He nodded. “Then let us make it happen together.”
And then one last time, he kissed her… a soft, hot kiss and she knew that the deal had been struck.
There was no going back now.
Chapter 9
The reason Tom did not attend ton balls was not because he did not know how to behave at them.
No, he did not attend them because he disliked the company. Tonight was no exception. The grand ball of Lady Somerset was one of the highlights of the season, and of course, Elizabeth would arrive at any moment.
They had arranged that he should meet her not long after she arrived and ask for a dance. The Duke of Blackwood was also in attendance.
It was the only way that he could have easily gained an invitation.
This afternoon, he and Blackwood had met at a boxing club and discussed the possibility of invitations to this season’s rounds.
Blackwood seemed merrily eager to participate in such a ruse. As a matter of fact, Blackwood stood beside him now, all butbouncingon his polished slippers, a state of affairs that was completely opposite to his usual mood.
His melancholia seemed to have evaporated under the possibility of pulling one over on the entire ton.
Tom eyed his friend, folded his arms across his chest, and said, “There’s no need to look like the cat that got the cream.”
“Oh,” Blackwood drawled, “That is not at all what I feel like. I feel like a lion about to devour sacrifices in the colosseum.”
“That bloodthirsty, are we?” Tom countered.
Blackwood’s lips curved. “You’ve no idea how far I’m willing to go,my lord.”
Tom stilled. “I beg your pardon?”
Dread pooled in his stomach as his hair prickled at the nape of his neck.
His friend wouldn’t, couldn’t possibly.
The Duke of Blackwood gave him a knowing look and waggled his dark brows. “Indeed. The Earl of Glenbroch. It’s a wonderful name, isn’t it?”
“Excuse me? And who is the Earl of Glenbroch?” Tom asked, already having a terrible feeling.
“Youmy friend,” Blackwood announced triumphantly. “You are the Earl of Glenbroch and I shall repeat it again…my lord.”
“It is not possible for me to be the Earl of Glenbroch.” Tom said, “My parents—”
“It is a title that has been standing empty for some time now and available for purchase,” the Duke of Blackwood put in, “and I bought it for you. Besides, do you recall that bit you did for Prinny? How you kept the scandal out of the sheets? I reminded the Royal Family and it was deemed an act of service to the crown. Your estate is next to the Duke of Clyde’s. He actually suggested the idea before he headed up to see his new wife.”
“Why in God’s name would you buy me a title?” he groaned, wishing he could kick both dukes from here to the Highlands. “I can’t possibly—”
“Don’t speak of it my friend,” Blackwood cut in, far too happy. “You see, I am not given many pleasures and the pleasure of upsetting Lady Elizabeth’s father is so delicious that I cannot possibly express to you how marvelous I think all of this is going to be.”
He fought a groan. He didn’t like being a pawn of the nobles. A piece to play with and he felt slightly uncomfortable with how Blackwood behaved. But the man was a duke. His arrogance was inherent. And he couldn’t be angry. His friend had good intentions.
“Why in God’s name would you make me an earl?” he gritted.
Blackwood pursed his lips. “Because I think that you’re going to marry the lady.”
Tom let out a note that sounded like a half-strangled bleat of a dying goat. Even to his own ears, it sounded preposterous.
“I am not going to marry anyone,” Tom protested. “You know that I have no desire—”