Page 30 of A Match of Misfortune (Bachelors of Blackstone’s #7)

“First, that you are acting altruistically on behalf of my parents, particularly my mother, in order to delay my return to India.”

Her brow raised ever so slightly. “It seems your intuition is not as wayward as it once was.”

He chuckled. “Another thought that occurred to me, and I admit my pride may have superseded any intuition on this point, is that I can’t help but wonder if finding out about Featherbottom’s plans to offer for you played into all of this. The timing seems oddly coincidental. ”

Cecily released a sigh. “Again, you are not wrong. I should like to avoid his proposal along with any others I might receive.”

“The dolt will not come near you while I’m present. Nor will any other gentlemen if you do not wish it.”

She dropped her chin. “Lord Harlow is a good man, but the truth is …” She paused, her expression full of hesitancy.

He found he desperately wanted to know what she was about to say. Nay, he needed to know. “You can tell me. I will not share what you relay with anyone.”

She spoke in a hushed whisper. “I do not intend to marry.”

Nash’s core contracted as if he’d taken a physical blow to the stomach. “Ever?”

She shook her head.

He supposed it made sense, only in that she had not married after all these years.

Nash had maintained a slight hope, one he’d hardly admitted to himself, that her reluctance had been for another reason, but clearly that was not the truth of it.

Regardless, the thought did not sit well with him. “Might I ask why?”

“I cannot?—”

A loud crack and a subsequent jolt sent them clambering.

Nash reached out and took hold of Cecily, pulling her to him and supporting their weight as the carriage tilted awkwardly to one side and the rear corner where she’d been sitting sunk downward.

The entire vehicle shook as it slowed, then the carriage came to a halting stop.

His eyes roved over Cecily. “Are you hurt?”

She gave a swift shake of her head, her eyes wide with surprise. “No.”

Contented, Nash cautiously released his hold on her, allowing her to right herself in the seat next to him as well as she could.

Then he peered out the window. Blast. They had come to a stop right in the middle of Oxford Street.

He opened the door nearest him where there would be no oncoming carriages, and he cautiously glanced around to find the driver having climbed down from his seat to look beneath the carriage.

“What is it?” Nash asked.

There was an audible groan, and the man straightened, shaking his head. “The rear axle.”

A coachman behind them hollered something.

“What do you want me to do?” the Rothsburgs’ driver called back to him, tossing up a hand. “We’ve broken an axle. You’ll need to go around us.” He grunted something under his breath. “Louis?”

A footman stepped into view. “Yes, sir?”

The man’s gaze swept across the young footman in his livery, as if to verify he was in no way injured. “I’ll need you to hire a carriage for Mr. Markham and Miss Bradshaw, then see if you can get a smithy here to assist us. We need to get this carriage off the road as quickly as we can manage.”

“I’m happy to help with that,” Nash said, taking a step down. It was the least he could do.

The coachman considered Nash’s large frame. “I don’t doubt you would be useful, but with where the axle has split, we’ll need it reinforced before we can move it.”

Nash gave a nod. “Then to ease the burden of all that you must see to, Miss Bradshaw and I will walk the remainder of the way. Wimpole Street is not fifteen minutes from here on foot.” He glanced behind him at Cecily. “As long as that is acceptable to you?”

She reached out a hand for him, apparently eager to be out of the stranded, tilting carriage. “It is.”

The driver appraised them a moment. “If you’re both certain?”

“Most certain.” Nash lifted an arm to Cecily, who took hold of it. “Please send Lord Rothsburg and Lady Bridget my apologies.”

“It is not as though this is your doing. ”

Cecily glanced over at Nash, a curious expression on her face as if she were attempting to decipher if he truly thought it his fault.

“Of course not. That would be absurd.” Nash hesitated. “But … regardless, tell him I’m sorry.”

Cecily covered her mouth with her hand.

When they had started on their way, Nash glanced over at her. “Is something humorous?”

“No.” Her smile betrayed her. “Not in the least.”

“Perhaps if you were to give me my luck back, I could stop causing disasters wherever I go.”

Her eyes were alight with humor. “What fun would that be?”

He pinned her with a look. “A deal is a deal. I’m complying with your end of the bargain. Perhaps we should have another go at my end.”

Cecily’s eyes widened. “Please tell me you are not referring to your suggestion that I kiss your hand?”

“What should I tell you, then, if not the truth?”

“You are ridiculous. Besides, I already fulfilled my part of the agreement. There was no stipulation that we must continue to try until your luck returned, only that I need speak the words you specified in an attempt to right the situation. Which I did.”

“So all I am to receive is a broken heart when you cast me aside once all of this is over?”

Cecily scoffed at his drollery, though he was only partially jesting. “You have always had a flare for the dramatics. However, lest you think you will receive no benefit, remember what Lady Bridget said about our being seen together and how it will aid your reputation.”

Nash stopped Cecily at the corner, letting a carriage pass before he led her across the street. “Not that I wish to question Lady Bridget, but considering how our shopping excursion went this morning, I’m not certain there is much credence in her theory. ”

“It is your first day back in Society, and the ton is a fickle lot. It is to be expected that they will not instantly welcome you. But I do not doubt you will be as admired when you leave for India as when you first arrived.”

Nash smirked. “I think I’d rather have the kiss.”

“Oh, but that is still an option.”

His gaze shifted to her. “I thought you said?—”

“Not a kiss from me. From another young lady.”

Nash pushed out a silent breath of frustration. He didn’t want a kiss from another young lady. He wanted a kiss from Cecily. But now was certainly not the time to admit such a thing. “How am I to find a lady to court if we are betrothed?”

“A young lady’s nature is such that we often want what we either cannot have or what another has.

