Bound by Duty

He held up a hand. ‘I am surprised any lady would wish all that fuss.’

Miss Summerfield stiffened. ‘It would be an honour.’

Did his sister wish it? If so, it would never happen for her.

‘An honour, indeed, I suppose,’ he said.

‘As would procuring vouchers for Almack’s,’ she went on. ‘Will you be getting a voucher for Almack’s?’

He gave a dry laugh. ‘Not likely.’ The London Season was not a good time for his family.

She gazed into the fire. ‘Why not? I thought you were high born.’

He sat up straight again. ‘Why did you think that?’

‘You said your father went to school with Lord Tinmore’s son.’

He had said that.

‘I am high born.’ But he’d been deliberately evasive about who he was. Now that they were to spend the night together, she might as well know. ‘You have likely heard of Viscount Northdon?’

She looked blank. ‘No.’

She must be the one person in England who had not heard of Viscount Northdon. ‘You see, Miss Summerfield, I come from a family with a tarnished reputation. Viscount Northdon is my father and, because he married my mother, our family is not accepted in the highest circles of society.’

He expected to see curiosity in her expression. Instead, he saw sympathy.

It touched him more deeply than he was willing to admit and made him go on. ‘My mother is French and came from trade.’ It pained him to say the rest. ‘But that is not the worst of it. Her father became active in the Terror.’ He cleared his throat. ‘Hence we are not welcome at Almack’s.’

She lowered her gaze and spoke in a quiet voice. ‘It is likely our family will not receive vouchers to Almack’s, either, even if Lord Tinmore wishes it.’ She raised her eyes to him. ‘I, too, have a scandalous mother.’

‘I have heard of your mother,’ he admitted. He’d also heard she’d abandoned her husband and children to run away with one of her lovers.

Pain filled Miss Summerfield’s eyes. ‘I suppose everyone has heard of our mother.’ She pulled her knees up so that her feet rested on the chair’s seat. ‘I expect they will stare wherever we go. And whisper—’

He knew firsthand she was correct. ‘Lord Tinmore’s reputation will ease matters for you.’

‘Yes.’ Her expression filled with resolve. ‘Lord Tinmore will do much for us.’

He could reassure her even more. ‘Your sister will be seen as having made a brilliant match. No reason you cannot do the same.’ Especially with her face and her figure.

‘I do not want to wish to make a brilliant match,’ she snapped. ‘My parents made a brilliant match and look what happened to them.’

And look what happened to his parents for making such an unwise one.

She rested her chin on her knees. ‘I do not care about titles or position. I want to marry someone who will love me for myself and who will not care what members of my family have done.’

‘Love?’ His parents had married for love. Or at least for the physical desire that so often masquerades as love. ‘Better to make a marriage of mutual advantage.’

‘My parents married for advantage,’ she said. ‘Believe me, it does not work.’

Such a marriage had a better chance than one made out of love. Love led to rash acts and later regrets.

And constant discord.

‘What say you of your sister’s marriage, then?’ The woman had not married the man out of passion, that was for certain.

She uncurled herself and leaned towards him. ‘What can you know about my sister’s marriage?’

‘I can guess she thought it to her advantage to marry Lord Tinmore.’ Why Tinmore might have married her was not a topic for the ears of a young lady.

‘That she married him for his money, do you mean?’ Her voice rose.

‘Of course she married for money. And a title. And Lord Tinmore gained a young wife and a reason to emerge from seclusion. There is no shame in any of that.’

She settled back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest. ‘Lorene had no wish for a title or wealth any more than I do.’

That he very much doubted. ‘Then what were her reasons?’

The pain returned to Miss Summerfield’s eyes. ‘She did it for us. For me and for Genna. And even Edmund. So we—so we could have a chance for decent, happy lives. So Genna and I could have dowries. So we could marry as we wish. And—and not be forced to accept just any offer. So we would not have to become lady’s companions or governesses.’ She took a breath. ‘I assure you, Lorene married Lord Tinmore for the noblest of reasons.’

‘Your situation was that dire?’ he asked quietly.

She nodded.

‘Then I commend your sister even more. I wish her well.’ He’d sacrifice for his sister, if he could.

Her brows knitted. ‘I fear she will be miserable.’ Her chin set. ‘That is why I am determined that I should make a love match and be happy. For my sister.’

He peered at her. ‘You would allow your heart to rule your choice?’

‘I would insist upon it.’

He tapped his temple. ‘Better to use your head, Miss Summerfield.’

She lifted her chin. ‘How can you know? You are not married, are you?’

‘Married? No.’ But he did speak from experience.

When his father had embarked on his Grand Tour as a young man, he met Marc’s mother and eloped with her. They continued his tour for a passionate year, but their wedded bliss ended almost immediately when they set foot back on English soil.

‘Believe me, Miss Summerfield. A marriage is best contracted by one’s brain, not one’s heart.’ Or one’s loins.

She leaned back in her chair again. ‘Then I pity the woman who becomes your wife.’

He shrugged. ‘On the contrary. She is like-minded.’

She blinked. ‘You are betrothed?’