Suzanna Medeiros by Lady Hathaway's Indecent Proposal Page B

He’d clung to her the night before like a drowning man clinging to a lifeline.
    Hoping to fix the damage he’d caused by spending the night, he dressed and went in search of Miranda so he could take his leave. He expected to find her in another room, perhaps the kitchen, but the annoyance he felt at his unwelcome sentimentality the night before changed to disbelief when he realized she wasn’t in the house. She hadn’t even left a note. A dark sense of foreboding settled over him like a shroud as he made his way from the house.
    Not caring who took note of his visit, he called on her later that afternoon. The very last thing he’d expected to learn was that Hathaway’s heir had taken up residence.
    Andrew was shown to the library and was taken aback by the tall, dark-haired man who joined him a few minutes later. The new Viscount Hathaway bore no resemblance whatsoever to the old one.
    After making their introductions, they settled into armchairs across from one another.
    Hathaway spoke first. “To what do I owe this honor?”
    Andrew was careful to keep his expression neutral. “I heard you were in town and wanted to pay my respects regarding your uncle’s passing.”
    Hathaway leaned back in his chair and gave a short, disbelieving shake of his head. “It will never cease to amaze me how quickly gossip spreads in a place as large as London. I only took up residence this morning.” He frowned before continuing. “But why, then, did you ask for my aunt?”
    Andrew wondered if Hathaway had learned of his previous visit and decided it would be best to acknowledge that meeting in case he had.
    “I’ve already expressed my condolences to Lady Hathaway, but I wanted to see how she was faring. Hers was, after all, the greater loss.”
    Hathaway was silent for a moment, as though considering his next words carefully. “I wasn’t aware that you and my uncle were friends.”
    Andrew shrugged. “We weren’t. We saw each other often in the Chamber, but usually from opposing sides of far too many bills.”
    “Ah, so that’s why you’re here. You want to sound me out on my political leanings.”
    Andrew grasped at the excuse. “You can hardly blame me for wondering. We had a horrible evening yesterday, and it never hurts to have an additional vote on your side.”
    Hathaway seemed to accept the excuse. “To be honest, I haven’t given it much thought. I do have my personal leanings, of course, but…” He shrugged. “Uncle hated the fact I was his heir, and the few times we saw one another, we never discussed politics. In fact, the few discussions we had centered on how he was going to make sure I didn’t inherit. Perhaps if he’d chosen another bride he would have succeeded, but he chose one who couldn’t give him what he wanted most.”
    Considering what Miranda had told him about how her husband had stopped visiting her bed early in their marriage, he found the younger Hathaway’s assertions difficult to believe.
    “When does the title go to you? I know it’s customary to wait to make sure the widow isn’t with child.”
    “She isn’t,” he said with a wave of his hand. “Lady Hathaway told the family solicitor that my uncle wasn’t up to the task for several months, if you catch my meaning.”
    Andrew’s head began to swim with the realization that Miranda hadn’t told him the truth. She’d told him her husband hadn’t bedded her in years. And was she really barren, or did the fault lie with the elder Hathaway? He knew sometimes it was the man who was at fault and not the woman. Was she so desperate to hold on to her current wealth that she didn’t care if everyone knew that any child she might be carrying wasn’t fathered by her husband?
    He didn’t know what to think anymore. He did, however, know that he had to see Miranda and ask her himself, but he couldn’t insist on seeing her right now.
    “Yes, well, I’m sorry to have met you under such circumstances.” He said the words