“You may.”
“I believe the marquess…has a ‘friendship’ that Cress has found out about.”
Her mother gasped and sat up. “Is it only that? Thank heavens! Your father will simply speak to him about this matter.”
There was a look of discomfort about her father, and with a jolt of insight, she realized something was deeply amiss.
“Papa, what is it?”
“There will be no breaking of this engagement, especially over this small matter.”
She recoiled. “How can you say so? Faithfulness and loyalty and trust in a marriage are not casual matters, papa. Marriage is for a lifetime. It cannot be entered into lightly!”
He grimaced. “I have already drafted up the betrothal contract, my dear, and it was signed by the marquess this morning with our solicitors as witnesses. The marquess was very favorable to you in terms of your allowance and widow’s portion.”
Shock froze her only for a second, then Cressida launched to her feet. “The beast!”
“Now, my dear,” her father began soothingly. “Temper your passions. I can tell your mother is getting a migraine.”
“That beast!” she cried, fisting her hand at her side as fury washed through her. “I told him last night that I withdraw my consent to marry him. Papa, I tried not to be too brazen with my words, but this was after I found him in Lady Metcalf’s garden with a woman in his embrace! A scandalous embrace, and this woman was evidently with child.”
Her voice broke. “I told him there would be no announcement and fled the ball, and he has ignored my pride, my wounded heart and his actions and instead signed a contract. He did not even pretend to offer an apology or an explanation. That is what he should have called for this morning. No other reason. Where is the marquess? Is he here to speak with me about what I saw? No, he has proven that he is unfeeling about whatIfeel. How can this be supported in any marriage…can I ever expect this will grow into love?”
“Oh, Cress,” Leigh said, standing. “Wipe your tears.”
It was then she realized she had cried. “I will not marry him.”
Her mother rose. “This marriage has all the advantages for you, Cressida. Should your father try to break the contract now, the marquess might threaten to sue for breach of contract.”
“Ihave not signed, so there is no contract,” she said stubbornly. “I am not as naive or as ignorant you would think me, mama.”
“You are being foolish. Our families have been very close for years, and your crying off after this very public show of courtship will embroil both our families in scandal. More so the lady’s family,” her mother said firmly. “Your father will speak with him about this ‘friendship,’ and you will make the announcement at Lady Rollington’s midnight ball. And Cressida, you will sign the betrothal agreement. I am giving you a few days to come to your senses.”
Her belly dipped. Cressida did a quick calculation. That was in nine days.Oh God. A quick glance at her father showed that he supported her mother. The sense of betrayal cut her like a knife. “Do I not also deserve a love match?” she asked in a small voice.
Her father’s expression softened, and he sighed. “Love will come in time, Poppet. I am sure of it. Do as your mother says, and do not let your wounded pride think for you. Because I know it is not your heart that is wounded. For you do not love the marquess as yet.”
Her heart pounded as she stared at her father. “And could I ever learn to love a man that would get a lady with child and abandon her to the wolves of society so he may marry another? Could I marry a man who would have so little respect and regard for my feelings? A man who thinks so little of my opinion that he would not even offer me an apology for his atrocious behavior?”
Without waiting for their reply, she hastened from the drawing room and ran to her bedchamber, where she tossed herself onto the bed. A deep fear lingered inside that she would be forced to marry that dishonorable bounder. Unless she could ruin herself in a manner that would see him crying off from their supposed engagement. The breath stilled in her chest, and she lifted her head from off the pillows.
Ruin myself?
The idea was rash and preposterous, daring, and yet so perfect. If she wanted to save herself, shehadto think beyond the scandal. She was the incomparable Lady Cressida Winters with a dowry of fifty thousand pounds and a father that held a powerful voice in parliament. The marquess would not willingly give her up unless she made him. Especially given his prideful nature. Anyone saying he had lost this season’s diamond would not sit well with the marquess. But how could she ruin herself? Who would dare help her with such a scheme?
Wicked blue eyes suddenly danced in her vision, and Cressida sighed. “Nicholas Fairbanks, it seemed you have, after all, won your kisses with such little effort on your part.”
And perhaps even more.
CHAPTER5
Nicholas was compelled to seek an introduction to the fair Lady Cressida. Compelled by her sheer loveliness and the ‘come hither’ peeks from under her lashes she had been giving him for the past hour and the lift of her chin to the outside gardens. It was clear the chit had never made an assignation before. She was doing it rather badly, and he had to stop looking at her in fear she might tell the whole damn ballroom she wanted to meet with him in private.
“I need your help,” he said to his eldest brother and the new earl, Colin. “And for God’s sake, stop staring at your wife as if you want to ravish her right where she stands.”
Colin gave him a wolfish smile, dark blue eyes like his own gleaming with sensual anticipation. “Are my thoughts so obvious? I thought I was being discreet.”
Nicholas took a sip of his champagne, wishing he had something stronger. He did not fancy these stifling and overcrowded ballrooms. “Everyone seems to think so tonight, that they are the soul of discretion.”