Chapter 12 #2
The shame that coats my skin is like being dunked into slime.
She’s right. I’ve never been poor. I’ve never had to worry about where my next meal is coming from or how to make rent.
I’m so far removed from the realities of most people’s lives.
Sure, we’re big employers, and we donate to charity and try to help those who deserve it, but I will never be able to walk in the shoes of someone like Grace, and that makes me incredibly privileged.
Here I am, wallowing in the guilt of the building collapse and running around trying to cover my fuck up. Meanwhile, Grace is living hand to mouth and mourning the loss of her sole parent.
“De Vils don’t get divorced, Grace. If we could pull this off—and that’s a big if—that’s it.
You’re tied to me for life. And like you say, as strong as our attraction is, the early stages of every relationship are driven by lust. Once that fades, are you truly going to be happy being stuck with me for the rest of your days? ”
Give her credit, she takes the time to consider what I’ve said, staring into her coffee cup and absentmindedly tapping her fingers on the side. At least a minute of silence passes before she lifts her head and locks gazes with me.
“The peace of knowing I won’t struggle to make ends meet is priceless, Christian. Priceless. I’ve never seen myself marrying for love. A marriage of convenience is the perfect solution.”
“You say that now, but you’re only twenty-two. Things change. People change. And what about kids? Whomever I marry, kids are expected. Not right away but eventually. Could you really have children with someone you’re not in love with?”
“I’m not saying I have all the answers—I don’t.
There are definitely things for us to talk about and think through.
As for kids, being in love does not guarantee a happy home.
Lots of people get married for love, have kids, then end up hating each other and making those poor babies miserable.
At least with us we’d have mutual respect.
We’d know how and why we got into this, and any children that did come along would at least have two parents who were friendly with one another. That’s more than many get.”
I can’t fault her logic, but my mind is spinning.
“All I’m asking is for you to think about it. This could be good for you and me. A true partnership. Besides, you’re never going to marry for love, so if you have to enter an arrangement, why can’t it be with me? We like each other, we get along.”
“We hardly know each other.”
“Won’t that be the same with any arranged bride?”
More logic. I pluck at my bottom lip, chaotic thoughts making me dizzy.
“I wouldn’t stop you from living your life. If you want to see other women, I won’t stand in your way. Better than that, I’ll cover for you.”
“De Vils don’t cheat.”
“But it isn’t cheating, is it? Cheating is when you sneak around and lie and betray trust. I say as long as we are both honest with one another and are happy with the situation, where’s the harm? Lots of people have open marriages, and they work just fine.”
Every argument she’s putting forward makes total sense. Whoever I end up marrying is a convenience in one way or another. Why not marry someone I’m currently attracted to, who has a keen intellect, is funny, kind, and thoughtful of others? I could do worse.
The idea of having my freedom curtailed through an arranged marriage doesn’t appeal, and here Grace is, offering a way for me to continue living my life while appeasing my duties as a De Vil.
It’s a fucking win-win for me, and like she said, she gets the security that, until now, I hadn’t realized was so important to her.
Or, more to the point, it hadn’t crossed my mind until she pointed it out.
The problem is how to persuade my father.
“I am taking this offer seriously. believe me. There are a few things I want to think over, but first, I wanted to say this.” I reach across the table for her hand. “Thank you. I know this arrangement would have benefits for you as well as me, but let’s be honest, I’m the real winner here.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that,” she murmurs, eyes twinkling.
I grin. “Drink up, and I’ll see you home.”
“No need. I have a few things I have to do in town.”
We leave the café, but as we’re standing by my car, it’s clear neither of us is ready to say goodbye. Grace shuffles her feet and stares at the ground. I clip her under the chin until our eyes lock. Damn, she gets more beautiful each time I see her.
“You’re an incredible woman, Lady Grace Ambrose. Any man would be lucky to have you.”
“Well, if you play your cards right, you’ll be that man.”
When she puts it like that, it sounds pretty fucking good.
I curve my hand around the back of her neck and lower my head.
Each time I kiss her feels like it’s the first, and I never want them to end.
That’s got to count for something, right?
Being married to Grace and able to kiss her whenever I like until the novelty wears off sounds damn good to me.
We break apart, and I promise to call her once I’ve thought things through. She waves as my car drives away, and a piece of me feels this tug in my chest. All I need to do now is work out any kinks in her plan, and I know just the guy to help me do it.
“Well, bro.” Tobias blows out a stream of cigar smoke, then taps the ash into a cut-glass ashtray precariously resting on the arm of the chair. “I knew you were keen on this girl, but this is out of the blue.”
“So, will you help me convince Dad she’s the right choice?”
He shrugs. “I don’t know. Dad… he has these instincts. Look what happened when he gave Nicholas the choice. Doubt he’s going to go down that route again in a hurry.”
“But she will be his choice. Don’t you see? All we need to do is give him a chance to meet her and let her win him around. She’s classy and fits in well with the elite. Our job is to allow Dad to come to that conclusion on his own.”
He scrubs a hand over his chin. “What do you know about this chick, really?”
“Chick?” My right hand curls into a fist.
Tobias smirks. “Wait… are you… are you in love with her?”
I roll my eyes. “I’m not above punching you in the face.”
He laughs. “Okay, okay. But my question stands. What do you know about this woman, other than the fact she’s got the face of a model and the body of a goddess?”
“I know enough. I researched her, and if it makes you happy, I’ll pass it over to the team and have them research her.”
“I wouldn’t bother. If she’s a contender, Dad will do that anyway.”
“So, are you going to help me or not?”
He tugs on his bottom lip. “You say she’s titled, so that counts for something. From the little I saw of her, she carries herself well, too. And like you say, she has class, which means she wouldn’t bring shame or trouble on the family. But answer me this: what does she get out of it?”
“Other than me, you mean?”
He takes a deep breath and gnaws on his lip, deep in thought. “She does know what an annoying shit you are, I presume?”
“Yep.”
“And she’s agreeable at tying herself to you for life. I smell a rat, brother.”
“Not a rat. An empty bank account.”
He frowns. “What does that mean?”
“She’s poor. Titled but poor. Her mother died quite recently, father passed away years ago.
Their assets were sold off by previous generations.
She’s living day to day, and she’s had enough.
It’s mercenary of her, and that impresses me.
I get to carry on my life exactly as I want to while she gets financial security. ”
He takes another drag on the cigar, then stubs it out in the ashtray. “How old is she?”
“Twenty-two.”
“That’s young, bro. Especially to be making a commitment like this to a man she doesn’t know.”
“Yeah, like Imogen was twenty-one and Victoria twenty-three. The difference here is they didn’t get a choice, whereas Grace does. She’s the one in control. She’s choosing this for herself. You have to admit, Tobias, that’s pretty fucking rad.”
“A fair point rammed between my eyes.”
“Come on. You’re the rule breaker in the family. If anyone has the skills to help me pull this off, it’s you.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“Because it is.”
He nods, tapping his finger against his bottom lip as he considers my request. “Okay, I’ll help. This is what we do.”