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could desire, and the company of my young nieces whose acquaintances you have already made. In due course, of course, you shall have a child of your own. We shall hope it is an heir, for nothing will make me—or, indeed, my mother—happier than this felicitous outcome.’
    Amaryllis blushed, but dared not speak of this time, for fear of appearing either ignorant or worse, eager. He, she noted, did not appear to be suffering from any degree of overeagerness. As for ignorance, she knew perfectly well he was not afflicted with that malady! News of his paramours was almost legendary.
    She questioned, him, therefore, on the safer topic.
    â€œYour nieces. You say I have met them. I cannot think when . . . ?”
    A grin almost crossed his stern, attractive features. It made him look human and charming. Amaryllis told herself not to be a fool.
    â€œCan you not? The night of my sister—Lady Charlotte’s—ball at Devonport. Lady Charlotte is abroad and I, for my pains, stand as ward to the two young scamps.”
    â€œYou mean . . .”
    â€œYes, the iced gateaux and the . . . sugar plums, was it? But we digress.”
    Amaryllis thought she could detect a twinkle lurking in my lord’s eye, but she could not be certain.
    For a good ten minutes more the discussion became rather more earnest. The earl, in an effort to be perfectly honest from the outset—made it abundantly—but politely—plain he was not interested in Amaryllis personally, though he liked her a good deal and thought she would make an excellent countess.
    He had, however, no intention of altering his bachelor way of life or removing to his considerable estates in the country. He required an heir, a chatelaine, and an escape from the insufferable debutantes who seemed more and more inventive in their attempts to snare him.
    He did not mention that he found himself drawn to Amaryllis, that it had taken a great deal of resolution not to dance with her in the last two weeks, that he found her more charming than he cared to admit, and that, even as he spoke, he was yearning foolishly to kiss her pretty lips.
    No! He omitted such matters as unimportant to the contract before them. In truth, he felt uncomfortable with the matter, for he had no wish to allow Amaryllis false hopes and his amorous adventuring had been extensive enough for him to realize that such burning attractions often did not endure more than a sennight.
    So he continued on in a cool and collected manner, outlining all the advantages that would accrue to her if she became his betrothed.
    Amaryllis was informed that as countess she could do precisely as she pleased within the bounds of propriety, she might command an ample supply of pin money, and she might escape the indignity of dwindling into unwed loneliness. It was a crushing proposal, not the type of Amaryllis’s dreams, but she accepted quietly, if not joyfully.
    Stephen had done her the justice of being truthful and for that she was grateful. It gave her the space to hide her budding feelings for him—no, to crush her feelings for him—without exposing all the pain of her longing. There was no question of her refusing such an offer. Her parents expected her to accept, and she had no reason not to, save for some foolish bit of daydreaming.
    Hundreds of arranged marriages were made each morning and if her own was not quite out of a storybook, she was no worse off than dozens of girls before her. After all, Lord Redding was no Mr. Ratchins! Her mouth tilted upward at the comparison and the earl, unbeknownst to her, almost groaned in anguish.
    He had never wanted to kiss someone so much in all of his life, but he knew perfectly well he must remain controlled.
    Amaryllis, having accepted the proposal, did not leave the drawing room without a few victories of her own. In exchange for such a convenient marriage, she asked that her judgment be respected. She shyly demanded that she be seen