She could borrow from Aunt Viv, but that would put Viv in the precise position with her sister that Alex had wanted to avoid. Besides, in her last letter, her aunt had mentioned something in passing regarding financial complications, which Alex suspected was a discreet word for problems.
There was only one other person she knew with the kind of money she needed.
And he would be here by dinner.
“Pearson said you wished to see me as soon as I returned.” Robert strode into the parlor. “Can it wait? I haven’t changed yet, and it has been a long—” He stopped in mid-step and stared. “Apparently, I’ve forgotten how truly lovely you are.”
“Goodness, Robert.” She smiled in a teasing manner and tried not to smirk. She did indeed look her best. Her emerald-colored gown matched the color of her eyes and complemented her dark hair. The dress—together with an overly snug corset—made her waist appear smaller and her bosom fuller, the bodice a shade lower than she’d ever worn around him. It was the kind of dress that made a woman feel confident—as if she could do anything. It was, as well, the perfect dress for seduction. “You’ll quite turn my head.”
In two steps, he was in front of her, taking her hand in his and raising it to his lips. His gaze met hers. “Good.”
She laughed and pulled her hand from his. “You are a charming devil.”
“Thank you.” He grinned. “I knew you missed me.”
She shrugged. “Perhaps a bit.”
He studied her curiously. “You’re being awfully nice.”
She widened her eyes innocently. “I am unfailingly nice.”
“Not this nice.” He paused. “What are you up to, Alexandra?”
The man was obviously more perceptive than she had credited him. She had hoped the dress would distract him. Of course, it still might. She fluttered her lashes. “Are you always so suspicious?”
His eyes narrowed. “What do you want?”
“Nothing of any real significance.”
“Pearson said you had something of importance you wished to discuss with me.”
“Yes, well, I do.” She strolled a few steps away and idly ran her fingers along the back of the sofa. “I received a letter from my mother today. She and my father are in Austria. She says it’s beautiful there.”
“Yes, I’ve been there. It’s very scenic. Lots of mountains. Go on.”
“She and my father will be returning home to Nimway. They expect to arrive by mid-September,” she said brightly.
“I look forward to meeting them.”
“Oh, and I’m sure they’ll enjoy meeting you as well. And Lady Penwood, too, of course.” She paused. She had no idea how to say this. “Yes, well, the thing is …”
“The thing is?”
“You’re aware of the repairs needed on the estate as well as my financial difficulties.”
He nodded. “I am.”
“My parents know nothing of Nimway’s financial state.”
“Oh?”
“I didn’t want to worry them, you see.” She twisted her hands together. It sounded so much worse when she said it aloud. “Nor did I wish to disappoint them. Nimway is my responsibility, as I am the Guardian of Nimway Hall.”
His brow furrowed. “The what?”
“It’s a hereditary title.” She waved off his question. “Passed down from mother to daughter just as the estate is.” She wasn’t sure how to say this—the man was so bloody practical. “Nimway has always been a place of magic.”
He started to say something, but she held up a hand to stop him. “I know it sounds a bit silly, but my family has always believed in the magic of Nimway.”
He studied her. “I recall discussing that the first night I was here.”
“Well, you needn’t worry about it now. I fear Nimway’s magic has apparently dispersed.”
“Because of your financial state? I had no idea magic was so mercenary.”
“It has nothing to do with finances,” she said sharply. “It’s because I’m a terrible guardian. Nimway is my responsibility, and I failed to live up to those responsibilities. I won’t fail again, and I will do whatever necessary for Nimway, to ensure its future and honor its past.” She forced a measure of calm. Snapping at him would not help her case. “My apologies. I’m a bit overwrought. I don’t know how to do this.”
“Do what?”
She braced herself and met his gaze directly. “Ask for help.”
His tone softened. “Just say it, Alex. What do you want?”
“Money,” she said then winced. “Brian said the work on the manor would take at least a year even if it might be marginally habitable by Christmas. You’ve mentioned that you’ll be returning to New York on occasion but you intend to spend as much time in England as possible.”
He nodded.
“So, I’m proposing a business arrangement. An advance, if you will, on what you already plan to pay me for staying at Nimway. I can then attend to needed repairs before my parents return home.”
He studied her intently and for far too long. She suspected any number of business associates had been on the receiving end of that unrelenting stare. She resisted the urge to shift from foot to foot.
“Well?” she said hopefully.
“I don’t believe in paying for something before I’ve received it.” He shook his head in a regretful manner. “It’s really not a good business practice. One never knows what might happen.”
She stared.
He shrugged. “Sorry.”
“A loan, then,” she said without thinking. But there really was no other choice.
“A loan?” His brow rose. “A loan implies you will repay me.”
“And I will. Eventually,” she added under her breath.
“And would you offer Nimway as collateral?”
She’d managed her previous loans on the basis of her family name. That probably wouldn’t work with him. She clenched her teeth. “Of course not.”
