Chapter Eight

A megrim was brewing in the back of his head, the kind that would leave him helpless and prone all day. Austin fought it as best as he could but his rising annoyance at this situation he found himself in only exacerbated his condition.

One week ago, he had been content with his life. He hadn't known how much the estate meant to his late father and stepmother. He hadn't cared about his declining wealth. And he hadn't given a single thought to being married.

Now, he stood brooding in the corner of a quaint drawing room with his arms crossed watching as his beloved betrothed and her friend discussed him.

He hadn't expected prizefighting would have caused such contention. But then again, he'd spent nearly all his life not caring about what the upper class thought, even though his father insisted that he was one of them. Going to their schools and enjoying the luxury of being an earl's son—albeit a bastard one—had only done so much to change who he truly was. Surely this small, plain-looking woman didn't think that she could!

"Perhaps it is not as bad as we think?" Miss Alice was saying. Austin didn't mind her half as much as he did Miss Lavender. She seemed polite yet firm, and pretty enough to be endearing. Or perhaps he could only tolerate her because he was not betrothed to her. Surely it had taken quite some convincing for him to follow her here in the first place.

"Alice, it may very well be worse than what we think," Miss Lavender complained. She seemed not to care about any of the ladylike graces she'd displayed at the party anymore. She was slumped on a couch with her face buried in her hands. Austin rolled his eyes at the dramatic display.

"Well, it certainly wasn't made any better with Colin running after you like that," Miss Alice murmured as she paced back and forth. "What was he thinking?"

"He was just worried for me, that's all," Miss Lavender said without hesitation .

Austin's scowl deepened. Miss Alice had chased this Colin away as soon as she arrived, much to Austin's pleasure. He didn't like the man and he didn't know why. All he knew was that he'd noticed the way his eyes followed Miss Lavender wherever she went, as if Austin did not exist, and it had bothered him. Akin to a lost puppy, Austin thought, but even hounds have more shame.

He'd felt a sliver of annoyance when he'd followed after Miss Lavender and a great amount of satisfaction when he was sent back the way he came.

"Worry or not, it would only make things worse," Miss Alice insisted. "Surely he doesn't want you starting the London Season with a scandal following behind your name."

"It matters not, Alice. After Lord Derby's announcement, I don't think I have any reputation left."

Austin scoffed loudly. Both women turned to look at him. One with a frown and the other with a scathing glare that would have made him drop dead if he were made of weaker stuff.

"Pardon me, my lord," Miss Lavender hissed. "But it seems you are not aware of the trouble you have caused me."

"Trouble?" Austin shot back with a raised brow. "I fail to see how what I do in my free time affects you."

"Whatever you do affects me, my lord. My last name will be dropped for yours, my life in your hands. I will become your wife. Anything you do will most certainly fall back on me."

"You're only saying that because you think I have upset your plans to overthrow that countess."

Miss Lavender got to her feet, her hands curling into fists. It was alarming how quickly her presence took up the span of the room, her anger a force to be reckoned with. Austin met it unflinchingly.

"Yes, and even that!" she exclaimed. "After all I have told you, why would you think it a good idea to say such a thing so publicly?"

"Because it is not as serious as you proclaim it to be."

"Not as serious—" She broke off, looking at her friend as if she couldn't believe what she was hearing. Miss Alice only melted back to the wall. Miss Lavender faced him again. "You are an earl and you do not realise the implications of your confession? "

"It is not that I do not realise it," Austin answered calmly despite his irritation at her tone. "It is that I do not care."

"How can you not when it affects your life?"

"I do not let what others think about me affect me to such an extent. Perhaps you should try that as well."

Her face grew so red that Austin would not be surprised if she fainted. But she approached him instead, not stopping until she was just an arm's length away. "You will return to the dining room and tell everyone that you spoke in jest."

Austin glared at her but was saved from having to respond when Miss Alice chose that as her chance to speak. "That will never work," she said. "It will only look like you are trying to fix your mess. It is far too obvious."

"Nor does it matter if it will because I have no intention of doing such a thing," Austin added. "And I certainly do not care to stand here and listen to you berate the things I chose to do and say because they do not fit into your perfect little plan."

He stalked away from her. Equal parts annoyance and surprise coursed through his body when she trailed right after him. "You cannot leave," she insisted from behind. "Not until we have spoken."

"What is there left to talk about?" he couldn't help but ask, whirling to face her again.

She was far closer than he thought she would be. Or perhaps he had simply stopped too abruptly because she collided into his chest with enough force that he had to hold her shoulders to steady her. Her scent washed over, emptying his mind for a moment.

But then she stepped out of his hold, wiping an odd look off her face and replacing it with a determined one. Austin tensed.

"Very well. You do not have to do anything else this afternoon. As a matter of fact, I think it would be best if you remained quiet for the remainder of the party. It may very well be what is best. However," the daring woman stepped closer to him, like a gazelle creeping nearer to a lion, "I hope you know that I intend to have you on my arm for every other event I am invited to for the rest of the Season. Subject to change, of course. "

Austin's first inclination was to protest. He didn't want to go, didn't want to endure this any longer than he needed to. But he'd signed a contract and he was a man of his word.

Miss Lavender must have seen the resignation on his face because a saccharine smile stretched across her lips. "Don't worry," she said. "I have a schedule."

That was all Austin needed to hear to be certain that this would be the longest months of his life.