Accidental Fiancee by Mary Moore Read Free Book Online Page A

will not be shocked by an occasional kiss on the hand, or you standing up with me for more than two dances, which is all Society would expect from an engaged couple.”
    He made a negligent gesture. “We are almost to Town—let us not arrive in fisticuffs. I think, however, we must come to a final decision.” He turned serious once again. “Grace, are we to go ahead with our plans for a betrothal that will be broken once Lydia has made her match?”
    “My lord, my father...”
    “As I said before, I will write to your father posthaste. Did you not say that he rarely comes to London?” At her nod, he continued, “I will create an excuse for not calling on him before speaking to you, and I will promise him a visit to arrange all of the settlements.”
    He held up his hand to stop her from interrupting him. “I know you do not wish it to go so far, but as I told you from the beginning,
I
am honor bound to do so.”
    “Do you think I am happy about that? I may have ruined your life as well as mine. I do not take that as lightly as you do, my lord.”
    He must make her see it was in the best interest of all three of them. “We are doing everything in the proper way to protect us all. You
will
be betrothed to me, and either you will find reason to break it off later in the Season, or you and I will be married by the end of it. I assure you, I must take every precaution to be an honorable gentleman and to keep your reputation intact, as well as mine. If I did not write to your father or put a notice in the
Times,
no one would believe us.”
    He did not even wish to think about what might happen should Lord Langdon think the engagement anything other than honorable and appropriate.
    He went on, “Grace, you cannot dismiss the signs of affections that will be required. With my reputation, if I am to have fallen in love, the only way Society will believe it is if they
see
it. There must be some such contact.” He waited, trying to be prepared for whatever spirited reaction she would show him.
    That she would be rational had never occurred to him!
    “My lord, as we both know, to be thought in each other’s pocket is very bad
ton,
and I suppose you would hate that even if you
were
in love.” He was becoming quite reconciled to the fact that she would always surprise him. “Couples do not kiss each other in public. So we will show the required amount of affection,
when
necessary,
and we will act like rational adults the remainder of the time.” She turned to look out the window and began to hum to herself. Maybe it gave her some sort of peace in the middle of a brangle. Whatever the reason, it was a clear indication that the conversation was at an end.
    As they were now on the outskirts of London, he let it drop, while Lydia pointed out some sights in excitement. Grace was naive, but beautiful and intelligent, and if she thought for one minute he was going to change his personality, she had a few surprises of her own in store!
     

Chapter Five
    W hen they reached their town home in Berkeley Square, Grace asked that she and Lydia be allowed to greet their aunt alone.
    “What? Ashamed of me already?” Brandon asked.
    She turned and smiled when she saw the amusement in his eyes.
    “I would like to explain our betrothal to my aunt without your presence complicating matters.”
    She thought he would understand, and she was right. As he handed her down after leading Lydia to the doorstep, he whispered into her ear, “Prepared to face the dragons, love?”
    “To tell the truth, I do not think I am at all prepared, my lord. But I did think you might be a little more put out than you appear to be. I admit to being quite exhausted already, and the charade has only just begun.”
    “On the contrary, my dear, I believe this will be one of the least tedious Seasons I have attended in a long time!” He kissed her hand and then returned to the carriage, saying, “I will give you a day or two to gather yourselves, and use the