Free A Most Inconvenient Wish by Eileen Richards Page A

proud of my actions.”
    Ian snorted. “You admit it?”
    She met Ian’s warm dark eyes. “I know my own faults and when to be ashamed of them.” Sophia looked across the room, where Catherine was berating Miss Hamilton for playing the wrong suite. “I’m afraid she’s suffering worse treatment now.”
    Ian squeezed her hand. “At least you realize your mistake.”
    â€œI can see why Lord Bateman likes her. She’s very sweet and proper, and she would be rather pretty if she wore the right styles.”
    â€œVery kind of you, Sophia,” he said with a soft laugh. “But you left out the most important attribute Miss Hamilton possesses: an obscenely large fortune.”
    â€œNo one can compete with that inducement. Miss Hamilton is still very young.”
    â€œBateman probably prefers that she knows little of his world. Still, she can’t be that much younger than you. How old are you?”
    â€œI’m not yet twenty-seven and it’s very ungentlemanly of you to bring it up.”
    â€œYou, of all people, know I’m no gentleman. It will be extremely difficult to compete with Miss Hamilton’s youthfulness and gentle beauty.”
    â€œAnd extremely large dowry. I will have to get by as best I can.”
    â€œBy some standards, you are firmly on the shelf,” Ian said. “Past your prime, as most would say.”
    Warmth flooded her cheeks. “How kind of you to point out the obvious, sir. If I’m on the shelf, what does that make you?”
    â€œIt’s different for men. We usually do not reach our prime until later.”
    Sophia snorted. “That’s a matter of opinion, sir.”
    â€œDon’t be crude. I only meant that most men prefer to marry a woman closer to them in age.”
    â€œUnfortunately, there is a great deal of evidence to the contrary.” Sophia glanced back at the card players. Lord Bateman leaned over to say something to Miss Hamilton. She blushed prettily.
    â€œYou do realize Bateman’s pockets are to let. He has no choice but to marry a fortune.” He glanced at her.
    Sophia turned to face him. “I’d heard rumors of such in Town.”
    She had hoped the rumors weren’t true. Given Bateman’s attentions, she’d had cause to hope. Now reality was staring her in the face. Spinsterhood loomed over her like a vulture.
    â€œYou have other qualities, Sophia. You are vivacious and beautiful.” Ian looked at Bateman. “He is a fool for letting you go.”
    Sophia turned to look at Lord Bateman. “He seems quite taken with Miss Hamilton. Besides, if he is as poor as you say he is, he is making a sensible decision.”
    â€œAm I hearing you correctly? You would prefer to marry for money rather than love?”
    â€œLove does not put food on the table.”
    â€œI think I like this practical Miss Townsend.”
    Ian’s voice was deep and low, his breath stirring the wisps of hair at the base of her neck. She fought the urge to shiver. “You forget that I’ve had my share of days when we wondered where our next meal would come from.”
    â€œI had forgotten that.”
    She nodded her head but said nothing. Ian’s lips were so very close to her exposed neck. She fought the urge to shiver. “So you see, Mr. McDonald, it is no great loss that Lord Bateman has chosen another lady.”
    â€œYou would have been bored with him within the week,” Ian grumbled.
    â€œThat’s a terrible thing to say.” She stared back at Lord Bateman and noticed him watching her exchange with Mr. McDonald. She smiled at him. He smiled back. Funny that his smile didn’t cause the little tingle of awareness Mr. McDonald’s did.
    â€œHe spends most of his time at his club. I doubt you’d ever see him.” Ian got that tick in his jaw.
    â€œSounds perfect, actually.” Sophia would have her society events, balls,