Desperate Measures (Regency Undone) Read Online Free PDF Page A

affected her so strangely, she decided - because it had been unexpected and she had been unable to prepare herself for it .  Even now her lips tingled strangely and she could not decide whether it was a pleasant feeling or not.   It was certainly unsettling.
    ‘ I’m sorry to have put you in such a position,’ Guy said carefully, looking at her across the table.  His expression was once again that cool, dispassionate regard she had begun to associate with him.  It was hard to imagine him smiling at her as he had done so fleetingly, or exhibiting the warmth he had displayed to his mother.
    She met his look with a composure she was far from feeling and shrugged.  ‘I admit your proposition took me by surprise and I can’t help worrying now that perhaps we were a little hasty in our decision making.’  She took a deep breath, knowing that it needed to be said.
    ‘Please rest assured that when your mother … passes, there is no need for you to concern yourself with my welfare.  I am perfectly able to see to myself and I would feel embarrassed inflicting my problems onto a person I barely know.’
    ‘ We made a bargain Isabelle and a Rotherham does not renege on his word.’
    ‘ That is kind of you.  But I reiterate, it is not necessary.  No-one is aware of what has occurred here today-’
    ‘ I am aware.  And I will not break my word.’
    ‘ Really, Your Grac e …’
    ‘Do you not think you should practice calling me by my given name, considering we are engaged?’
    She looked at him crossly, losing some of her composure. ‘We are not engaged as you well know.  Not properly.’ 
    ‘ Yes we are.  Make no mistake.  Until such time as my mother passes, that is exactly what we are.  Far be it from me to wish my mother harm but she has suffered from a heart condition for some years now and the doctor has told me that the heart attack she suffered was severe and has weakened her considerably.  There is also a very real danger of a second, more serious attack occurring in the course of the next forty eight hours which could prove fatal.  I will not lie to her and therefore Isabelle, for the next couple of days at least, please accept that we are affianced.  However, in order to make it easier to extricate ourselves when the time comes, I suggest we keep our arrangement entirely between ourselves.  Are you agreeable to that?’
    ‘ Oh yes, absolutely. Please rest assured that I will make no mention of it to anyone.’
     
    Her agreement was so vehement as to be almost comical, Guy thought.  He could not think of many women in her situation who would not be jumping at the chance of becoming the next Duchess of Rotherham.    He found himself beginning to feel somewhat intrigued by Lady Isabelle Pennington; a sensation that afforded him some degree of irritability.  She was not his type at all, with her auburn coloured hair (a sure sign of temper if ever there was one) and curvy form.  Granted, she was strikingly attractive if you went for the cool, disdainful type - and her green eyes were particularly fine - but personally he liked his women slender as a wreath with an accommodating nature that gave generously without expecting too much back.  He had the strong feeling that Isabelle Pennington would give nothing of herself and any relationship would be extremely one sided. 
    Not dissimilar to himself in fact, it occurred to him.

CHAPTER THREE
     
    ‘ Engaged!  I cannot believe you are marrying Guy and you never even told us.’
    Sophia looked at her friend in absolute astonishment.
    ‘ Ssh … please Sophia.  Keep your voice down or someone will hear.  Oh dear, I am in such a quandary.  I don’t know what to do.’
    Isabelle paced up and down the room, her hands twisting in agitation.  ‘He is coming here this morning to hear my decision.’
    ‘ But it is obvious what you must do.  You must accept of course.  It is the perfect solution to your situation.  And to think you will be