The Heiress - Lynsay Sands [14]
“Really?” Suzette asked. “You’re poor?”
Daniel blinked at her amazed expression, once again recalled to their talk. He then decided to embellish a bit and said, “Yes, really. In fact I am supposed to be here tonight seeking out a wealthy bride to marry. The money is needed to repair Woodrow as well as to pay what little staff is left.” He feigned a sigh. “I do not suppose you know any lovely young ladies with bags of coin and a desire to marry a fellow down on his luck?”
“Me!”
Daniel’s jaw dropped. Not only had she squealed the word as if it were quite the most wonderful thing in the world, but she was looking as excited as a child at Christmas. This was not the response he’d expected. He’d truly thought his words would have her stomping off back into the ball, or at least trying to since he hadn’t finished seeking to worm information from her yet and would have prevented it. He’d just hoped that as a woman in search of a rich husband, his response would get her thoughts off his being a prospect. Instead, she was now looking at him as if he were the answer to her prayers.
“But this is perfect,” she said happily. “I need a poor husband and you need a rich wife. It’s as if it was meant to be.”
“I highly doubt—” Daniel swallowed the rest of what he’d been about to say and nearly swallowed his tongue along with the words when Suzette suddenly grasped one of his hands in both of hers and raised it to squeeze excitedly between both of hers. It wasn’t the fact that she was squeezing his hand in hers that startled him so much as the fact that, in her excitement, she was also pressing it against her chest. He didn’t think she even realized what she was doing. Truly, the woman was beyond excited and it left him completely bewildered until what she’d said sank in. Frowning, he asked, “You’re rich?”
“Oh, goodness yes. My grandfather Sefton divided his wealth between myself and my sisters when he died, leaving it to be dowers for each of us. So you see, I have that fortune you need. Isn’t it wonderful?”
“Sefton you say?” he asked slowly, recognizing the name at once. Everyone knew the name Sefton. The man had surpassed even Richard for having the Midas touch and had earned the name Old Money Bags Sefton decades ago. They said he’d amassed more wealth than the king himself. There had been some rumors when he’d died that he’d left his money to his dead daughter’s husband and his daughters. What was the name? he wondered, but found it hard to think with his hand nestled in the valley between Suzette’s breasts. It was clasped in her hands and he wasn’t actually touching any flesh, but just the sight was rather distracting. Fortunately, she eased her hold on him then and let his hand slip away and he was able to think again. A name came to him then. “Madison?”
“Yes, Suzette Madison.” She nodded, practically dancing on the spot with a glee he didn’t quite understand. “And my sisters are Lisa and Christiana.”
Daniel frowned, thinking back over what she’d said. She needed a poor husband? That just didn’t even make sense. A woman only married a poor man for love, and then most noble women wouldn’t even allow love to sway them into such a marriage. Wealth was everything in the ton. So why would a rich woman need a poor husband? There was no reason he could think of . . . unless she was in dire straits and needed a man who was poor and desperate enough to marry her at once. Which led him right back to the first reason he’d supposed she needed to marry so quickly.
“You are with child?” he asked uncertainly, his eyes dropping to her petite waistline. She didn’t look pregnant, and that wouldn’t explain how the father was involved.
“What?” she asked with surprise, but rather than be offended, merely snorted and rolled her eyes. “No, of course I’m not with child. What kind of woman do you take me for?”
A good question, Daniel thought dryly because really, he hadn’t a clue what kind of woman she was. He’d never met anyone quite like her and all he really knew so far was that she was in some sort of trouble and full