“My friend is desperate. If his
brother inherits, all will be lost. The estate has many farmers on it that
would starve under his hand. If Lucy marries you, you can keep the estates
intact. It will continue in your name even if you remarry. Could you find it in
your heart to marry a man out of charity?”
“Charity, my lord? I should like to
marry out of a more dedicated love. What you propose is mercenary. Furthermore,
no other man would want to marry me afterward. You say that I should have no
need to seek employment if I accept your offer, but I would sooner return to my
sister’s home than marry a man for his title and lands, only that he would die
the next day.”
“It is not mercenary. You would be
doing it to preserve his estates and his good name. You would also be doing his
brother Algernon a courtesy. He would be prevented from having the funds to
sink his life into greater debauchery.”
“I highly doubt Mr. Grummel would
see it that way.”
“Will you not at least meet Lucian
to see if you could get on together?”
“If the man is dying, I do not see why it should matter if we
get on together.”
“Then you’ll marry him?” Marcus’
eyes danced merrily.
“I did not say anything of the sort.
As I recall, I have been presenting you solely with reasons why I should not do
it.”
Stephen, enjoying the high emotion
of the moment, threw himself shamelessly on his knees at her feet, hands
clasped in supplication. “Please, Miss Radford, you said your employer did not
arrive to fetch you this evening. Surely you are a believer in Providence?”
Emily stared at the boy for a minute before nodding once. He continued
dramatically, “What if the Lord has a hand in all this? You may be the answer
to Grummel’s prayers.”
One of Emily’s eyebrows rose at the
theatrical outburst. She was about to protest, but something made her stop and
think about his words.
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