To Tame a Dragon (13 page)

Oh, the money would be taken care of. Robin
was extremely conservative and would make sure she was
well-provided for. Not to mention Jameson had merely waved him
off with a “I’ve taken your advice on financial matters for
years, old chap; just give me the thing to sign. And make sure
you bugger me in favor of Amelia. I do not want to start this
marriage worrying about a knife in my back.”

Amelia had thought it quite prudent of him.

But there were other matters that needed
attending to that wouldn’t be in the legal papers.

“I think it highly unlikely I will be able to
either obey or serve you, and we should both go into this thing
accepting that.”

Jameson snorted. “Agreed. Next.”

“I also think it highly unlikely you will be
able to forsake all others as long as we both shall live. I do
know that most, if not all, men keep a mistress. As long as you
are discreet I won’t question you.”

“No.”

He looked furious. Gravely insulted, and to
tell the truth, a little murderous.

“Not all men, Amelia. I won’t be one of them.
I’d think we’d both know the consequences of that.”

Perhaps. Though she thought if he’d been a
little older when his parents scandal had broken out, he would
have learned a different lesson. Like not to flaunt your
mistress, not refuse to have one.

“Well, I can hardly question your panicked
breaking of your betrothal to Clarice now. It does seem the
thought of only one woman for the rest of a man’s life leaves
most of them chafing.”

Jameson closed his eyes. “Amelia, sometimes
you are too much.”

“What, are mistresses and the need for them
something I should be blind to? You kiss far too well, Jameson,
for me to doubt you are as inexperienced as I.”

He smiled at the back-handed compliment. “And
will you be forsaking all others, then? I think it only fair
that if I’m to give up the banquet, so shall you.”

This time it was she that snorted. “Yes, my
myriad of lovers will no doubt throw themselves on the fire. You
do not need to worry about me straying, Jameson.”

He nodded. “As long as that’s written and
signed for.”

She looked at him in surprise. “Are we really
to put this all down? I thought agreeing to it would be enough.”

“Don’t you want something physical to show me
when I start expecting you to be obedient? We can each keep a
copy to push in each other’s face during an argument.”

She looked at him approvingly. “Yes, I
would.”

He nodded. “Good. Anything else?”

“What about children?”

“Yes. I think we should have some.”

“I’m not entirely certain
you
should.
I take you out of reach of the unsuspecting women of the
ton
and then introduce a few more like you for the next generation?”

“I’m sure you can control any offspring we
create.”

“It gives me shivers to think of it.”

A slow smile spread across his face and she
fought back a blush. “What I meant was I don’t think the world
could survive a combination of you and me.”

“Are you telling me you’re going to deny your
mother any grandchildren? That’s not going to go over well.”

“There’s always Robin.”

Jameson raised an eyebrow at her and she
tapped her chin.

“Yes, you’re right. I must start looking for
a suitable girl. He’ll never find one on his own.”

“Get him a nice one, someone not too bossy.
He deserves it after growing up with you.” He reached for her
hand and slowly pulled her to him. “Was that it, then?”

“I can not currently think of anything else
requiring our attention. Although I reserve the right to amend
said contract.”

“Seems a fine idea. We’ll draw it up and sign
later, but for now how about sealing it with a kiss.”

She took a deep breath and went to him
without fighting. If she was to marry him, she would have to get
used to this after all.

He leaned toward her, his face blocking the
light.

She whispered, “Jameson? This will change
everything.”

He stopped, watching emotions flicker in
her eyes. “Yes, it will. But it might be a change for the
better.”

She glanced at his lips. “Maybe. What if it’s
not?”

“Better to know now rather than later.”

“A very valid point.”

“May I continue?” She closed her eyes and
took a deep breath. A sweet puff of air tickled his face. His
rapidly beating heart told him this was no mistake, and why in
God’s name had he taken so long to get here?

“All right. Do your worst.”

He chuckled, lowering his lips until he
brushed a feather kiss against hers.

He pulled back, looking at her with
bemusement. “Amelia, what are you doing?”

Her eyes were screwed tight and her mouth
puckered. Her eyes blinked open.

“Jameson, I’m trying my best here. Would you
please shut up and get on with it?”

He leaned back. Her face was flushed and if
he didn’t know better, that would be panic in her eyes.

“We have done this before, if you will
recall.”

“Yes, well, that time you surprised me. I’ve
had time to think about it now.”

“I didn’t realize this would be so hard for
you. Am I that repugnant?”

“No. As I’m sure you’re well aware.”

“Then why are you making that face?”

She sighed and took a small step away from
him. “There are two problems, and you’re both of them.”

“I usually am.”

“You usually are.”

“Tell me.”

She glanced away.

“Or I’ll start to believe you’re the two
problems.”

“Well, first of all, and believe me when I
say I have nothing against you personally—”

“Thank you.”

She pinned him with her gaze. “But you’re a
wastrel and a rake. And though I forgive you, I believe there
will be quite a number of ladies, and others, to compare me
with.”

Jameson nodded sagely. “You’re afraid you
won’t compare favorably. Well, you’ll just have to try harder.
The second problem?”

“I’m adding a third.”

His teeth flashed.

“The second and third problems are, and you
just demonstrated this quite well, you are you.”

“I see. I think my thick skin just took a
beating there.”

“Oh, Jameson. I mean we’ve known each other
forever. We grew up together. You were like an older brother and
I adored you.”

“That doesn’t have to change, although I
never saw you
adoring
me. You might want to rethink how
you express that particular emotion.”

