Invitation to Ruin by Bronwen Evans Page A

promise to ever love you, but I can make your life comfortable. You’ll want for nothing.”
    Except love, Melissa thought glumly. “I want to be happy, that’s true. I’m just not sure you’re the type of man that could make me happy.” Melissa knew with certainty he would never be faithful. The ache in the vicinity of her heart sent pain lancing down her arms until she had to clench her fists.
    Lord Wickham’s eyes noted the movement.
    He was reputedly a man of insatiable tastes where the opposite sex was concerned. She did not expect him to change his ways overnight—or ever—not for her.
    He was staring at her intently. “Can you say that any other man would make you happy? Are you in love with someone else?”
    She sucked in a short breath. “No. I am not in love with anyone.”
    “Then there is nothing more to discuss. You will become my wife. Society will feed you to the wolves with any other outcome.”
    Society. With sinking heart Melissa’s hopes of avoiding becoming the Countess of Wickham died. She would never win against the might of the
ton
. Her charity work, her fight for people’s freedom, was all she had. She would surely lose her ability to secure funds, to lobby for changes to the law. As the Countess of Wickham she would be afforded entry into the highest echelons of Society. She could do a world of good, perhaps speed the passage of change. But she was going to have to give up her freedom to achieve her goal—the abolition of slavery in all forms—first Negroes and then she would help women. Women who, often, were no better than slaves. Owned by men. Men who could treat them as they saw fit. The
ton
was full of examples of men’s cruelty.
    She would fight for freedom by giving up her own. The irony was not lost on her.
    Melissa looked into Anthony’s silver-gray eyes and shivered. What was it about this man? She should be petrified of the brooding rake. She licked her lips, not quite believing she was so readily capitulating. “Before I accept your proposal—”
    “You don’t have a choice.”
    “Before I accept,”—she leveled a serious gaze at him—”I have one favor to ask of you. Call it an engagement gift of sorts.” She watched his eyes narrow into cautious slits. “Anthony, I have no wish to be the laughing stock of the
ton
, nor do I assume would you.”
    Melissa was pleased to see Anthony’s confident smile dim slightly. “I will grant you any favor in my power to give.”
    She tried to keep a blush from scalding her cheeks. “I would like your promise that you won’t take my cousin as your mistress. Put bluntly, I do have some pride. I don’t want my husband sleeping with a woman I am related to.”

Chapter 4
     
    A nthony’s face remained a mask; not a flicker of emotion crossed his handsome features. “You do know I am likely to take a mistress once we marry? I won’t have you interfering in the way I conduct myself.”
    Her face heated further, and pain lanced through her chest. She fixed her gaze firmly on his face, willing her hurt not to show. “I am not naive of the ways of gentlemen. Just promise me that it is not Cassandra.”
    He stood looking at her for what seemed like several minutes, the silence deafening. Finally, he nodded and gave a small bow. “That is not too much to ask given the circumstances. My engagement gift shall be my promise not to pursue Cassandra.” He hesitated before adding, “Know this, Melissa. I will never intentionally hurt or humiliate you, if I can help it.”
    She inwardly sighed in relief, and his warm smile lessened some of her pain. “Thank you.”
    “However, there will be some talk.”
    Melissa’s lips lost their smile. “Obviously. Your views on the horrid state of matrimony are well known.”
    “I will do all I can to contain the gossip.”
    Melissa nodded. “I shall leave the story of pacifying the ton’s curiosity to you. Everyone will know why I have accepted—it’s a great honor.”
    Anthony