When word spreads of our betrothal, I suspect your desirability will increase.

” She glanced up at him, donning a proud smile.

“So a second benefit to you is that I shall gladly introduce you to whichever young ladies you wish to meet over these coming weeks.”

“What about you? Is the nature of a gentleman not similar? Will our betrothal not cause Featherbottom to put in a more valiant effort to capture your heart? Others as well?”

“From what I have witnessed, men tend to be disheartened when a lady selects another over them. Besides, a lady’s reputation does not recover as easily from a broken betrothal as does a gentleman’s. Which is an acceptable consequence for me.”

“Because you never wish to marry?”

“Precisely.”

They walked a while in silence, Nash attempting to make sense of why Cecily was opposed to matrimony.

Mother had once told him Cecily’s parents had been a love match, and the way Cecily watched his own mother and father interact, and the Rothsburgs as well, as though the very idea of their love brought her happiness, did not seem a typical reaction of a person set against the concept.

Perhaps her reluctance had to do with Adelaide.

That Cecily would not allow herself to fall in love because her sister might not have a similar opportunity.

He could hardly fault her compassion, but it seemed a hefty sacrifice.

“Were you truly planning to return to India in a week or two?” Cecily asked, pulling his attention back to her.

“With how things have gone since my return, it seemed my only option.”

She bit at her lip nervously. “Does it still seem your only option?”

“Not now that I’m betrothed.”

Cecily’s steps slowed, then stopped, and she turned to face Nash. “It was not fair of me to ask this of you.”

Nash smirked. “Ask?”

Her shoulders dropped slightly, and she gave a pout. It was not an overdone pout but a genuine one. “Very well. It was not fair of me to place this on you. So if you wish to return to India, we needn’t continue.”

“You just told the Rothsburgs that they could share the news of our betrothal with others.”

She gave an apologetic smile. “I admit this whole thing wasn’t well thought out on my part.”

“Neither was my hasty return to India,” Nash admitted.

Her gaze moved across his expression, as though attempting to decipher his thoughts. “So … what do you wish to do?”

“After your speech of all the benefits of our arrangement, it would be unwise of me to not at least remain through the Season. Besides, we had a deal, and I intend to keep my word.”

Cecily’s smile was brighter than the sun in the sky.

Brighter even, considering it had grown rather cloudy.

It was then he realized she did not have a pelisse, likely because the day had started warmer, but there was now a distinct chill in the air.

Thankfully, they were not too far from his parents’. Another five minutes or so .

“How are things to end between us?” Nash asked.

Cecily started forward again. “In order to give you time to court another lady before your departure, it makes the most sense that we end it before I return to Penrose Court. We can say I cannot bear the idea of leaving my family to return to India with you, and since we don’t know how long you will be away, it makes little sense to remain betrothed. ”

“Sounds promising,” Nash said dryly.

“Well, if you have a different idea, feel free to share it.”

A movement in Nash’s periphery sent him glancing toward the doorstep of the townhouse they were soon to pass. He stilled. “Don’t move.”

“What is it?” Cecily followed his gaze, her eyes landing on the creature watching them with a menacing look. “The cat?”

“It’s a black cat.”

Cecily’s gaze slid from the meowing cat to Nash. “Impressive. You know your animals and your colors?”

“Go ahead and laugh, but after the incident of my stepping under that ladder followed too soon by the axle breaking, I mean to adhere to Lady Bridget’s warnings, and she told me to not let a black cat cross my path. She said they’re terribly unlucky.”

“Yes. It is positively terrifying to consider the calamity such a small, unthreatening creature might precipitate.” Sarcasm saturated Cecily’s words. She took a few steps, leaning over and holding out a hand. “Here, cat.”

“What are you doing?”

Cecily apparently found Nash’s concern humorous, and she giggled. “Befriending it so it needn’t curse you.”

“Perhaps we should just leave it alone.” Nash angled his body toward the street, taking sideways steps to where Cecily was to ensure the cat would not cross in front of him if it were to take off running.

But instead of scampering off at Cecily’s approach, it came toward her, rubbing along the iron railings as it did .

When it neared, the cat pressed against her outstretched hand, purring loudly as she petted it. Cecily bent farther down. “How could such a sweet animal cause bad luck?”

It did seem a rather nonsensical notion—a cat causing someone’s misfortune. Cautiously, Nash crouched next to Cecily and slowly put out a hand. The cat seemed to consider him a moment before walking toward Nash.

“See there,” Cecily said, glancing at him with a smile. “He likes you.”

Nash ran his hand along the shiny black coat and then up its tail.

How ridiculous he was, thinking a cat could have anything to do with his luck.

Besides, he had his lucky coin now to ward off any misfortune.

Not that it had prevented the axle breaking.

Perhaps he needed to spit on it, as Lady Bridget mentioned her uncle did.

The sound of a window slamming shut brought Cecily’s and Nash’s attention to the townhouse nearest them, but the cat darted away—directly in front of Nash.

Cecily’s gaze shot to him, her lips parted. “It does not mean anything.”

An unsettling feeling crept over him, and he stood, offering a hand to help Cecily to her feet. “Of course not.”

But as if the universe wished to suggest otherwise, a droplet of water splattered on his forehead. Nash looked upward at the leaden sky, and another drop hit his face, then another.

“It’s only a little rain.” Cecily’s voice sounded less sure now, as if she were trying to convince herself the cat had nothing to do with it.

“Regardless, we had best be on our way.”

She gave a nod, and he was relieved when he took hold of her hand and she did not pull it from his grasp. Instead, she tightened her grip on him as the rain came down harder.

Perhaps his luck wasn’t all bad.