Page 20 of A Seaside Scandal (Change of Heart #2)

Chapter Thirteen

JONATHAN

“You must propose!” Penelope paced in front of me, back and forth over the Persian rug. She stopped, turning her critical gaze in my direction. “There is no way around it. Her mother or father will surely ask it of you. It is only a matter of time. Perhaps even the brother will make such demands.”

I rubbed a circle on my forehead. “Thus far, you and Lady Cinderford are the only ones to do so.” After Miss Kellaway had run away from the beach, Lady Cinderford had followed me home. I had explained the accidental nature of the situation, but that hadn’t seemed to matter to her.

The point was that Miss Kellaway’s reputation would soon be ruined.

And according to Lady Cinderford, it was my fault.

I sat back on the sofa, my lungs too tight to fully expand.

I had only ever heard stories of men being ensnared by desperate women; I had never personally known another man in this situation.

The only people I had to consult with on the matter were my sisters, and they were not helping at all.

But still, I fully understood the workings of society and the fragility of a gentleman’s honor, so if Miss Kellaway’s reputation was truly on the brink of ruin, then Penelope was right.

I would have to marry her.

My jaw tensed as I thought of all the events that had led to that morning.

When Miss Lyons had mentioned Miss Kellaway’s ‘plan,’ this must have been part of it.

A detailed stratagem, indeed. When impressing me with her riding skills had failed to secure my interest, had she concocted this idea to find me on my morning swim?

Lady Cinderford was a friend of the Kellaway family.

Perhaps they had known that she would be out for a walk in the area—or even encouraged her to be.

“Are you going to make the Kellaways approach you?” Penelope asked, interrupting my thoughts. “Would you rather wait for her brother to call you out?” She stopped in front of me. “Please do not die in a duel, brother. Marriage is a much better alternative, I assure you.”

Loftus and Richard sat on the other side of the drawing room, stiff and silent as their wives circled me like vultures. Joanna hadn’t voiced her opinion as much as Penelope had, but it was clear that she was in agreement. They all were.

My stomach lurched. Marriage had always been part of my eventual plan, but I had never pictured it like this.

I did not enjoy being forced to do anything, especially when it came to tying myself to someone for the rest of my life—someone who didn’t care for me at all.

I had seen the hatred and anger in Miss Kellaway’s eyes when she told me that she was repulsed by the idea of marrying me.

It had almost made me believe that she wasn’t ensnaring me.

My heart pinched, but I ignored the sensation. “Edmund is not going to call me out.” My voice was hoarse. “I will propose to her before he has the chance.”

Penelope had the audacity to smile—as if she had just won some great prize. She stopped in her tracks. “Truly?”

I didn’t even have the strength to nod.

“Alice is truly a delight,” she continued. “I have seen the way you look at her, Jon. Whether you will confess it or not, you do like her.”

“No. I do not.” I stood from the sofa in one swift motion. “And nor does she like me.”

Joanna scoffed, a glint of amusement in her eyes. “The circumstances are not desirable, but you mustn’t pretend as if the two of you will be at odds forever. Miss Kellaway is to be your wife, not your enemy.”

As it seemed, she was soon to be both.

I ignored the rest of my sisters’ remarks as I prepared to call upon the Kellaways.

I respected Edmund too much now to leave him waiting or to put him in the awkward position of defending his sister’s honor.

If I gave too much thought to my decision, I might flee Brighton and never return.

Miss Kellaway had implied that I wasn’t a gentleman.

Proving her wrong would bring me no small measure of satisfaction.

I swiped my hat from the table in the entry hall, positioning it over my head as I walked out into the crowded streets.

The swiftness of my proposal would surely come as a shock to everyone involved, but waiting was not an option.

My mind was made, and the faster I could put the matter behind me, the better.

I shushed all thoughts of the future as I raised my fist and knocked on the front door of the Kellaway residence.

I tried to hide the urgency from my movements, but the moment the butler opened the door, I plowed forward into the house. My heart beat fast against my chest as I walked toward the open drawing room.

The image of Miss Kellaway in her soaking wet gown, with her hair plastered to her forehead, eyes ablaze, was very different from the version of her that greeted me behind the door.

She stood beside the settee in a dry green gown, hands twisting together in front of her.

Her auburn hair was also dry, forming soft curls. Her expression was difficult to read.

I tried to keep mine the same.

Her brother stood nearby, arms crossed over his chest. “Mr. Croft.” Edmund bowed, and I returned the gesture.

“Mr. Kellaway.” I swallowed hard, turning my attention to his sister. Miss Kellaway. Alice. Soon to be my wife. I searched her face for signs that she was pleased to see me here, performing my duty, but her features may as well have been masked in stone.

I hardly knew what to say next. I had never proposed to a woman before. I imagined that a private conversation first with her brother would be appropriate, if only to explain the circumstances. “May I have a word?” I addressed the question to Edmund.

He nodded, and I felt Miss Kellaway’s gaze on my back as we left the room, burning a hole through my jacket.

When we reached the empty corridor, I cleared my throat. “Have you been informed of the…circumstances?”

“I have.” Edmund’s brow creased with a scowl. “Lady Cinderford paid us a call.”

I looked down at the floor with a nod. “I hope you understand that my intentions were only to rescue your sister before any harm could come to her. As your acquaintance, I felt responsible to deliver her to safety. But after all that has occurred, I understand that her reputation is in question, and so I have made the decision to offer for her.”

