Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 137017 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137017 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
“And why do you need me to get that for you?”
“I’ve recently learnt of a marriage proposal that may be coming my way,” I said vaguely. “One my father would find hard to turn down, but one I wish to avoid at all costs.”
He tilted his head to the side. “Let me guess; you’re trying to enter a marriage arrangement before that happens.”
I nodded. “If I’m officially engaged, it will be hard for my father to agree, especially if my fiancé is from a duke’s family. However, I simply do not have the means to obtain information about the bachelors of the empire as quickly as necessary.”
His lips curled up into his cocky smile. “Didn’t you tell Jinx that you’d have your father visit mine to propose marriage?”
“Only so I could threaten you into doing what I want.” I shrugged one shoulder. “Don’t misunderstand. I have no desire to enter into any kind of personal relationship with you.”
“Ouch. You just keep breaking my heart here tonight.”
“Can you do it or not?”
“It’s not a matter of if I can. It’s whether I will.” He tapped his fingers against the stone railing. “What do I get out of this?”
“I’ll pay you, obviously.”
He ran his tongue over his top lip. “You seem close to Lady Vivian, and I heard Leon ask you for a dance. Rumour has it he’s expressed his interest in you to Duke Trelawney. Marquess Vermillion would find the Trelawney family a more than satisfactory match for you. Why not pursue a relationship with him?”
“I do not desire to put my eggs all in one basket.”
“All right. I’ve never had someone so desperate for such an easy request to fulfil before, and you know what?” He leant in close again. “I like you, Lady Alicia. I find myself rather fascinated by you.”
“Is that a yes?”
“On one condition.” He touched his gloved finger to my lips. “I am more than qualified to be a marriage candidate for you. The list you present to your father will include my name, and you’ll give me a fair consideration.”
Balls.
I couldn’t help but appreciate a solid negotiation, even if I didn’t like the terms.
And I didn’t like this.
Because for the fourth time and the fourth man tonight, my heart was doing a little thump thump thump in my chest.
My heart was a shameless slut.
I jerked my head. “Very well,” I said, swatting his hand away. “In any case, I think it would be unreasonable not to include you on such a list, as you’re correct. Chances are that my father already has you as an option in mind.”
“It’s like you’re healing the heart you broke.” His smile was a little more boyish than cocky this time, and he waved his hand once more to remove his spell. “Then we have a deal, my lady. I will visit you at home in five days with your request.”
Ah, in the hopes he could run into my father and sway his opinion.
“I see what you’re doing there,” I murmured.
Ezra took my hand and brushed his lips over my fingers. “It was a pleasure talking with you, Lady Alicia.”
“I’m sure it was.” I took back my hand and turned, opening the doors to the ballroom and almost colliding with Lady Georgina.
She was the last person I wanted to see right now, given that I’d just had a little rendezvous on the terrace with her brother.
She looked at me, then over my shoulder, then back to me. “What did my brother do to you?”
Ezra scoffed and wrapped his arm around my shoulders. “Why must you think I did anything to her? I saw her go outside and took the chance to speak to a beautiful woman.”
“Please unhand me,” I said flatly.
Lady Georgina clenched her jaw. “Do not mess with my friend, Ezra.”
He slid his arm away from my shoulders and stepped in front of me, drawing close to his sister. “I wouldn’t dream of messing with someone I could see myself marrying, little sister.”
“You—”
“Ignore him,” I said quickly, taking her hand and pulling her away. “Don’t let him rile you up, especially in public.”
She huffed but allowed me to drag her along. I glanced over my shoulder and caught Ezra’s gaze. He grinned, shooting me a wink that made my stomach flutter more than it had any right to. I turned back to face where I was walking with a little, “Hmph.”
“What did he say to you?” Lady Georgina asked, grabbing my hand with both of hers. “He didn’t actually propose to you, did he? You just met!”
I scratched my jaw, glancing away. “Not exactly.”
“What does that mean?” she squeaked.
“He said he was interested in me, requested that I consider him as a suitable match, and said he’d come to visit me in a few days.”
Hey—I wasn’t lying. I was just… you know. Omitting a few things.