“My brother,” Greg replied.
But all Bella could do was gape at her brother. She’d already told Elliott that she was marrying Lord Avery. They’d already discussed the fact that Tristan and Russell, whoever Russell was, were Greg’s brothers. Why did it seem like all of this was news to him? “Remember I told you Lord Avery and I are betrothed, Elliott?”
And then a light lit her brother’s eyes. “You’re practically family, then.”
“I suppose so.” Greg frowned, which made Bella stare at the floor. Poor man, even pretending to be practically family didn’t seem to suit him.
“I don’t suppose, being family and all, that you’d mind lending me a few quid. I’m good for it.”
“Elliott!” Bella hissed, completely mortified by her brother’s behavior. And she wished a hole would open up in the floor and swallow her completely. Greg was doing so much for her as it was, but even if they were truly betrothed, for Elliott to beg him for money was beyond the pale.
Her brother, however, knew no shame at all, and shrugged in response. “We’ll be brothers soon enough.” Then he glanced at Greg. “If Tristan needed a few quid, I’m sure you’d give it to him, wouldn’t you?”
A muscle twitched in Greg’s jaw. “Aye, but I wouldn’t be afraid that Tristan would drink or gamble it all away in one evening.” Then he pressed gently on Bella’s back as though to guide her away from her brother. “Excuse us, will you?”
Just as they were out of earshot, Bella tried to apologize. “I’m so sorry about Elliott. He’s—”
“He’s a ne’er-do-well,” Greg finished for her.
He might be. But Elliott was still her brother. “He’s—”
“Your grandfather is suspicious of us,” he said, making her defense of Elliott die on her tongue.
Bella glanced toward the far side of the room where Grandfather was staring at her rather coolly. “Suspicious?”
“He told me as much,” Greg confirmed, and then said, “Who is Sarsden to you?”
Bella glanced across the drawing room again to the viscount in question. “He’s married to one of my cousins. Why?”
He frowned again. “I went to school with him. Saw him yesterday, in fact. I imagine he’ll be surprised when our betrothal is announced. He’ll wonder why I didn’t say something yesterday.”
Oh, no! Bell’s belly twisted and she thought it likely she might cast up her accounts this time. “What do we do?”
Greg lifted her hand to his lips and that shiver rippled through her again. Then he pressed a kiss against her knuckles. “If this is a love match,” he whispered against her skin, “we’d better act the part.”
And then he lowered her hand, and Bella blinked up at him. “Act the part?” she echoed him once more. Goodness, could she even have a coherent thought of her own?
His piercing green eyes focused so intently on her that Bella swallowed nervously. No man had ever touched her in such a way, and she had to remind herself that Greg was just acting the part. It was all just pretend, and her heart ached the tiniest bit, which was ridiculous. She barely knew Greg. There was nothing between them except a favor she could never repay.
“Smile,” he muttered under his breath. “Make them think we’re deeply in love.”
Except Bella had never been in love, deeply or otherwise, and she wasn’t sure what sort of smile was called for. It might be terribly easy to fall in love with him if she wasn’t careful, however. The way his touch affected her, the look of longing she saw in his eyes, the way he’d come to her aid like a knight in shining armor. She breathed in his sandalwood scent and smiled like she would have if all of this was real and they weren’t pretending. She smiled like the lady had done in the park yesterday as she’d sketched that couple.
Greg approved of the smile, she could tell by the way his eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled himself.
“You’re a very good actor, Greg,” she whispered, and she couldn’t help but wonder once again why he was helping her.
Sadness flashed across his features but was gone a second later. She would have thought she imagined the look except he said, “I’ve had a lot of practice.”
What in the world did that mean? Had he done this before? Did he have a trail of pretend fiancées littered about England? Was that how Cordie Clayworth knew he’d be a willing participant? No. His sister had said Greg owed her husband a debt, hadn’t she? But what sort of debt could he possibly…
“Why are you helping me?” she asked. “I’m grateful, you know I am. But—”
The dinner bell chimed, interrupting her question.
“We’d best make our way in,” Greg said, offering his arm.
Bella had no other choice but to take it, and she allowed Greg to escort her into the dining room and to her place at the table. She was quite aware of her grandfather’s eyes on them, and her stomach knotted in response. The last thing she should be worrying about was why Greg was helping her. She should just be relieved that he was doing so, especially with Grandfather’s attention focused so pointedly on her. Goodness. What if he didn’t believe that she and Greg were truly betrothed? What if Lord Sarsden said something to reinforce Grandfather’s suspicious? What if he still forced her to marry Johann even after all of this?