Desperate Measures Read Free

mine. This is why you were asked to come here tonight.
    This is why we are alone together now.'
    She took a breath. 'I—can't believe this. It's crazy!' She sent him
    a scornful look. 'Putting an ad in a paper, indeed! You're the last
    person in the world who needs to resort to something like that.'
    He smiled faintly. 'Merci du compliment —if that's what it was.
    But the truth is, I know very few women of a suitable age and
    background and even fewer who would allow themselves to be taken in
    marriage in such
    a headlong way, without a conventional period of courtship at
    least—if not vows of undying love and devotion. Anything less,
    however insincere, would insult them.'
    'You don't think it would insult me?' Philippa stiffened.
    Alain de Courcy shrugged. 'From what little I have learned
    tonight, I don't think you can afford to be insulted,' he countered
    levelly. 'I understand you need a substantial sum of money to pay for your father's medical treatment in the United States, and maintain
    him there in a private clinic. If you marry me, I will make sure
    sufficient funds are made available for you to use in this way—or as
    you wish.' He paused. 'You need me for your father's future,
    mademoiselle. I need you for mine. Do we have a bargain?'
    Monica had said, 'Listen to him.' Philippa found herself shivering.
    'First, you'd better explain why you need to be married so
    quickly,' she said. 'Why can't you wait— find a wife whom you might—
    care for?'
    'Marriage, ma chere, is a lottery,' he said cynically. 'Until now I
    have always managed to avoid buying a ticket. But now I find myself
    under pressure through my family.'
    He paused. 'I inherited the chair of De Courcy International from
    my grandfather. Since then, my uncle Louis has always borne a
    grudge that he was passed over for me. For the past two years, he has been working against me, trying to thwart deals I was involved in—
    attempting to undermine my authority by castigating me to the more
    sober members of my board as an irresponsible playboy.'
    He shot her a swift glance. 'You smile at last, mademoiselle, and
    I too found the situation amusing—once. But lately it has become
    altogether more serious. My name has recently been linked with a
    woman, who is married to a man of importance in the government.
    There have been hints in the papers— rumours and innuendo in the
    circles I move in.'
    He shrugged. 'There has been gossip before—I am not a saint—
    but this time my uncle has managed to gain support for his opinion
    that my conduct is a disgrace, and that, through me, De Courcy
    International is likely to be plunged into a major scandal with all kinds of repercussions. I am, he says, unfit to be chairman any longer.
    'Accordingly, he has called an emergency meeting in two weeks'
    time to discuss the situation, and call for my resignation. He plans to become chairman in my place, against my grandfather's expressed
    wish, and that is now a distinct possibility. You must believe that it would also be a disaster. You see my problem?'
    Philippa bit her lip. 'I—suppose so. But maybe your uncle's right
    —perhaps you are irresponsible. After all, if you're having an affair with this woman—neglecting the company for her...'
    His mouth twisted. 'My uncle, mademoiselle , has an insufferably bourgeois mind. My private life has no bearing on my role as head of
    De Courcy. No woman has ever come between me and my work, or
    ever will.'
    He hesitated, his expression rueful. 'There is an additional
    factor. My uncle has a daughter, Sidonie. He has dropped
    unmistakable hints that if I were to offer marriage to my cousin his
    opposition to me would cease immediately.'
    'Then isn't that the obvious solution?'
    'You would not suggest such a thing if you had ever met my
    cousin Sidonie. She has a bad complexion, and the disposition of a
    jealous shrew.'
    Philippa bit her lip. 'I might be just as bad.'
    'That is a risk I shall have to take.' His eyes swept