He cursed under his breath. Why had he proposed? Because it was the right thing to do? Because he had developed feelings for her? But was it … love? He didn’t know what love felt like. Damn it. Jane had supposedly been in love with him, or so Cass had claimed. Was that even true? Perhaps Jane was right. Perhaps they had both suffered a bout of temporary insanity. At any rate, it was over now. She’d been quite emphatic in her response. He would do well to forget about it and move forward.

The second dog came up and wagged his tail. Garrett patted him on the head as well. “Let’s see to all of these letters,” he murmured, firmly pushing thoughts of Jane Lowndes from his mind.

On the top of the stack was a recent letter from Isabella Langford. He broke the seal and unfolded it.

Please pay me a call, Garrett. I must speak with you at your earliest convenience.

Yours,

Isabella

Garrett tossed the letter on the desk and stared blindly out the window. It was time to make it clear to Isabella once and for all that he would not be courting her. He owed it to her to say it to her face, confront the awkwardness of the house party. Tell her that her rudeness to Jane was untenable, and if he ever found out she or her dastardly footman had anything to do with the saddle on Jane’s horse being tampered with, he’d make them both pay.

He’d briefly wondered if she had had anything to do with his being conked over the head in the wine cellar. But that made little sense. What possible use could she have for knocking him out and locking him in a wine cellar all night? Given her motives, if she’d been involved he would have no doubt awoken in her bed with her insisting upon a proposal. His gold pocket watch had been missing when he’d awoken. The culprit was likely some desperate servant. Lady Moreland had assured him she’d look into the matter. Apparently, she hadn’t yet been able to find the thief.

Garrett ordered the coach put to and paid an afternoon call to Isabella. Her expensive butler ushered him into the drawing room. Isabella soon joined him and asked the butler for tea.

“Thank you for coming.” She gave Garrett a bright smile.

“Isabella, I—”

“No. Let me speak first, please.”

He nodded. “Very well.”

“I know you don’t have tender feelings for me, not in the same way I do for you. But I think it makes sense for us to marry, nonetheless.”

He opened his mouth to interrupt her.

“Hear me out, please.”

He nodded.

“We may not be a love match, but the children need a father. I need a husband. And you will need a wife, an heir.”