“That’s unfortunate. I would still like to own Nimway.” He glanced around the parlor. “Anything else you have to offer?”
“Nothing comes to mind.” Bloody hell, the man was going to turn her down.
“No collateral and no definitive repayment plan. I do regret this, Alex—”
“Alexandra!”
“But I’m afraid this is yet another poor business practice,” he said coolly. “I’m sure you understand.”
“I don’t understand at all!” She huffed. “You have more money than you can possibly spend in a lifetime, and I’m asking you as a … a friend—”
“Are we friends now?”
“I thought so,” she said staunchly.
“It seems to me you do everything you can to avoid me.”
“Nonsense,” she scoffed. “Now you’re being absurd. I thought our relationship was quite friendly.”
“My mistake.” He bit back a smile. The blasted man was enjoying this.
“Surely we can come to some sort of arrangement.”
He considered her for an endless moment. “Perhaps we can.”
Relief swept through her. “Excellent.”
“I will fund everything you need to do at Nimway. And in return, I ask only one thing.”
“Anything, Robert.” She beamed. The man was going to save her. She’d known all along he was a decent, honorable sort. “Anything at all.”
A slow smile spread across his face. The smile of a man who knew he had the upper hand. “Marry me.”
Chapter 10
“What?” Alex stared. Surely Robert hadn’t just asked her to marry him? Although it did sound more like a command than a question.
“You heard me,” Robert said coolly.
She shook her head. “Oh, I really don’t think I did.”
“That’s yet another thing I like about you, Alex.” He chuckled. “You are the most stubborn creature I have ever met.”
This suggestion—it was hard to think of it as a proposal—made absolutely no sense. “Bu
t why?”
“I don’t know. You were probably born that way. Stubborn even as a child, I would imagine.”
“No, that’s not what I meant,” she snapped. He knew full well what she meant. Blasted man. “Why do you want to marry me?”
“It seems a good idea.” He shrugged in an offhand manner. “It’s not easy being an American viscount, you know. Having to juggle two distinct cultures and trying not to drop anything. Even so, I have to admit being rich, titled, and eligible has had its moments.” He flashed her a wicked grin. Good Lord, the man was proud of his … his amorous adventures. Obviously, that was what he was referring to. Until now, she’d only suspected he’d had amorous adventures, but really, just look at the man. It would be shocking if he hadn’t. “But it’s been recently pointed out to me that a wife would be extremely beneficial in terms of my acceptance in both business and society.”
“So this would be a”—her voice rose in disbelief—“a convenience? You’re proposing a marriage of convenience?”
“Why not? And I don’t know why you sound so offended. I don’t think anything about you is convenient.”
“Nor do I intend to be particularly convenient in the future.” The truth struck her, and she sucked in a sharp breath. “This is your way of getting your hands on Nimway, isn’t it?”
“Honestly, that hadn’t so much as crossed my mind. Not that it’s a bad idea, I simply hadn’t thought of it.” His gaze swept over her from her head to her toes and back. “Even for Nimway, marriage to you might be too high a price to pay.”
“Then why me?” Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Lady Penwood thinks you can have any woman you want.”
He smiled modestly.
“You aren’t even going to deny it?” Good Lord, the nerve of the man.
“It seems pointless.”
She rolled her gaze toward the ceiling. “You are arrogant.”
“You like it.” He grinned. “It makes me more of a challenge.”
“The last thing I need is another challenge.” Especially you.
“I don’t doubt that.” He thought for a moment. “Let’s consider this objectively. This is the perfect solution for you. For both of us, really. You get immediate access to my fortune. I get a connection to a respected English family. And my mother has been nagging at me for years to find a wife. This will put an end to that discussion. Yet another benefit. With marriage, we both win.”
“I’m not sure win is the right word.” Still, he did have a point. She crossed her arms over her chest. “We barely know each other.”
“We’ve lived in the same household for five weeks. And you already admitted that we’re friends. I know a lot of people who knew each other far less than you and I do when they married.”
Yet another point for his side. No wonder the man was so successful in business.
“You can’t argue about the practical aspects of a merger between us.”
Her brow shot upward. “A merger?”
“And what else is a marriage but a merger? A partnership if you will. Two entities joining forces, each getting what they need. When you think of it as a business proposition, it makes perfect sense. And apparently, I’m quite a catch. You could do far worse, you know.”
“I could do better!”
“Could you?” He shook his head in a mournful manner. “You’ve had three engagements, and yet you never made it to the altar. At this point, I don’t think you can do better.”
Her mouth dropped open, but words refused to come. What an ass he was, bringing up her past failures to wed! Her mistake in all three cases was in agreeing to marry—not in not marrying.
