Her heart lifted at that. She had to make him understand how his meddling had affected her and the perplexing state of her affairs.
“You see,” she said without further ado, “I quite liked my time in Vienna. But now that I must come back to London and be upon the marriage mart, I find myself in a most terrible quandary.”
She wound her fingers together, searching for the right words. “You see, I cannot bear the idea of having to go through all of this to find some man, any man, who isn’t going to make my life an utter misery. But I must fulfill my family’s needs.” She swallowed and confessed, “I’m not exactly pursued by your sex.”
And even if she had been, there were significant consequences to marrying the wrong man. As her dear friend Maria Anna had discovered.
Jack touched the folded note in her pocket, renewing her purpose here. She and Maria Anna had taken lessons together from the great masters of Vienna, and her friend had been about to launch herself into the salons and concert halls of Austria.
But she had fallen in love, and the man who had seduced her and assured her that he loved her playing? He had changed his tune once they were married. So said the note. Maria Anna’s husband had been clear. Her attention was meant for him and the duties of a wife and mother. He had sold her piano. A right of a husband. After all, as a wife, Maria Anna could own nothing. Not really.
The folded note in her pocket seared her determination into her heart, and she burst out, “I do not wish just any monied man. I wish the right one.”
She tucked the note deeper into her pocket. This last note had broken her heart. For in it, her friend had stated she was far too busy with two small infants that had been born one after the other to maintain a friendship based on the frivolities of her girlhood.
She had heard nothing from her since. Jack was fairly certain she would never hear from her again. But she would take Maria Anna’s experience with care. A warning for her own future.
“I see,” Stone replied softly, his voice molten honey in the air. Rich, tempting, golden.
“Do you?” she challenged, feeling quite odd. For now that she’d said it, she feared she might unravel. Of course, she’d never allow such a thing. But she’d been most worried about how to move forward.
“Oh, yes,” he assured. “I do. I’m most aware of the difficulties that ladies have upon the marriage mart, but never fear. If this is your dilemma, it is not a dilemma at all.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“I shall find you a husband. Therighthusband.”
Hope dared to flutter in her chest. She couldn’t bear Maria Anna’s fate. To lose her music, even in support of her family, felt insupportable. She had to be so very careful. She likely wouldn’t have several offers. But nor could she force herself to accept just any offer, lest she be forced to bury her dreams entirely. “I beg your pardon?” she repeated.
“Now I must ask if it is you who is hard of hearing,” he teased gently before repeating quickly, “Jack, I shall find you a husband. Truly, if this is the extent of your trouble? There is no trouble at all. For you shall have me at your side.”
She eyed him, not quite believing the turn of events. “Is this a trick?”
“No, Jack,” he stated. “No trick.” He paused, serious now. “I find great pleasure in arranging marriages.”
She knew this, of course.
It had become a legend amongst thetonthat the Duke of Stone found the best marriages of all. Every couple that he put together was successful and happy. There were no dramatic fights, no great difficulties, no affairs, no scandals.
All the couples he united seemed to go on their merry way, married, producing, and doing their best to stabilize society.
No one understood how he did it, entirely. And suddenly the fact that he was suggesting he do the same thing for her was…a relief, and also extremely odd.
She refused to contemplate her feelings closely. She did not have time for that in any case.
So, choosing the better part of valor and her family’s honor, she clarified, “You shall find me a husband.”
“Yes, I do believe that’s what I said,” he replied with a careless shrug that indicated it was indeed no difficulty.
She scoffed. “But you know me not at all. How can you suggest that you can find the right man for me? We have not been in each other’s company in years, and we were but children then.”
He leveled her with a stare so confident, so determined, it could not be gainsaid. “It’s true, I can’t find you the right man without knowing more about you, Jack. So, I shall have to discover what pleases you most. And then out of the men whose characters I am well acquainted with, I shall pick the right match.”
He took a step toward her, his powerful presence surrounding her as he continued, “I shall ensure that you have a financially sound and happy marriage. Does that meet with your approval?”
She stared at him for several moments, feeling quite odd. She’d come for a great battle. There was none. So, she lifted her brows and replied, “It does indeed. You make the finding of a husband sound easy.”
“It won’t be easy,” he warned softly. “Nothing good is easy. In fact, it may be most difficult given your…specific wants.”