“Never fear. It’s been awhile since I’ve had
to.”

“I do understand. More than you know. A
growing man, frankly, must reign in his libido.”

“Oh, yes. Did you ever try that?”

He ignored her. “And no matter how lovely
your frock was, or how much you had to go swimming with us, I
always had to remember you were off limits.”

“I always thought you and Robin didn’t want
me swimming with you because you were mean.”

He nodded. “That, too.”

She huffed out a breath. “You are not helping
your case here.”

He grinned. “Very well. Then I shall simply
say, Amelia, that you think entirely far too much.”

And he grabbed her and kissed her.

And she stopped thinking entirely.

Amelia headed to breakfast in a surprisingly
good mood. Say what you would about Jameson, he was an excellent
kisser. She was still reeling from the night before. Perhaps
marriage would agree with her, after all.

She greeted her mother warmly, who nodded to
the newspaper sitting on the sideboard. “Jameson has been up to
his usual tricks.”

“It is too early. Perhaps after breakfast I
will care.”

She filled her plate, ignoring the paper.
There had been too many days lately of Jameson’s usual tricks.
She felt slightly numb.

But after a few bites she sighed loudly and
went to retrieve the paper.

Her mother had conveniently left it open to
the offending page and there in large letters it read:

Lord Nighting
Engaged Again! To none other than Lady Amelia Delaney. Our
source? Lord Nighting himself!

“Oh, Lord. I have lost my mind.” She threw
the paper on the table. “I’ll have years of this ahead of me.”

Her mother smiled. “He does like to make a
scene. And dear, you would have had years of this even if you
weren’t the one marrying him.”

“I had thought his wife would take over the
duty!”

“So she will. Perhaps when you are living
under the same roof you will be able to steer him a little
easier.”

“Easier? I doubt it. Earlier, perhaps. That
may be all I can expect.”

“Perhaps once you are married, you will find
ways to distract him that are unavailable to you at present.”

Amelia looked in astonishment at her mother.
“Yes, well... hmm.”

She hastily changed the subject as Jameson
entered, bringing two bouquets of flowers. “For you, Lady
Beckham. I must stay on the good side of my future
mother-in-law.”

She smiled as he kissed her cheek. “Flowers
will do it nicely.”

He offered Amelia’s flowers to her with a
flourish. “And for my lovely, blushing bride.”

Amelia looked at the proffered flowers.
“Well, thank you, Jameson.  This is new; usually you bring
me charred pheasant.”

He kept his face quite neutral. “It’s a gift
to my affianced. Or a bribe to get her in a better mood. It
could go either way depending on if you’ve seen the paper or
not. You seem rather in a good mood so I think you must not have
yet.”

Amelia handed the flowers to the butler and
settled back in her chair.

“You proposed to me on a dance floor. It can
hardly surprise me that you would take out an advert in the
Times when I finally accepted.”

He grinned. “I simply thought none would
believe me unless I made an announcement.”

“I think it likely none will believe you
still.”

“Which is why I think a nice walk along the
green with you on my arm is in order for the day.”

She sighed loudly. “I suppose if I’m to marry
you, others will have to know about it.”

“Take heart, my dear. Most will think I
either tricked you or seduced you with my evil ways. There are
none that know you that will ever think you less for it.”

She looked at him. “Jameson, everyone that
knows me will think less of me for it.”

He acquiesced. “I suppose it is inevitable;
even I think you have gone barmy. Which is why I am announcing
it to all and sundry.”

“Again with the all and sundry. At least this
time you are using the phrase correctly.”

“You have no idea. Even the flower purveyor
was forced to hear how I won your hand. He was quite excited
about his elevated prospects; he for some reason thinks I will
need a regular supply of flowers.”

Lady Beckham chuckled and Amelia nodded. “An
astute man. Although flowers are too easy. Perhaps I shall write
you up a list for those times you put your foot in it.”

“Ah, well, the flower man will be
disappointed. But a list is an excellent idea; we’ll put it in
our marriage contract.”

She laughed. “I do believe we will have the
most peculiar marriage agreement.”

“Only fitting, as we are two of the most
peculiar members of the
ton
. Shall we to the green?”

“Let us get this over with. I can not imagine
what we will be subjected to.”

“None will believe me until they hear it from
your own mouth.”

She sighed heavily, then rose to join him.
“You should have brought more than simple flowers for today.”

He grinned. “Let’s see how bad it is, then
you can tell me how much your gift will have to cost.”

She looked at him with an interested
expression. “An intriguing idea. Shall we add a remuneration
scale to the list? I shall simply tell you what grade blunder
you currently are paying for?”

“That will certainly make things easier for
me.”

“It does make one wonder how much that trip
to Smithfield’s would have cost you.”

“My dear, that black mood would have cost me
my entire fortune.”

She looked at him archly. “Yes, it would
have. Let’s hope today’s outing does not upset me quite that
much.”

“I do hope, with all sincerity, that I never
upset you that much ever again.” He bowed and took her hand.
“And not just because it will now cost me my fortune.”

She smiled at him. “How very sweet. Although,
the thought of some recompense does make the inevitable future
embarrassments less intolerable. I’m very nearly giddy with
excitement that today will be horrible enough for the landau
I’ve been wanting. Robin has continued to deny me due to the
expense.”

He looked appalled. “I think it highly
unlikely today’s outing will be worth
that
.”

She took his arm and smiled. “One never
knows.”

He groaned, hoping she was kidding. But
indeed, one just never knew.