Free The Pursuit Of Marriage by Victoria Alexander Page A

thought of them.
    They ended their tour in the drawing room in which they had begun.
    “There you have it.” Lord Berkley pulled his brows together. “In truth I have never given the house or its furnishings much consideration, but today I have seen it through your eyes. I must confess it’s not quite up to snuff, is it?”
    “If it was, my lord, you would not need me.” She cast him her most professional smile.
    “And that would be a great shame, Miss Effington.” He smiled, and her stomach flipped at the oddly intimate nature of it. “As it is, you have a great deal of work on your hands. My dear Miss Effington, you may well have found a lifelong pursuit here at Berkley House.”
    “A lifelong pursuit?” Her voice rose. “What do you mean, a lifelong pursuit?”
    “I daresay at some point we should probably want every room in the house refurbished. And it’s an exceedingly large house.” The corners of his mouth quirked upward in a wicked manner. “What did you think I meant?”
    “Nothing,” she said quickly. “Nothing at all.” She forced a brisk note to her voice and started toward the door. “I have seen all that I need to see today. I should like to return as soon as possible with some preliminary drawings. The day after tomorrow I should think, if that is convenient for you?”
    “I am at your complete disposal.” His voice sounded behind her, and she suspected he was grinning in an annoyingly satisfied manner. A lifelong pursuit indeed.
    She whirled to face him. “And perhaps then your mother will be up to meeting with me. It would be most beneficial at this point if I am to decorate it with her in mind.”
    “About that.” He shook his head slowly. “You’re not in truth doing this for my mother.”
    She pulled her brows together in confusion. “I’m not?”
    “No indeed.” His grin widened. “You’re doing it for my wife.”
    Four
    While honesty is indeed the best course, in dealing with the fairer sex, it is, on occasion, beneficial simply not to reveal too much. Omission rather than outright deceit. Although, deceit has its place….
    Anthony, Viscount St. Stephens
    “Y our wife?” Her eyes widened with shock. “You couldn’t possibly have a wife.”
    He raised a brow. “Your surprise is most unflattering, Miss Effington. I know you have already declared we would not suit, but is it inconceivable to you that I could have a wife? That someone would wish to marry me?”
    “Not at all, my lord.” She stared in obvious disbelief. “But I, and most of the people I know, believe you to be unmarried.”
    “I never said I was married.” He smiled coolly and struggled not to laugh out loud. For a woman who had already declared that she had no interest in him, she was certainly overset to learn he might not be available.
    She narrowed her eyes in suspicion. “You said you had a wife.”
    “Did I?”
    “You said I was to decorate this house for your wife. Therefore it’s logical to assume there does indeed exist a wife.”
    “My apologies, Miss Effington. I should have said future wife.”
    She studied him for a moment, then shook her head. “You’re not betrothed, either. I would certainly have heard about such an engagement.”
    “Would you?”
    “Indeed I would.” She cast him a smug smile. “I have extensive family and a great number of acquaintances. I would have heard about your betrothal before the proposal was out of your mouth.”
    He laughed. “I had no idea you were so well informed. I shall have to remember that.”
    “Yet, as I have heard nothing regarding your intention to marry—”
    “What have you heard?”
    “What?”
    “About me.” He studied her curiously. “What have you heard?”
    “Come now, my lord, surely you don’t—”
    “Surely I do. In fact, I’m quite intrigued as to precisely what you have heard.”
    “The usual kinds of things for a man of your reputation. Inordinate gambling, illegal dueling, illicit