uncomfortable bed at the inn this morning and rattle my brain.”
“Heavens, there must be some explanation for your ridiculous suggestion.”
He looked at her with practicality in his eyes. “I am a man who deals in solutions. This one could work well for the both of us. Don’t peers usually marry for money?”
“Or property or connection,” Juliet added. “Obviously I have property, but very few connections.”
“And I have money. The connections we can forge together.” He took a deep breath, looking very pleased with himself. “See, we make an excellent, equal match.”
“Except for the fact that we are virtual strangers,” Juliet retorted dryly, gripping the arm of the chair.
“As are many other couples on their wedding day.” His lips twitched into a self-deprecating smile. “Indeed, some remain that way for the duration of their marriage.”
“That is not the kind of marriage I desire,” she answered, her voice fleeting and wistful. It sounded so drab, so cold, so businesslike. Naturally romantic declarations were completely ridiculous given the circumstances, but did it have to be so staid and dull?
Juliet understood that her life had changed drastically. She knew that she needed to be practical, sensible, had to do what was best for all of them, including her children. The children! Her heart skipped a beat. “What about my children? A marriage between us would greatly impact their lives also.”
“Your children are your own affair,” he replied swiftly. “I will not question your decisions nor interfere in any way regarding their care and upbringing. In addition, I shall provide for their futures generously, giving them, and you, every material comfort.”
“What about any children we might have together?” Juliet’s face flamed at such plain speaking, hardly believing she was the one asking.
For an instant he looked almost . . . afraid? “I will take steps to prevent that from occurring.”
Frowning, she looked over at him.
“Leave it to me,” he said softly.
Juliet squirmed on her seat. “I will admit that I have thought of marrying again. Quite often, actually, even though there have been no suitable men interested in me.
“I don’t entirely agree with Mrs. Perkins, who claims a woman’s natural state demands that she be a wife. However, I know that marriage is the best way to secure my children’s future. It’s also the only way to escape my brother-in-law’s tyranny. But I never thought to marry a stranger.”
“Yet you would consider marrying for convenience?”
She nodded her head slowly. “I would.”
“Well, then, given our current circumstances, I think it fair to say that it would be very convenient if we were to marry each other.”
His calm, logical arguments served only to confuse her more. One did not enter into marriage with such reasonable detachment. Yet was it not reasonable to proceed in a sensible manner? Neither of them were youngsters, after all. There were no illusions of romantic promise, no expectations that at this stage in their lives marriage would be anything more than practical.
On many levels Mr. Harper was right—it would be an excellent solution to both of their dilemmas if they wed. Yet the constriction in Juliet’s chest and the wild fluttering of her heart could not be ignored.
“The earl will never approve of the match,” she mused quietly.
“I should think that would be another point in my favor. A large one.”
Juliet could not hold back her smile. “Just so, Mr. Harper.”
“Call me Richard.”
“I am Juliet.”
“Juliet. The name suits you.”
An odd tingle went through her hearing her name fall so intimately from his lips. She examined the cuffs of lace on her wrists, needing time to gather her rioting thoughts. “My head is fairly spinning with the things we need to discuss, but before we go any further, I need to know if you intend for this to be a real marriage, because I want a real
“Heavens, there must be some explanation for your ridiculous suggestion.”
He looked at her with practicality in his eyes. “I am a man who deals in solutions. This one could work well for the both of us. Don’t peers usually marry for money?”
“Or property or connection,” Juliet added. “Obviously I have property, but very few connections.”
“And I have money. The connections we can forge together.” He took a deep breath, looking very pleased with himself. “See, we make an excellent, equal match.”
“Except for the fact that we are virtual strangers,” Juliet retorted dryly, gripping the arm of the chair.
“As are many other couples on their wedding day.” His lips twitched into a self-deprecating smile. “Indeed, some remain that way for the duration of their marriage.”
“That is not the kind of marriage I desire,” she answered, her voice fleeting and wistful. It sounded so drab, so cold, so businesslike. Naturally romantic declarations were completely ridiculous given the circumstances, but did it have to be so staid and dull?
Juliet understood that her life had changed drastically. She knew that she needed to be practical, sensible, had to do what was best for all of them, including her children. The children! Her heart skipped a beat. “What about my children? A marriage between us would greatly impact their lives also.”
“Your children are your own affair,” he replied swiftly. “I will not question your decisions nor interfere in any way regarding their care and upbringing. In addition, I shall provide for their futures generously, giving them, and you, every material comfort.”
“What about any children we might have together?” Juliet’s face flamed at such plain speaking, hardly believing she was the one asking.
For an instant he looked almost . . . afraid? “I will take steps to prevent that from occurring.”
Frowning, she looked over at him.
“Leave it to me,” he said softly.
Juliet squirmed on her seat. “I will admit that I have thought of marrying again. Quite often, actually, even though there have been no suitable men interested in me.
“I don’t entirely agree with Mrs. Perkins, who claims a woman’s natural state demands that she be a wife. However, I know that marriage is the best way to secure my children’s future. It’s also the only way to escape my brother-in-law’s tyranny. But I never thought to marry a stranger.”
“Yet you would consider marrying for convenience?”
She nodded her head slowly. “I would.”
“Well, then, given our current circumstances, I think it fair to say that it would be very convenient if we were to marry each other.”
His calm, logical arguments served only to confuse her more. One did not enter into marriage with such reasonable detachment. Yet was it not reasonable to proceed in a sensible manner? Neither of them were youngsters, after all. There were no illusions of romantic promise, no expectations that at this stage in their lives marriage would be anything more than practical.
On many levels Mr. Harper was right—it would be an excellent solution to both of their dilemmas if they wed. Yet the constriction in Juliet’s chest and the wild fluttering of her heart could not be ignored.
“The earl will never approve of the match,” she mused quietly.
“I should think that would be another point in my favor. A large one.”
Juliet could not hold back her smile. “Just so, Mr. Harper.”
“Call me Richard.”
“I am Juliet.”
“Juliet. The name suits you.”
An odd tingle went through her hearing her name fall so intimately from his lips. She examined the cuffs of lace on her wrists, needing time to gather her rioting thoughts. “My head is fairly spinning with the things we need to discuss, but before we go any further, I need to know if you intend for this to be a real marriage, because I want a real
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