An Affair So Right (Rebel Hearts #4)(65)

“I could do it,” Theodora said quietly behind him. “I could be engaged to you.”

He swiveled around to stare at her. Yes, she knew him well enough to play the part of a besotted bride, but this was too much. “Don’t even think of going along with this nonsense.”

Theodora beckoned him to follow her across the room, and he did so, unable to predict her next words. She stopped by the far window, a frown marring her pretty features. “There is no reason to further embarrass your mother,” Theodora whispered quickly. “I am here, and we already assumed people would misunderstand you hiring a woman as your secretary.”

“This is grossly unfair to you,” he complained. “Mother needs to correct her mistake.”

“And she will, or we will, eventually.” Theodora winced. “From what I can tell, Lady Templeton has suffered a great deal at your father’s hands, everyone has, and I will not have it on my conscience that I helped her lose the respect she deserves. I cannot imagine what she must be feeling right now. I have met Lady Berkley before, and she’s a spiteful, mean old biddy. She will lash your mother from morning to night for weeks to come, should the truth come out. You don’t want that.”

“But you’re more than happy to pretend that you like me enough to marry?”

“I do like you.” Her shoulder lifted as she shrugged. “If we went along with it for a little while, what’s the harm? So much less than what could happen. Let society think what they like for now, and later, after a time, I can go away, and your mother can simply say we did not suit after all.”

He considered the matter. It was asking a lot of Theodora to play along with this charade, just to help his mother save face. “No.”

He turned back to his mother.

“Quinn, you know me,” Theodora began as she caught his upper arm. “I would never insist you go through with the engagement. Let your mother save face with this small lie. Any gossip later on will blow over very quickly.”

Of all the women he’d known, only Theodora could convincingly play the part of his betrothed. They were already intimately involved. His real problem lay in her insistence that she would never expect to marry him. “Don’t you think it would feel odd to play at being betrothed to each other?”

“Not really.” Her lips lifted into a soft smile. “I’ve been engaged before and know what is required of a proper engagement.”

“I’m not sure I’d be convincing,” he warned.

Theodora’s brows drew together in a frown. “It would help to explain why Mother and I are still here, when we should have already found a new home for ourselves. No one believes a woman could be competent as a secretary, or enjoy the work as much I do.”

He caught her fingers. “Fools.”

“This will not be the disaster you fear,” Theodora promised. “We make a good team already, don’t we?”

A shiver of desire swept over him. If Theodora was really his betrothed, there were any number of small indiscretions they could share and be forgiven for. He could also keep an eye on her better, too. If Small was the fiend he feared, and watching them even now, Theodora could be his next target.

Unwittingly, Mother had ensured Theodora’s safety.

“So, we are engaged?”

Theodora’s eyes lit up with pleasure as she smiled at him. “Indeed.”

He smiled, liking the idea very much. “Shall I go down on one knee, too?”

Her eyes widened. “That is perhaps overplaying your part.”

“It would be expected if we were in love.”

“But we are not in love,” Theodora promised.

“Are you sure you’re not a little in love with me?” Confident his mother could not see what he did, Quinn lifted Theodora’s hand to his lips. At the last moment, though, he placed the tips of her ink-stained fingers against his lips.

Theodora gasped softly as he kissed several of them.

“Being engaged could be very enjoyable for us,” Quinn whispered against her fingers. “But being married could be better.”

Theodora gently pulled her hand back. “Just remember this is a temporary engagement.”

Not if he had any say in the matter.

Now that the moment presented itself, he knew Theodora should be his wife. No other would do. He liked her. His mother seemed to like her, too. He could also hand over the estate affairs to her if she wanted control of them, without a qualm. Or they could do everything together.

“I’ll do my best to remember this is all meant to be pretend, but I make you no promises I always will.” He turned about to face the room.

His mother was watching them, worrying her lower lip. “Well? What did you decide?”

“We are engaged,” he announced.

His mother beamed at both of them. “I knew you would understand.”

“Later, we will unravel the mess that you’ve made of our lives,” Quinn warned her. “I will expect your full support and participation to make this situation convincing.”

Her smile fell.

“Lady Templeton,” Theodora began, stepping around him.

“Yes, dear,” Mother replied, another bright smile bursting over her lips. “And my name is Maggie when we are alone.”

“Maggie, there is just one small matter to discuss.”