Free Make-Believe Wife by Anne Herries

thoughtful. ‘Let us hope that I can play my part as well as I expect of you.’
    â€˜Watch me often and look pleased or brooding,’ she suggested and her mouth pouted at him. ‘It should not be beyond you, Luke. I dare say you have wooedenough ladies to know how to court the love of your life.’
    â€˜You have a wicked tongue,’ Luke remarked and grinned. ‘Do not be afraid of Grandfather, Roxanne. I think his bark worse than his bite—besides, he should be happy to meet you. You are exactly what he has looked for.’
    â€˜Let us hope that is the case. If not, you can apologise to him and take me away.’
    â€˜He wants me married and an heir,’ Luke said. ‘Play your part well and he will soon be eating from your hand, my love.’
    â€˜Yes, that is better,’ Roxanne approved. ‘You had the tone just right then. I was almost convinced myself.’ She took off her smart leather glove, looking at the huge square emerald-and-diamond ring on her left hand. It was proof that she was truly caught up in this masquerade, pretending to be Luke’s betrothed. ‘This is magnificent enough to convince anyone.’
    â€˜I could not do less. Had I given you something paltry Grandfather would not have been fooled for an instant.’
    â€˜Any jewels you lend me will of course be returned when we part,’ Roxanne replied. ‘All I shall ask is a small income so that I can live quietly but respectably.’
    â€˜Yes, well, as to that we shall see. That ring belongs to you, Roxanne, whatever may happen when we get to Hartingdon.’ Luke helped her into the carriage and stepped back. ‘I shall be close by. Should you need to stop, you may tap the roof and the driver will oblige you.’
    Roxanne sat back against the squabs and lookedout of the window. She had butterflies in her stomach, for the role she was about to play was important, far more demanding than anything she had accomplished before. If she failed, she would be letting Luke down and perhaps hurting a vulnerable old man.
    She would not fail. Roxanne did not think she had come from Luke’s class, but she was certain that she had been reared as a gentlewoman. Why had she run away from her home—and what had frightened her so much that she’d lost her memory?
    It could not matter. Her engagement was merely make believe and intended to be a temporary arrangement.
    Â 
    Would the earl be fooled by their little charade? Luke wondered as he rode just behind the carriage. It was perfectly possible that he would throw them both out and disown his grandson, as he had threatened. That would be a deuced nuisance and the ensuing row would be messy and unpleasant. He could not let Beth Fox and her son Harry down. He had promised to support her for the rest of her life in comfort and would keep his promise, which meant he must fight for his income if forced. He would also need to keep his promise to Roxanne if things went wrong.
    Luke wanted to avoid a quarrel if at all possible. He had no desire to be the cause of the earl’s death—nor did he particularly wish to inherit a large and cumbersome estate that would require a much larger commitment than his own did at present. It would suit him ifthe earl lived for some years longer, yet he needed his own income intact.
    It was such a coil and so unnecessary. Why must the earl be such a pompous fool, making unreasonable demands on his grandson? Anger mixed with regret as he considered his childhood. Alone and grieving for his parents, he had looked for a sign of love or softness in the earl and found none. Because he was hurt, he had drawn into himself and rejected his grandfather. The estrangement between them had begun years ago and they had drifted apart. For a long time Luke had believed there was nothing between them, but now he was not so sure.
    Had he been as indifferent to his grandfather as he had pretended to be since