Read 50 Ways to Ruin a Rake for Free Online Page B

me.”
    â€œCertainly not!” he said with an insulting amount of shock.
    â€œThen I fail to see—”
    â€œI need time,” he answered, “for my investment to come in. And you need a sponsor to meet other gentlemen. Second sons and the like. Ones who would be more than happy to wed you without writing poetry.”
    She wished she didn’t feel so stupid around him. “And how does that lead to you on your knee before me?”
    â€œBecause we should get engaged. My grandfather will open the coffers, giving me time for my investment to profit. I know of just the person to sponsor you, and so you will be going to rounds, meeting all sorts of eligible men.”
    â€œBut as your fiancée!”
    â€œWell, naturally. But Lady Eleanor won’t take you under her wing any other way but as a favor to me.”
    She frowned. Lady Eleanor? As in the daughter of the Duke of Bucklynde. Even Mellie had heard of that august personage. It had been in all the papers that her male relations had died of some fever, and a nobody seaman had inherited the title. “But why would she help me?”
    â€œAs a favor to me. And because she needs a spot of cash herself. So if we offer to pay her and bring her in on the secret—”
    â€œWhat secret?” she nearly screamed.
    â€œThat you’re going to cry off at the end of the Season. Don’t you see how perfect it is? You and I become engaged. Grandfather allows me enough money to survive until my investments come in. You go round to the parties, meeting all sorts of gentlemen, while I remain completely safe from those nefarious females. And at the end—when my money arrives—you cry off, marry the gentleman of your choice, and I can finally tell the duke to go to the devil. That I’ll marry when and where I choose and not before.”
    She understood it now. This had not been a true proposal, he had no wish to marry her, and it was all a trick. That the trick was on his family and not on her made not the least bit of difference to her heart. She didn’t even like the man, and yet she felt humiliated to be used in such a fashion. To receive a proposal and then be gleefully informed that it was a sham. As if she were of no more importance than his horse. Less importance, in fact, because she was simply a tool to evade matchmaking mamas and foil his father’s plans.
    â€œYou are an odious man,” she hissed out. “Absolutely odious.”
    He reared back, obviously shocked by her disgust. And that, of course, damned him even more in her eyes.
    â€œBut…but don’t you see how it works? It is a perfect fitting—you and me.”
    â€œNot as an engaged couple!”
    â€œBut you don’t like me and I don’t like you. The two of us will never suit, and we have both said as much to one another. Repeatedly!”
    Of course that was true. She had said as much and often. If not out loud, then at least in her thoughts.
    â€œSo that makes us the perfect pair for this,” he continued. “I cannot do this with a woman who might develop a tendre for me. That would be too cruel, and I couldn’t be sure that she would cry off at the end of the Season.”
    â€œWell, there is no need to fear. I will certainly not develop any tendre for you. I’d rather kiss a snake.”
    â€œExactly!” he said as if she finally understood. “There is no fear of softer feelings between us. And as far as the scandal, my family will be in alt when you cry off.”
    â€œIn alt!”
    â€œWell, you are a bit of a step down for me. We’ll have to claim a passionate love affair, overcome by our emotions and some such rot, but all they’ll see is the mésalliance. So when you cry off, they will be so relieved as to not care about the scandal.”
    â€œAnd what about me? What about the scandal attached to my name? I will have cried off from a future duke.”
    He