by Madeline Ellis
There is one entreaty that when spoken should prompt a lady’s heart to flutter: “I want to ask for your hand in marriage.”
Alas, a lady fancies that when the time-honored proposal of matrimony is uttered by a swain, the utteree speaks from the heart. One certainly fancies that the utteree desires more in his wife than a broodmare, no matter how far-fetched the proposal!
Apparently, this notion harbored by ladies of genteel persuasion has not penetrated the brain of one Rayne Kenyon, Earl of Haviland. Rayne might be a highly regarded former spymaster in British Intelligence, but he does not have a clue how to generate a positive response from the object of his proposal, especially one with passionate French blood coursing through her veins.
Witness Rayne’s justification for his recent proposal:
- “I am in need of a well-bred wife to give me an heir. You need someone to support and protect you. By marrying we can kill two birds with one stone, so to speak.”(I am not fond of killing birds.)
- “I feel comfortable around you.”(Please! He should avail himself of a canine companion.)
- “You are not bent on flattering me or attempting to impress me. I find that extremely refreshing.”(Well, hurrah! The man is not over-obsessed with his ego.)
- “You would be my countess, as well as the mother of my children. With all the advantages of wealth and privilege the title entails.”(I have never sought a life of leisure. In truth, I would probably loathe it. I am accustomed to working for my living.)
- “You would be doing me an immense kindness if you accept my offer. I could call off my search for a bride and wouldn’t have to endure any more vapid debutantes.”(The poor man. It must be debilitating to have debutantes swarming about him, especially those of the vapid persuasion.)
And so I ask you, sweetings: What would you do if a heroic, compassionate, intelligent, wealthy, generous—did I mention alluring? Magnificently alluring? Oh, posh! breathtakingly sexy—nobleman proposed such a cold-blooded, loveless marriage to you? Pray hurry with your response. Rayne awaits my answer, and my common sense needs bolstering. Despite the misgivings of my brain, I am so tempted….