Chapter 4 4

She grimaced, but her chin didn't drop. 'Okay.'

'But what makes you think you could stick to this hypothetical plan of yours? I mean running a stables, and riding school isn't precisely glamorous. It's hard work and...'

'And hard work isn't something I've been known for these past couple of years.'

She nodded, evidently not the least offended. And that was what got to him about Claire. She never reacted the way he expected. She could take criticism on the chin. Unless it came from her father.

Unless it came from her father. She stared up at the ceiling and wrinkled her nose.

'Need must, Lucas. I'm losing myself. Playing the party girl isn't the answer, it left me feeling hollow... ashamed.'

Whoa! He chose his words carefully. 'I think you're being a little harsh on yourself.'

'No, you don't,'

He blinked.

'And being my father's hostess with the mostest is shedding what little self-respect I have left.' He could see how that was true, even though he didn't understand it.

She pushed her hair back from her face, pulled it momentarily into a tight ponytail that highlighted the exhausted lines fanning from her eyes, and Lucas's gut gave a sick kick. Hell, he'd be happy to just give her a million pounds, though he knew her pride would forbid her from accepting it.

'Of course, the million pounds is a pipe dream.' She let her hair go and it fell back down around her shoulders in a blonde cloud. 'But my plan is to get a job in Cornwall and save madly until I can do something with my little property.'

What kind of job are you looking for? Was she hoping to land another gallery job? He didn't like her chances.

'Event management. I know to the outside gaze it'd look like I'm just continuing with my party girl ways. But running an event is very different from attending as a guest. I used to run all the gallery's events. And, even if I say it myself, I have a knack for pulling together a halfway decent party, ball, charity luncheon or any other kind of get-together you'd like to name.'

He sat up straighter. She'd be perfect at it. Lord Wellington demanded the best when he entertained. She not only had a name and experience, she had connections. 'You've really thought about this.'

'Doh!' But she smiled as she said it to soften the sting. 'If you are really willing to marry me for a million pounds Claire, how would you see that marriage working?'

It was his turn to have the satisfaction of seeing her jaw drop. The waiter chose that moment to clear their plates.

'Would like to order dessert or coffee?'

'Chocolate cake,' Claire said, not taking her eye off Lucas. 'Please.' And champagne,' Lucas said, holding her gaze. 'A bottle of your best.'

'I wasn't serious when I said I'd marry you for a million pounds,' she whispered, when the waiter had melted into the background again.

'I know. You were being flippant. But if we were to speak hypothetically...'He let the rest of the sentence dangle and watched her mind race behind the perfect blue of her eyes.

'I'd put a million pounds into your bank account...What would I get in return?'

A million pounds...?'

Her eyes glazed over and he could feel his lips start to lift. 'I believe that was the price you put on it.' A million pounds...and then she could live the life she'd just outlined to him.

She shook herself. 'We are playing hypotheticals?'

He nodded.

'Well, If that were to ever happen...it'd have to be a strictly business arrangement. A paper marriage~no sex~no children, no complications.'

He nodded. So far so good.

'You've never wanted to marry.'

The ugliness of his parents' marriage had cured him of ever wanting to trade in his bachelorhood for the vagaries of matrimony. He wasn't inviting that kind of acrimony and spite into his life. The very thought made him break out into a cold sweat.

'But you will do just anything to keep Alice healthy and happy,' she continued.

She knew him better than the women he dated. He should find that reassuring considering the conversation they were having, but he didn't. It took a force of will not to run a finger around the collar of his shirt.

She smiled at the waiter as he brought their champagne and slid her chocolate cake in front of her. 'Thank you'

The waiter's lips lifted and his eyes lit up. 'You are very welcome madam.'

That was one of the things Lucas had always liked about Claire. She didn't just have impeccable manners, but genuine manners. She made people feel valued.

You'd be in London most of the time and I'd be in Cornwall most of the times, so I don't see any reason why we should even have to live together

Better and better.

'If you needed me to host the odd dinner party or event I could certainly do that.'

He didn't entertain often but every now and again business demanded it. And he could see how having a wife at those events could be an advantage. Claire had a talent for ruffling the waters when she had a mind to, but she had an even greater ability for smoothing them.

'Though I'd expect notice. You couldn't just spring events on me at the last minute.'

That was reasonable. 'And if you want me to attend anything you need only let my PA know and~?'

She shook her head. 'In this hypothetical situation you're giving me a million pounds, Lucas. Nothing more will be asked of you.'

He frowned. That didn't seem fair somehow. She ate a huge piece of chocolate cake and then nodded and pointed her dessert fork at him, her tongue sweeping out check for crumbs, leaving a shine on her bottom lip that made something inside him clench tight.

No! Don't do that. Don't look at Micheal's little sister like she's a woman, for God's sake.