Edmund listened quietly, crossing his arms again.

If I were not also as broad and tall as he was, I would have been deeply intimidated by his stance and expression.

He was silent for a long moment as he chose his words.

“You are a good man. I am sorry that you feel bound to this decision. However, I don’t think the matter is urgent enough to demand an immediate proposal.

If you would prefer, we might see how the gossip is managed in the next day or two.

It might give you more time to prepare, as well as provide time for our mother to return to Brighton. ”

“I don’t need more time.” I averted my gaze. “The outcome will be the same.”

Edmund nodded slowly. He seemed to know, deep inside, the same thing I did. Waiting a day or two would only make matters worse. “I should hope the outcome includes the future happiness of both of you,” he said.

I ignored the hopelessness in my stomach. “I should hope for the same.” It was all I could say if I wished to sound polite. How could I be happy with a woman who simultaneously used me for my fortune and hated me?

Edmund took a step back and gestured at the drawing room. “I will allow the two of you a moment for a private conversation.”

I thanked him with a brief nod before turning toward the door. My heart pounded with sudden nervousness. Before I could lose my courage, I strode into the room.

Miss Kellaway sat alone on the settee. She glanced up at my entrance, slowly rising to her feet.

Already, her face was flushed—with anger or embarrassment, I couldn’t quite tell.

Only a few hours had passed since I had been dragging her to shore on that beach, yet it didn’t feel like it had actually happened.

It felt like a nightmare, and I couldn’t shake myself awake.

“Did my brother demand that you marry me?” Miss Kellaway’s voice broke through the tense silence. “I will not ask you to do it.” Her shoulders were stiff, her head held high as she looked at me.

I took three long strides toward her, which seemed to catch her by surprise. Her hard facade crumbled for a moment but was swiftly replaced with a scowl.

“I don’t expect you to ask me,” I said. “Usually, it isn’t the woman who proposes to the man.”

She took a deep breath but said nothing.

I crossed my arms. “She might, however, do something to encourage his affection. She might also organize an ambush. Both of which are effective methods for securing the proposal she seeks.”

Miss Kellaway visibly bristled. “I was not ensnaring you!”

“Were you not competing for my attention against Miss Lyons?” I knew she couldn’t deny that much. I had never seen such an obvious competition in my life, not even in horse racing. “The very moment you learned of my fortune, your behavior toward me changed.”

She narrowed her eyes. “My knowledge of your fortune had nothing to do with it.”

“Then what did?”

Her cheeks darkened. “I do not have to explain myself to you. I may act rashly at times, and do stupid things that I regret, but I would never choose to marry someone I have no affection for, no matter what fortune he possesses. Lady Cinderford cannot dictate what we make of this unfortunate incident.”

I took a deep breath. “She will not allow the subject to rest. Your reputation depends on a swift resolution of what she witnessed today.”

“I will speak with my brother and ask that he not hold you to it.”

Her stubborn expression made me groan with frustration. “He hasn’t made any demands. I am a gentleman. I am holding myself to it.”

She walked a few paces away, feigning interest in the faux petals of a nearby vase of flowers. A scowl still marked her brow, and she seemed intent not to look at my face. “I would rather have a ruined reputation than be resented forever by my husband.”

“Very well. You may reject my proposal if you wish, but I will still give it.”

She glanced up just as I began walking toward her. I stopped a few feet away. “Miss Alice Kellaway, will you do me the honor of marrying me?” I knew the sardonic tone in my voice was bad form, especially when I said the word honor.

It hadn’t gone undetected—I could tell by the sharp glare on her face.

If she wished to prove her point, she would reject my proposal.

Our eyes locked for several seconds, and I was reminded of that moment in the sea when I had nearly kissed her.

My heart pounded past my ears so loudly I wondered if she could hear it.

My head was foggy, my desires mixing into an unrecognizable mist. Did I want her to reject me?

It would free me from my duty toward her and her family.

Of course that was what I wanted. I reminded myself of that fact repeatedly as I awaited her answer.

“Yes.” The word escaped her mouth with force.

I studied her glare a moment longer. Had I heard her correctly? “Yes?”

“I said yes. I will marry you, but only under certain conditions.”

I raised my eyebrows. “You believe yourself to be in a position to be bargaining with me? You should be thanking me for sparing your reputation.”

“You are the one who compromised it in the first place, need I remind you.”

My jaw tightened.

She interlocked her fingers. “You have expressed your disappointment in having to marry me, and I have expressed mine. So as husband and wife, we shall live separate lives, except when it comes to unavoidable social events and weekly appearances at church.”

“That sounds reasonable to me.”

“Good.” She turned around in one swift motion, returning to her seat on the settee. She opened a book that she had left on the tea table, seemingly intent to ignore my presence in the room. “Good day, Mr. Croft. I imagine we will be required to speak again soon.”

I stood rigid for a moment before taking a step toward the door. “Good day, Miss Kellaway.”

She flipped a page of her book, her red cheeks betraying her.

She was not as calm and collected as she would have liked to appear.

Without another word, I turned and left the room, my stomach in knots.

My heart stung for a reason I couldn’t name.

My thoughts spun madly as I went out the door and into the street, making my way as far from my future wife as possible.