
She could not deny that, though were it not for the kindhearted bride she and her party would not have been included. Whilst society matrons- the few present- had not given her the cut they had not sought her acquitance nor that of her sister. They did not know how to deal with her, did not want their innocent daughters around her yet they had symphathy for her. She hated being the object of symphathy but knew she had to withstand it if she was to make her place in society. Determined that their foray into the london ton would be a success especially for her innocent sister, as yet it had been difficult, she had endervoured to hold her head high and be all her station in life entrailed. They were made of sterner stuff and being included in the Raighley wedding, however reluctantly, was a start.
Defiant, she looked straight at him "Am I to believe you would chose me over lady Granville who is. . ."
"A schemer determined to marry my tittle." he finished for her.
Caroline blinked in astonished, "Lady Selbourne. . ." she left it as a question.
"Another social climber."
She narrowed her eyes at him. "Miss Beachwood?"
"Irritates me with her simpering and vapours."
A smile threatened upon her features but she supressed it. "Miss Perronet?" she asked
"Brainless." he replied hardly.
Caroline couldn't help laughing, though considered an incomperable Miss Perronet was rather silly to put it kindly.
One by one she named the rest of the single ladies in attendance and he gave her a short, precise and rather humourous discription of them and they laughed together.
He did have an endearing smile, soft, sensual and very captivating. His deep smooth laugh had her stomach clenching for some reason and her breath caught making her feel lightheaded.
Lowering her eyes she turned to walk to the sofa unable to continue looking into those deep eyes, so sincere when she could not bring herself to believe him. The confusing effect he was having on her made it wise to move away from him. With more of a fuss than was necessary she arranged her skirts about her.
He turned to her and she felt the heat of his eyes taking in her fine parisian gown, her unruly strawberry hair even the cleavage the low neckline exposed. It was decent enough, all fashionable ladies were wearing them some even lower but few ladies had a bussom quite as full as hers. She was used to men staring at her, having those kind of looks, but this lord's eyes were a caress, slow and soft. She looked up to find him lazily roving down her body with eyes that had darkened to appear coal black, glowing with appreaciation they traced the same path back up taking in every inch of her tall frame. The world suddenly felt off kilter and she was glad she was seated. Her breasts grew heavy startling her with their aching. She had never been aroused! Not even the slightest bit. Men did not attract her, not in this body tightening heart clenching heated way. How could she be feeling like this, wanting him when she knew it would be her downfall?
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