“Believe me, I understand how difficult it is to face a parent’s disappointment. I had a father who was never satisfied.” He paused. “I’ve given you a way out of your dilemma. I suggest you give it serious consideration. Take as much time as you need to reach your decision, although I might point out time is of the essence. Mid-September isn’t far off. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I do need to change for dinner.” He smiled politely and headed for the door.
“You do realize marriage is forever,” she called after him.
He looked back and smiled slowly. “I would have it no other way.”
Dinner was a strained and quiet affair, at least on Alex’s part. Fortunately, Lady Penwood didn’t seem aware of the tension hanging like a dark storm cloud above the table. She might have noticed if she had ever paused for breath, but of course, she didn’t. For the first time, Robert didn’t seem to mind her incessant mindless chatter. In fact, he egged her on, encouraging her to continue by asking some idiotic question or making an inane comment.
Which was just fine with Alex, not only because it filled the silence but because it also allowed her to deal with the endless thoughts swirling in her head. She had spent the hour between Robert’s proposal and dinner by making lists, starting with points for and against marriage. Financial concerns were obviously at the top of the list for marriage. And admittedly, she might not be able to do better when it came to a husband. At twenty-four, she did not consider herself a confirmed spinster, but with every passing year, her history regarding failed engagements would make a suitable match more and more improbable. Then there was that Dragon of Nimway Hall title, which she’d always rather liked but probably wasn’t conducive to finding a husband. And there was no arguing that Robert was indeed a suitable match.
Even if he was an arrogant, entirely-too-handsome-for-his-own-good, overly smug, foreign ass.
Still, a marriage between them did make a certain amount of sense. She did like him in a grudging sort of way. With Robert, she could stop waiting for that blasted orb to appear. She could stop waiting for love. She had thought herself in love with Philip and George and Julian, and look at how those engagements had ended.
Perhaps love had been the problem with her previous engagements. If she’d been a bit more practical, more businesslike, if love—real or imagined—hadn’t been a factor, maybe things wouldn’t have turned out as they had. Although, when she reflected on all three fiancés, she could see now it was for the best. Three times when she’d followed her heart—or what she’d thought was her heart—it had ended in disaster. Now, she could walk into marriage with her eyes wide open and no silly romantic illusions. This was a sensible arrangement with no expectation of anything more. Certainly, they got along well enough, and that would have to do. They would probably be quite content with each other.
She’d never thought she’d marry for money. None of the previous guardians had as far as she knew. No, she had wanted love and wanted it confirmed by the orb. But that hadn’t happened. After three failed engagements, one did have to be practical and look toward the future. She didn’t see any other option. She needed money, and she needed it now. It was time to resign herself to the truth: she was fated never to see the orb and never find true love. But she could revive Nimway, and she could be the kind of guardian expected of her.
If she were to marry for reasons other than affection, if this was to be a businesslike arrangement, there were stipulations she would insist upon. That resulted in her second list, now on the desk in the library.
Immediately after dinner, Lady Penwood declared she was much more tired than she had thought and retired for the night. The moment she left the dining room, Alex rose to her feet.
“In the library, if you please, my lord.” Alex nodded and led the way to the library. She waved at the leather wingback chair positioned in front of the desk and took the seat behind it.
“I’ll stand if you don’t mind.” He sauntered to the fireplace, leaned against the mantel, and crossed his arms over his chest, the perfect image of a man who knew he held all the cards.
“Very well.” She folded her hands on top of her list and considered him. “I’ve been giving your proposition—”
“Proposal.”
“Proposition seems a more appropriate word for a merger.”
“As you wish.” He shr
ugged. “Have you decided to accept my proposal?”
“Your business proposition, you mean?”
“My offer of marriage.”
“No, I have not yet decided, and before I do, there are some matters I wish to be clear about. I’m certain that as a man of business, you understand the need to negotiate the conditions or terms of any business arrangement.”
“Terms?” He raised a brow. “You wish to negotiate terms? For marriage?”
She nodded. “I do.”
“All right.” He grinned. “Now that you mention it, I probably have a few conditions of my own. So let the negotiations begin. What are your terms?”
“I’ve made a list.” She glanced down at the paper in front of her, although it wasn’t necessary. She knew every item she’d listed by heart. “Let’s start with the minor points, shall we?”
“By all means.”
“After we’re wed, your position in the household will naturally change. Unfortunately, even here at Nimway, there are traditions of society that are impossible to ignore. You will be to all appearances the head of the house.”
He nodded. “Expected, of course.”
“Regardless, there are rules of this household that will not change.” She narrowed her eyes. “First, there will be no cigars smoked in the house under any circumstances. You may, however, continue to indulge in your vile habit out of doors.”
“I thought we had settled that issue weeks ago.”
She pinned him with a hard look. “It bears repeating. Your position is changing. However, the rules are not.”
“You’re right. That was minor.” He shrugged. “I can agree to that.”
THE LEGEND OF NIMWAY HALL: 1888 - ALEXANDRA Page 11
