Free Never Miss a Chance by Maureen Driscoll

asked him about that.  He assured me it’s because he’s
worked, in his words, ‘tirelessly and heroically’ on his tenants’ behalf,
reinvesting rents from his estates to modernize farming methods.  It’s quite
admirable, really.”
    “What does Lady Elizabeth say about this?”
    “I haven’t yet discussed him with her.  I wanted to take a
few days to come up with a list of candidates.  But perhaps Stalford is the
answer.”
    Riverton’s response was a terse “He’s not.” 
    The marquess barely restrained himself from smashing his
coffee cup against the wall.  This couldn’t be happening.  And it especially
couldn’t be happening before he could come up with a plan.
    Lynwood raised an eyebrow, surprised at his friend’s vehemence. 
“Then who is the right choice?”
    “I am,” said Riverton.  “I would be the best husband for
Lady Elizabeth.”
    Lynwood’s heavily laden fork stopped midway between plate
and mouth.  It hovered there for a moment as the duke studied his best friend,
then he finally put it down.
    “Are you offering?” he asked.
    “Yes.”
    Lynwood digested that information for a moment, his face
carefully blanked. “Why?”
    Riverton didn’t know the right answer, although he was aware
of the real reason.  He was truly, painfully in love with his best friend’s sister. 
He’d spent the first half hour after going to bed the previous night trying to
convince himself not to offer for her.  Then he’d spent the rest of the night
dreaming of making love to her. 
    But he couldn’t exactly say that to her brother.
    He cleared his throat.  The next few moments would be some
of the most important of his life.  He had to win Lynwood to his side.  And
he’d do it with the same tools he’d use in the House of Lords:  logic and
reason.  “I have a great deal of respect for your sister.  She’s everything a
man could want in a wife.  For my part, I would provide the protection of my
name.  She would become a marchioness, and, if we are blessed with children,
the Riverton line would be joined with the house of Lynwood.  My estates are in
sound financial shape.   She would be provided every comfort and allowed the
freedom she craves – within reason, of course.  All in all, it would be a most
fortuitous match, as well as a solution to the current situation.”
    Logic and reason.  They paled in comparison to how heated
his blood became just by the very thought of making Lizzie his wife.  He hadn’t
even considered it a possibility until he’d spoken in haste moments earlier. 
But now, all he could think of was making it a reality.  And for the rest of
his life, he would always wonder how he could’ve described the passion running
through him with such bloodless words.
    He wouldn’t be the only one.
    Lynwood didn’t speak.  He could only stare. 
    The silence was finally broken by Heskiss clearing his
throat.  “Your grace, Lord Riverton, Lady Elizabeth has joined you, accompanied
by Lords Arthur and Henry.
    Riverton and Lynwood turned to see a silent, wide-eyed
Lizzie, accompanied by her equally surprised brothers.  It was unclear how long
they’d been standing there, but from their expressions, it had been long
enough.
    “I know the gentlemanly thing to do would be to leave the
room and pretend we’d never been here,” said Arthur, walking to the sideboard. 
“But I have the devil of a headache and am in desperate need of coffee.  Sorry,
Riverton.  But carry on as if we’re not here.”
    “Please do,” said Hal, snatching an apple from a bowl.  “I
haven’t been this entertained in ages.”
    “I know it is quite too much to ask,” said their sister, 
who’d finally found her voice, “but can the two of you please hold your tongues
until some day in the distant future when your meager brains hatch thoughts of
worth?”  She was addressing her brothers, but her eyes were fixed firmly on
Riverton.
    “Don’t mind her,” said Arthur to