Page 59 of How to Tempt an Earl

What a fool she’d been. She’d believed his lies that what they shared was more than what most couples had and that he wanted to marry her. It hurt, like salt in an open wound.

Lies. All lies.

“I feel sorry for your bride, Ian,” the dowager said.

“She’ll do as she’s told,” Ian said, his voice firm with resolve.

“For someone who hated his father, you are turning out to be just like him.” With a swirl of skirts, the dowager left the hall.

For a heart-pounding moment, Grace considered returning to the dining room and pretending she hadn’t heard a thing. But she was not a coward. Her hurt veered into anger.

She stepped from behind the parlor door and into the hall. “This marriage was a farce from the beginning, wasn’t it?”

He turned around, his gaze homing on her features. “Grace. I take it you overheard.”

“Everything.”

“I apologize. I regret that you were witness to that conversation.”

“I highly doubt you regret a word of what you said, only that I’d heard it. You lied about selling the club. I realize we did not marry under normal circumstances, but I had no idea you resent being shackled to a wife.”

“I don’t.”

“You took us to Gunter’s. You led me to believe you weren’t opposed to the match…that…that there could be a future between us.”

“I meant what I said.”

“Don’t lie to me. The scandal. The hushed whispers that you caused your brother’s riding accident. That’s what this is all about. You need me to help ready your sisters for Society.”

“It was only part of my reasoning.”

“Part! It was all. I will happily help Ellie and Olivia, but not because of you, rather because I genuinely like them.”

“Thank you.”

She held up a hand. “You know how I feel about gambling. You knew!”

“Grace, you must understand. The Raven Club means more to me than a business. Even after inheriting an earldom, it’s not something I can easily part with.”

“You’re right. I don’t understand. I would never have agreed to marry you had I known of your deception. But now that we are wed, my opinions do not matter, do they? I’ll simply rusticate in the country,” she said.

His jaw clenched and he remained silent.

Her anger simmered. She foolishly had hoped he was different. A rake would have walked away and let her suffer the consequences. Instead, he’d offered marriage. He’d taken Adam for ice cream…had charmed his way into her good graces and had led her to believe there would be a future for them. She’d actually begun to admire him, to care for him. But his motives were like shady specters, not easy discerned.

Even though he wanted to care for his sisters, he’d resented having to marry her, having to change his life, having to close his precious club. There was no room in his heart for a wife, for love, for anything other than his business.

He was no different from other men who disappointed. His actions reaffirmed everything she’d known since her own father had failed her so badly.

Men were inherently selfish and untrustworthy.

She tossed back her hair and glared up at him. “You will get what you want, but you should know I have demands as well.”

“Such as?”

“I want a marriage in name only.”

His eyes narrowed and he took a step closer. “You think to keep me from your bed?”