The Rejected Suitor by Teresa McCarthy Page B

good sum. You may use that if you have need."
    Out at
heels indeed! "No. I am not broke! I lost badly at White's one night, and
the incident has grown into an annoying rumor that I am in debt. A joke gone
astray. That ... is all."
    "I
see."
    He
reached for the door, whistling for Nigel to join him. In seconds, the dog was
by his side.
    "And,
Jared dear?"
    He
leaned his head against the door and swiveled. Life in a French prison was
easier than this! "Yes?"
    He
clenched his teeth as he watched Agatha leisurely drop three lumps of sugar
into her teacup as if she were on a holiday in Bath. "I daresay," she
said, not looking at him, "Miss Susan Wimble is not for the likes of you.
You can do better than her if you would only cool that fiery temper of
yours."
    The lady
then added a dollop of cream, completely oblivious to the madness engulfing
him. "Do hope you are not set on the engagement."
    Jared
closed his eyes and counted to ten. He had no wish to say that he would rather
choose his spouse now than be forced into marriage as he had been earlier. A
compromising position, as with his late wife Felicia, he would not be found in
again. Though he had become fond of his wife, their union had been singed from
the beginning, and neither could ever forget the wrongs done to either of them.
    "I
asked you if you are set on the engagement," Agatha demanded.
    "We
are somewhat engaged, and that, dear aunt, is to be kept a secret until the end
of the Season."
    "A
secret?" Agatha set down her cup. "And pray, is that your only
one?"
    The
devil! What else did she know?
    Jared
took a deep, calming breath before he spoke. "I am obliged to ask you to
keep my marriage plans a secret. The settlement between the families has not
been signed, and we have yet to publicly announce the engagement because Miss
Wimble has been attending to a sick cousin in the country. When we meet again
in London, all things will progress in due course."
    With an
irritated snort, Agatha returned to her tea. "I see. A cousin now, is it?
Believe I smell a rat, and I daresay, I do know how you loathe those little
beasts, Jared. Ever since you were a child and caught in Mr. McHugh's barn, you
know."
    Determined
to leave at all possible speed, Jared reached for the doorknob. He had his
reasons to marry. He needed an heir. His brother and father were dead, and Miss
Susan Wimble was more than decent to the eye. She would do, and besides,
Gabrielle had arrived only a few weeks ago and was residing at a cottage in the
country. His daughter needed him to set aside his problems as quickly as
possible, but his problems seemed to be growing by the second. The matter of information
leaking from Whitehall would be on his to-do list as well, along with his
duties to Lady Emily.
    "I
was so hoping you would marry again." Agatha's voice drifted to his ears
like artillery fire. "Felicia may be dead, Jared, but you are still alive
and well. Do not live on your mistakes."
    "Mistakes?"
Jared all but shouted the word. He had grown close to Felicia, in a protective
sort of way, and he felt he failed her. Failed Lady Emily and even his
daughter, whom he had not seen in ages.
    "Yes,
mistakes." The lady gave him her sternest look. "I believe it would
be quite the thing if you wed a pretty piece such as the Silver Fox."
    The name
slammed into Jared's brain like an anvil dropping from the ceiling. "Blast
it to hell! This is an insane conversation, madam."
    "Why
is that?" Agatha asked calmly, peering over the rim of her teacup.
"And please refrain from cursing, Jared. I am a delicate woman."
    "Pray,
forgive me for my language," he said hotly, "but for one thing, the
Silver Fox is not a woman. And another, you should not even be mentioning the
man's name. Confound it, are you going to tell me who leaked this information
to you?"
    Agatha
lifted a cool brow. "And have them hanged for treason?"
    "Th-this
is maddening," Jared sputtered and began to pace about the room, locking
his hands behind his back. He