A Christmas Wedding Wager Read Free Page A

it.'
    'Then you realise very little indeed.' The wind had stained her cheeks and nose a bright pink, a tiny bit of colour in an otherwise dull world. 'I find the building of bridges infinitively preferable to discussions about the latest way to trim a hat, make netting or prick a pincushion.'
    'It seems a bit extreme--avoiding matrimony because you harbour a dislike of frivolous conversation.' Jack tightened his grip on his cane. 'I understood matrimony was the goal of every young lady.'
    'The reasons for my spinsterhood are not up for discussion, Mr Stanton. Please know I am content with my decisions.' Her eyes blazed. 'I regret nothing.'
    'A wise policy. Would that everyone adopted it.' Jack chose a non-committal response.
    Where exactly was this conversation leading? What did Miss Harrison want? Her words had a different purpose.
    'And you? Have you married? Is your house full of frivolous conversation and pricked pincushions?' She gave him a level glance, with a steadiness that he had found entrancing in those long-ago days before he'd learnt about women and their fickle nature.
    'Thankfully I have been able to escape the machinations of mothers and their daughters.' Jack pressed his lips together. Her remarks had made it obvious where her hopes lay. He would not have her presuming on the past simply because whatever brilliant hopes she'd had hadn't worked out.
    Which was it? A duke or an earl that had not come up to scratch? He had forgotten the name of the man her mother had had such hopes for. And the proud Emma Harrison could not bear to admit she had misjudged the situation.
    'But do you not long for domestic bliss, Mr Stanton? Warm carpet slippers by the fire?' That steady pair of blue-grey eyes looked up at him again.
    Jack thinned his lips. Was this the reason for Harrison's letter? That he sought to make a match for his younger daughter? If so, he was sadly mistaken. He had no wish to renew his suit. The humiliation had been bad enough the first time.
    'At present, my life is such that I enjoy my freedom. No wife would put up with me. I am constantly on the move, going from one project to the next--England, South America and Europe are all one to me.'
    Her laugh resembled breaking crystal. 'You see, I was right. We would have never suited. I have rarely been out of the North East these past seven years.'
    'I had forgotten that our names were once bandied together.' He made sure his face betrayed no emotion, but he derived a small amount of pleasure in reminding her of what she had casually thrown away. 'I would hate to think I had anything to do with your unmarried state.'
    'Pray do not flatter yourself, Mr Stanton.' Emma drew herself up to her full height. Her hands ached from the cold and the sleet dripped off her bonnet, freezing the tip of her nose.
    How dared he imply such a thing?
    He made it seem as if she was desperately attempting to discover his marital status and had been pining for him the past seven years. She had refused him and his ungallant offer of marriage. He had not cared for her, only for her fortune and the status such a marriage would bring. Her mother had been right. If he'd cared for her, he would have waited and heard her out. He would have understood what she was trying to explain instead of becoming all correct and formal.
    'My decision to remain unwed had nothing to do with you. Why is it whenever anyone sees an unmarried lady they immediately assume she is discontent with her life?'
    Jack lifted an eyebrow. 'I must protest. You are putting words into my mouth.'
    'You implied. As an old friend, I was naturally curious as to what had happened in your life.'
    Emma crossed her arms. He thought her a desperate hag. What did he expect her to do? Fall down on her knees and beg him to marry her simply because he possessed a fortune and good-looks in abundance? The man was insupportable. If she married at all it would be for love, because a man wanted to share his life with her, not keep her