Free Love Only Once by Johanna Lindsey Page A

could be just as hot-tempered as Tony. Besides that, he was a man of rigid principles. When there was any question of honor, his could not be tampered with.
    For him there would be only one solution, and if that didn’t work, he would be cleaning his pistols just as Tony was. But that first solution was intolerable. Nicholas Eden would never agree. He would rather face one of her uncles across the dueling field than be forced to marry, she was sure of it.
    She worried at her lower lip. “There must be something we can do, Tony, some story we can invent.”
    “Any one of a dozen, puss, but not one will be believed. The trouble is that Montieth has seduced innocents like you before. That he was alone with you—never mind that it wasn’t you he meant to be alone with—implies that he took advantage of the situation. He is such a handsome devil, you couldn’t have resisted him. That’s what people will think. And say.”
    Reggie blushed and looked away uncomfortably.
    “I don’t know why I’m even discussing this with you,” Anthony continued curtly. “There is only one thing to be done, and it’s up to me to see it done.”
    Reggie sighed. “You’re right, of course. I don’t know why I’ve been resisting the idea so.”
    He raised a suspicious brow. “No tricks, Reggie.”

    “No tricks. You will see that he marries me. That is the only thing to be done.”
    “Bloody hell!” Anthony shot to his feet in full fury. “He’s not good enough for you!”
    “Nevertheless—”
    “No! And no again! And don’t think I’m not on to you, Regina Ashton. You think this will solve your other problem, and you won’t have to look for a husband anymore.”
    “Now that you mention it…oh, Tony, I really wouldn’t mind having him for a husband, really I wouldn’t. And he reminds me of you.”
    “He is too much like me, which is exactly why he’s not for you!”
    “But he reminds me of Uncle Edward, too. And there’s also a touch of Uncle Jason in him. Why, he was quite put out when I suggested that what he had done would ruin me and he would have to marry me.”
    “You said that?”
    “I was in that kind of mood. And he got angry. He acted just as Uncle Jason would have.”
    “Why, that—”
    “No, no, Tony. He’s perfect, don’t you see? A little like all of you—just what I have been looking for. And besides, it will be a challenge to reform him.”
    “He’ll never change, Reggie,” Tony insisted. “He’ll never settle down.”
    “Oh, I don’t know.” She grinned. “We might make that statement about you, but we don’t know for sure about him. And he did like me. That’s a start.”

    “Don’t let’s put a nice face on it,” Anthony said. “He wanted you. But he’ll want other women, too, and he’ll go after them. He won’t be a faithful husband.”
    “I think I know that,” she said quietly.
    “And you still want him?”
    She didn’t want him dead. That was the alternative. “After all,” she said quietly, “he should make things right. He has involved me in a scandal, so he should be the one to get me out of it. This is a peaceful solution, and I’m sure Uncle Jason will wholeheartedly agree.”
    “This is not what I would call Montieth getting his just deserts.” Anthony glowered. “He’ll be getting you into the bargain, while you will go on suffering.”
    “He won’t see it that way, Tony. In fact, I’m positive he’ll refuse.”
    “Good.” Anthony smiled and went back to cleaning his pistol.
    “Oh, no,” Reggie said. “You must promise me you’ll do your best to convince him, Tony.”
    “All right,” he agreed.
    He was smiling in a way that made her want to hit him. She knew that smile too well.
    “I want Uncle Edward to be with you when you speak to him,” she said suspiciously.
    “But your Viscount will be here soon, puss,” he reminded her.
    “Then come with me to see Uncle Edward now. Leave a message for Lord Montieth to return this evening.