The Wedding Game(28)

‘On your suit?’ Summoner gave a short laugh. ‘You have my consent to a marriage, Mr Lovell.’

Even though it had been his plan to ally with the family through marriage, things were moving too fast for comfort. ‘I have not yet spoken to the lady on the matter,’ Ben reminded him. ‘There is no guarantee that she will have me.’ It was far more likely that she would hand him his head for settling matters with her father before proposing.

Summoner gave a dismissive wave of his hand. ‘When you do, you will find her in agreement. Young girls are far too flighty to make such decisions based on their hearts. And she truly is the most obedient of children. When I tell her that you are my choice, she will agree without argument.’

For a moment, Ben could not manage to respond at all. It had been his plan to take only the first step. But it appeared that he had all but completed his journey to the altar. And after that—

The older man interrupted his reverie. ‘There is also the matter of a settlement. As I understand it, you do not need my money. I have little land, other than the house in the country, which is entailed. But I control two seats in the House of Commons. They cannot very well be given to my girls.’

He paused to laugh at the idea of women in office. But Ben saw it for what it was: a carefully structured pause to build drama for the offer he was about to extend.

‘You seem like a bright young fellow. Have you considered standing for office?’

Though he had seen it coming, it still took effort to hide his amazement. He had gone to bed dreaming of the future and woken to find his future was made. He answered with as much composure as he could manage, ‘Indeed, my lord. It is my fondest wish to serve.’

Summoner nodded. ‘A noble ambition, to be sure. Then we are in agreement. Welcome to the family, Mr Lovell.’ The man stood and offered his hand.

Ben rose as well, giving it a firm shake. ‘Thank you again, my lord. I will endeavour to exceed your expectations of me. And I will do my utmost to make your daughter as happy in the future as you have made me today.’

‘Excellent.’ Summoner stepped from behind the desk. ‘I am so glad to have the matter settled and so early in the Season. Social events are tiresome for Belle and I had no wish to put her through more than was necessary to secure a match.’

‘Belle?’ Had they discussed the identity of the bride to be? Or had he just assumed he knew it?

‘We call her that at home,’ the other man said, misunderstanding his confusion. ‘Arabella is a beautiful name, but so formal.’

‘Of course,’ Ben answered, his mind still racing to catch up.

‘We call her elder sister Amy for the same reason,’ he said. ‘Sometimes I worry that there is power in the names we give. Amelia always struck me as an excellent name for a spinster. And my Amy has grown adamant that she will never marry. Many men have tried, but there is no changing her mind.’

How many men? And just how hard had they tried to persuade her? It would be na?ve of him to think that a woman with a passionate nature and the sense to be discreet would deny herself pleasure if it was offered. It was obvious, after their discussion last night, that he was not the first man to have kissed her. It was unlikely that he would be the last.

‘You are certain she will never marry?’

‘She’s refused more than one offer,’ Summoner assured him, ‘and has been most adamantly opposed to men I’ve suggested for her. I suppose I should be thankful that she has not run off with a dancing master, or some such foolishness. If she means to spite me, remaining respectably unmarried pales in comparison to actively courting disgrace.’

Her devotion to her sister outweighed any desire to elope to spite her father. Once Belle had married, perhaps she would consider it. Or would she return to one of the suitors she had already rejected? In either case, Ben doubted she would want him once she knew he had Lord Summoner’s approval. And if he truly did not want to involve his heart in his marriage, it might be wise to take the perfectly lovely daughter being offered to him and not the one who raised such conflicting and uncontrollable emotions in him. ‘I have heard that Amelia intends to follow her sister to her husband’s house,’ he said, cautiously.

‘Perhaps that is her intention,’ Summoner replied. ‘But I have no plan to indulge it and neither should you. My daughter can refuse to marry if she wishes, but it does not entitle her to live off her sister’s husband under the guise of sisterly devotion.’

‘I am glad to hear you say it, my lord.’ If he meant to wed Belle, he could not be staring at those disquieting eyes and luscious lips for the rest of his married life. Even a wife who did not expect total fidelity from her husband would not stand for an affair inside the family. Nor did he want to give himself up to a woman who might be tempting him now, just to spite her father.

‘And if I am honest, Belle is far too influenced by her sister,’ Summoner said with a worried frown.

That might explain why she had been in need of rescue the previous evening. She had only followed the bad example of her sister. ‘I am sure Miss Amelia regrets any harm she might have done,’ he said. This, at least, was true. Amy had been genuinely distraught at her sister’s absence and unwavering in her devotion.

‘Once we have separated the pair of them, you must be Belle’s guide in all things. It is your duty, as husband. I trust that you will have a care for her, sir. Simply have a care.’ There was a slight tremor in the older man’s voice that spoke of barely controlled emotion.