A Lady of Persuasion (The Wanton Dairymaid Trilogy #3)(17)

Toby stared at him. “You’re attempting to bribe me. With a bit of gold and a few Parisian gelettes as inducement. For God’s sake, man, I’ve a vast estate in Surrey and an income of six thousand a year. Your ‘offer’ insults us both. Does your sister know what a cheap price you place on her happiness?”

“There is no price I would not pay for Bel’s happiness. I’ve made achieving her happiness my life’s work.”

“Well, now I’ll be taking over that job.” Toby smiled and relaxed in his chair. He was enjoying watching Gray sweat. He’d been just a youth when his own sisters married, but he’d already been the man of the family—and he remembered well the helpless ire that accompanied surrendering one’s sister to a stranger. Gray had his empathy, but not his mercy. “You’re clearly not up to the task. If your sister were happy in her current situation, why would she jump to marry the first gentleman to pay her a bit of attention? She was miserable at that ball last night, until I put a smile on her face. I know how to keep a lady happy.”

“Really?” Gray smirked. “I don’t think my wife would agree.”

Oh, now that was a low blow. And a damaging one. Toby’s arrogance took a sizeable dent. It still plagued him late at night, the ceaseless speculation. He’d treated Sophia with solicitude, patience, and, of course, copious charm. What could he have done to push her away, and into the arms of this rogue? She had not even received him today, in her own home. Gray continued, “Bel is not like other young ladies.”

“Yes, well. I had noticed that.” All thoughts of Sophia were instantly banished. He thought instead of Isabel’s exotic beauty and her melodic accent, and the bold innocence of her kiss. The kiss that hummed in his blood, even now …

“That’s not what I mean.” Gray skewered him with a look, as though he read Toby’s thoughts.

“Bel’s grown up sheltered from society, but she’s been a witness to misery no lady should ever see. Our father succumbed to drink and her mother to madness, while—”

“Wait just a minute. Her mother went mad?” If he did want an excuse to back out of this, Toby had just been handed one. Few gentlemen sought a bride with a family history of insanity.

“Not how you’re thinking. When Bel was a girl, her mother was stricken with a tropical fever. She survived—barely—but her mind was never the same. Bel grew up essentially alone, once my brother and I were out on the sea. Her faith sustained her. She’s strong in spirit, but filled with naïve, fragile hopes … and very high expectations.”

“You don’t think I can meet them.”

“Damn right, I don’t.” Gray resumed his seat. “However, for the sake of humoring my sister and preserving her reputation, I’ve decided to let you try. But I warn you—if at any point during the engagement, Bel seems anything less than enraptured with the prospect of marrying you, I’ll call the wedding off immediately.”

His words gave Toby pause, as he recalled the lengths he’d gone to just to elicit those few smiles. Now he would have an “enraptured” bride, or no bride at all? He wasn’t sure he liked those odds. Isabel Grayson did not seem a lady inclined to romantic raptures—she’d only agreed to marry him for his influence. “If you’ve such a low opinion of me, why are granting your consent at all?”

“Make no mistake, I think you’re an ass, and it eats away at my gut, just to imagine calling you brother. But I’d take no pleasure in seeing you fail at betrothal again.” Gray scowled. It was the expression of a man wrestling his own humility. “Bel’s been disappointed with London, despite all our efforts to keep her entertained. Nothing amuses her. She’s so damned quiet, so serious. I’ve watched her frowning in silence through a dozen dinner parties and musicales. But when she danced with you—and God, it kills me to say it—she looked happy. And then this morning, she spoke angry words to Sophia in your defense.” Gray shook his head. “I’ve never heard her speak angry words to anyone. Reproachful words, yes. Disappointed words, more often than I care to remember. But never angry ones.”

Toby couldn’t quite follow the gist of this argument. She was happy last night, angry this morning … “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying, I think my sister’s built quite a fortress around her emotions. She’d call it morality; I’m inclined to call it fear. But what ever those walls are made of, for some unfathomable reason, you seem able to breach them. I’m saying, you managed to put a smile on her face last night.” He pinned Toby with a threatening look. “Keep it there.”

“I will,” Toby answered, resolute. Indeed, never in his life had he been so determined to succeed at any venture. It was what he did best, keeping ladies smiling. He would find a way to keep Isabel happy, too. There was nothing in the world that could have convinced him to back down from the challenge in Sir Benedict Grayson’s eyes. Nothing.

A knock sounded at the door.

“Come in,” Gray called, rising to his feet. “That’ll be my brother, Joss.”

Toby stood, refreshing his grin and readying a bow. Perhaps the younger Grayson brother would be more congenial. Second sons typically had very different personalities.

“Sir Toby Aldridge,” Gray said, “allow me to introduce my brother and partner in Grayson Brothers Shipping, Captain Josiah Grayson.”