A Promise of More Read Online Free PDF Page A

my family.”
    Her softly spoken words hit their mark. Visibly schooling his anger, Sebastian forced his mouth to remain closed. The curses he wished to issue stayed bottled within.
    He toyed with the idea of offering her a position as his mistress, something he’d never offered any woman before. However, a mistress would afford him no real benefit. He would still be hounded by mothers looking for a son-in-law, widows looking for security, and debutantes hoping to land the prize—a wealthy marquis.
    Whereas a wife would at least allow him some degree of freedom from husband-seeking females, without curtailing his other pleasurable pursuits. Then, of course, a wife could also provide his heir. If he had to financially support any woman, it would appear a wife would be the preferable option.
    “Don’t worry about having to force yourself to bed me,” she said. “This will be a white marriage, a marriage in name only. You may continue to take your pleasures elsewhere.”
    Of course he would. But force himself? She might be covered in mud but she was passably pretty. Pity he couldn’t persuade her to remove the blanket so he could inspect her, but this wasn’t a horse auction. He ran a critical eye over her.
    She wasn’t that unappealing. He was more thankful she wasn’t a stunning beauty who could tempt him to open his heart. He was determined to marry a plain woman. For then his family’s legacy of jealous rages would be unlikely to flare to life. What man was ever jealous over a woman others considered plain?
    Sebastian let out his breath slowly. It did not, however, release the tension knotting his gut. Ever since he’d learned his mermaid’s identity, his senses had been on full alert.
    “Well played, Miss Beatrice. You seem to have thought of everything.”
    “It was your friend Lord Fullerton who gave me the idea.”
    If he didn’t owe Hadley for securing his pardon, Sebastian would’ve certainly used his fists to demonstrate what he thought of Hadley’s advice to Beatrice. “Did he indeed?”
    She nodded enthusiastically. “I spoke with him after I received your letter and the generous blood money. I would never have had the courage to confront you if he hadn’t vouched for you and informed me you were the most honorable and kindest man he knew. He told me how you saved Millicent Stanners.”
    “I didn’t save her as such, I merely ensured she found an occupation more to her liking.”
    She gave her first warm smile. “You saved her from the brothel and obtained a good match for her. She is the respectable wife of the Vicar of Carthew.”
    What could he say? He had saved her. While he was a rake, and did frequent brothels, the night he went to Madam Dupery’s and watched as Miss Millicent, a daughter of a viscount fallen on hard times, was auctioned off to the highest bidder, he had immediately thought of his sisters and what could happen to them if he were not such an astute businessman. He’d seen the fear and loathing in Millicent’s eyes. He’d stopped the auction and taken her home, promising to help.
    “You found her an agreeable husband. You gave her a chance at a respectable life. One she was extremely glad to take. I know. I’ve spoken to her,” Beatrice said. “She thinks you’re a hero,” she added dryly. “So I thought you’d see that unless you marry me, I’ll end up a courtesan. I may be able to support my family, but I’d never be able to socialize with them, or see them again. I’d be all but dead to them. Is thatfair? Would you wish that on your sisters? To be shoved from protector to protector—”
    “All right. You’ve made your point.”
    He looked at the woman before him. Although he definitely wasn’t ready for marriage, he had always sworn to make a marriage of convenience. His convenience. Beatrice would certainly fit his requirements.
    Not beautiful enough to stir his passions to the point of obsession. She was certainly bluestocking enough to ensure they