Page 1 of Not His Usual Style (Diamonds of London #10)

Mountjoy House

Berkley Square

Mayfair, London

Their engagement had been in place since he’d attained his majority, thanks to a deal struck between their fathers.

Some men would have been thrilled to know their futures were set, but not Grey.

Though he’d always felt trapped, there was nothing for it.

That had been drilled into his head since he was a young man.

He’d been engaged to this woman for the better part of twenty years, and now that he was about to celebrate his thirty-ninth birthday, the time for dragging his feet had run out; it was time to do his duty and marry.

The date had been set and was coming up faster than he’d anticipated.

The trouble? He appreciated Sarah as an acquaintance and a good friend, but they shared absolutely no romantic feelings.

In fact, she was in love with someone else, but since their fathers arranged the match—with hers still alive and insisting they go through with it—there was nothing either of them could do about their circumstances.

“Listen, Grey, what we really need is for you to fall in love with another woman.”

“What the devil for? I’m already engaged to you.”

Sarah briefly rolled her eyes to the ceiling. “If you fall in love with someone, then she can marry my man while you and I can marry. Then we’ll swap partners.”

“I don’t even know how to respond to that bit of insanity.” Grey felt the astonishment in his own gaze as he stared at her.

To be fair, Sarah was quite attractive. Her dark brown hair naturally curled so when she put it up, it was thick and luxurious.

Coupled with brown doe eyes, a heart-shaped face, and a petite figure, she was every man’s ideal, for she could easily be picked up and carried about, tucked beneath his chin in an embrace, and would make a lovely hostess.

But she just wasn’t for him. Was she in his usual style? Of course. Why wouldn’t she be? Throughout the course of his life, he’d often exclusively chased brunettes, thought them the prettiest of all women, but how could he marry this one when there were no feelings?

“If you’ll think on it with an open mind, you’ll see it could work,” she insisted with hope in her eyes.

“Ridiculous.” He shook his head. “Our nuptial ceremony is scheduled for the end of the month. It’s too late to back out now, and I refuse to be wed to someone to break those vows for someone else, no matter that there is an agreement neither of us want.

” Keeping the union was a way to show respect to his dead father and to honor his wishes.

“You are serious.” It wasn’t a question, but a frown turned her lips down at the corners. “You intend to make certain that we’re stuck with each other even though our marriage will fail miserably.”

That was probably true.

“I’m sorry but this is how it’s always been with us. We might as well make the best of it. At least we’re friends. That will help.” Did he truly believe that? Yes and no, but there was enough history of other such unions within the beau monde that he could assume that love might grow.

Except, her heart already belonged to another.

“Oh, Grey, I never thought you could be so cruel.” She interlaced her fingers in her lap and fixed her gaze on them while her frown deepened. “You wish to marry even though there are no feelings between us except friendship? In fact, I consider you more of a brother than a fiancé.”

“Why not? Many marriages in the ton are based on less than that.”

“Don’t be silly. It will never work.”

“I expect it will work a good sight better than us wedding yet having affairs with other people.”

A huff of frustration escaped her. “So then you mean to bed me, make me bear your children when we both know we’ll never have soft feelings for each other?” Her pointed chin trembled as a sheen of tears went into her eyes. “That isn’t fair to me or to you.”

Dear God, how did we arrive at this juncture?

He glanced at her from his position on a chair near where she sat on a matching blue and gold brocade sofa.

“Of course I know that, yet here we are. And we have a history together, thanks to us enjoying a long engagement.” Possibly far too long as it were.

If he’d stopped ignoring the issue, and they’d wed ten years ago, would there even now be love between them?

It was something they would never have an answer to.

Because Sarah and he had been engaged for years—since she was fifteen—he’d gone off to war, but she’d consistently written him letters to keep his spirits up, telling him everything about her life, her time away in Brighton for finishing school, how much fun she was having while enjoying London Seasons.

Of course, her being close friends with his younger sister helped, which is how she’d eventually met the man to whom she’d pledged her heart.

God, what a coil.

“Well?” she continued as she raised her dark gaze to his. “What have you to say to that?”

“I don’t know.” Grey rubbed his forehead where a megrim was forming.

“Honestly, I can’t force you to marry me.

I’m not an ogre. You could grow to hate me, and I don’t wish to damage our friendship.

” He fell silent, thinking seriously over his next words.

“But the sad fact is, if you fall pregnant with another man’s child, I will be forced to claim it as my own to prevent scandal.

I would grow to hate you because of that.

And you would die inside to see your children with another man raised as mine.

” What a grim prospect. “It’s an impossible situation, and one wherein neither of us will win. ”

She leaned forward. “So then break the marriage contracts.”

“Your father will have my head.” Her father was a marquess, and one with a rather notorious temper.

Rumor had it that he’d killed two people in separate duels in his salad days, while other gossip held he’d bullied her older sister into marrying the man of his choice merely because said man made eyes at her across a ballroom.

“Right.” Her expression fell. “And you’ll be out so much coin for breaking the contracts, plus your name will be dragged through the muck. You’ll despise that.”

“I would.” He nodded. “To say nothing of your reputation being destroyed.” That was the last thing he wanted for her. Regardless of their feelings for one another, they had been together for a long time.

“Not if you take full responsibility.” There was so much pleading in her eyes, he very nearly buckled under the pressure, yet the last words of his father when he lay dying echoed in his head.

Marry the gel, Montague. She’ll do you proud as a countess. Already used her dowry to make repairs at Greystone Hall regardless. Got to follow through.

He cleared his throat. “Yes, but I shouldn’t need to, and I don’t want my name or title marred for something neither of us want.

” There lay the crux. And they were trapped.

“I survived the war to come home and be the Earl of Greystone. I refuse to battle negative public opinion and gossip for no reason. Plus, I wish to honor my father’s dying wishes.

I’ve told you that numerous times over the years. ”

“You have, and as I remind you every time, your father cared little for you or your sister. From everything you’ve told me, he was a tyrant without feelings. He held you to an impossibly high standard then beat you when you fell short.”

“Now you know why I chose the war over staying home in safety.” He wouldn’t do to think about his past; his father was gone, the damage already done.

It was a conundrum.

“Yes, but you came home and still had a life to live. Toss your responsibilities. Who cares what society might say. Lord knows they’ve done you little favor in the ten years since you’ve had the title.

” Heavy silence brewed between them, and he truly thought she might burst into tears, but she took herself under control.

“Grey, please. I want to marry Philip. He’s had my heart for the past three years. ”

“I am well aware of that.” In fact, said man was a friend of his, and one who he assumed at one time might court his sister, but instead, he’d fallen for Sarah… who was already engaged.

She wiped an escaped tear from her cheek.

The emerald stone in the engagement ring he’d given her ages ago winked in the sunlight that streamed into the room through the window—another reminder of what held them bound together.

“We’re tired of hiding our relationship, tired of having to take measures to prevent pregnancy due to my being engaged to you. We want to start a life together.”

Though he understood her plight and her feelings, they had both been aware of their duties since they were youths. This was always going to be the outcome. There was no other way. “You should have thought about that before you began an affair with him.”

Her eyes welled with tears. “Everything isn’t black or white, you know.” Tears sounded in her voice, and he steeled himself from them. “Why must you be so difficult?”

“Because this is my life. This is what you and I have always known. It is our duty, what we both knew was our lot for twenty years.”

“It doesn’t have to be. Don’t you see? Choose your own path. The world won’t end.”

Grey shrugged with a grunt. “It sounds harsh, I know, but my father already spent your dowry. Our fathers struck a bargain, and your father received a piece of property in the agreement, one that he has already built a cottage upon.”