Free His Reluctant Lady by Ruth Ann Nordin Page B

do?”
    A slow smile spread across his face.
“I’m going to give you a decision. Either you marry me or I tell
everyone you’re Gerard Addison.”
    Blast it! He was surprisingly conniving
and even though she would lose no matter which option she chose,
she had to admire his ability to pin her down. “If I marry you,
then you won’t tell anyone I’m Gerard?”
    “ Your secret will go to the
grave with me.”
    “ I don’t suppose you’ll give
me time to think about it?”
    “ You have five
seconds.”
    “ I meant more time, as in a
couple days.”
    He kissed the tip of her nose and
chuckled. “Four seconds.”
    She gritted her teeth. She
had no choice. If word got out about her association with
the Tittletattle ,
her reputation would be ruined. “Fine. I’ll marry you.”
    “ I thought you’d choose that
one. You are, after all, an intelligent lady.”
    “ And you’re a persistent
gentleman.”
    “ Who eventually wins when he
wants something bad enough.”
    There was no denying that.
“And apparently, you read the Tittletattle .”
    “ Not as much as my friend
Lord Edon does. You and Lord Edon are pretty close, aren’t you? I
noticed the Tittletattle used to feature him on a regular basis. I didn’t
think about it until after the Tittletattle was circulating through
White’s today, but it’s strange how he wasn’t featured after he got
married.”
    “ Yes, well, his
father-in-law insisted he be worthy of Lady Catherine.”
    “ Ah, that explains it,” he
replied. “Have you and Lord Edon been lovers?”
    “ Good heavens, no. I have no
desire to be with any gentleman that way.”
    “ But you’re a widow. Surely,
you spent time in bed with your husband.”
    “ Yes, and that was enough to
know my bed is no place for a gentleman.”
    “ So you didn’t enjoy
it?”
    Her countenance hardened as she lowered
her gaze. “I hated it.”
    “ Why? What did your husband
do?” he softly asked.
    “ Does it matter?”
    “ Immensely, since I’m to be
your next husband.”
    “ If you wished to spare me
any grief, you’ll find your pleasure with a mistress instead of
me.”
    With a sigh, he cupped the side of her
face with one of his hands and tilted her head so she was looking
at him. “I don’t know the details of what he did or didn’t do, but
I assure you that you’ll find pleasure with me.”
    He kissed her, his lips
gentle, sending a promise she knew he couldn’t keep. It wasn’t
called a wife’s duty for nothing. And now she’d have to endure it with a gentleman
who probably wouldn’t have a fatal accident.
    He brushed her cheek then stepped back.
“I’ll take my leave.” Reaching behind her back, he took her hand in
his and kissed it. “Now that we’re engaged, I want you to call me
Christopher. What should I call you?”
    “ Agatha.”
    “ Good because that sounds
much better than Gerard.”
    Despite the grim situation, a slight
smile crossed her lips.
    “ It’s nice to know the lady
has a sense of humor.” He kissed her hand again. “Until we see each
other again, my dear Agatha.”
    After he left, she released a shaky
breath and headed over to her desk. She thought of pulling out her
story to continue working on it, but she’d never be able to focus
on it. She went over to the window and saw Christopher walking down
the street. He looked immensely satisfied and she had to admit he
was very clever. In the future, she wouldn’t make the mistake of
underestimating him again.
     
    ***
     
    On the evening Agatha was due to attend
Lord Clement’s party, her stomach twisted into a bunch of knots.
Despite the breeze drifting in through the carriage windows, she
was unbearably warm. Knowing she’d have to face Christopher, who’d
undoubtedly announce their engagement, didn’t make things any
better. She was about to become a married lady for a second time,
and she wasn’t looking forward to it one bit. But what choice did
she have? Lose her reputation to a scandal or lose