The Pursuit Of Marriage by Victoria Alexander Page A

not to be caught in this alleged plot?”
    “Absolutely.” Reggie swirled the brandy in his glass. “Probably.” He shrugged and met his friend’s gaze. “I don’t know.”
    “That is a problem.”
    “No, it’s not.” Reggie struggled for the right words. “As much as I disagree with Miss Effington in that I think we would suit rather well, I absolutely refuse to lose my heart to a woman who will not return my affection. I meant it when I said I would not tread that path again.
    “Miss Effington has told me in no uncertain terms that she is not interested in me. I will not set myself up for disaster yet again.” He drew a deep breath. “Besides, there is something about the woman, I can’t explain exactly what, some sort of odd feeling deep in the pit of my stomach, that tells me loving and losing this particular woman would be far more devastating than anything I’ve ever known.” He met his friend’s gaze. “I would be a fool to pursue anything beyond friendship with Miss Effington.”
    “I see.” Marcus studied him in a noncommittal manner that was most unnerving.
    “Aren’t you going to say anything?”
    Marcus shook his head. “Not one word.”
    “You want to, though. I can see it in your eyes.” Reggie leaned forward. “You can barely contain yourself. Come now, tell me what you’re thinking.”
    “Very well.” Marcus reached for the brandy decanter, as always conveniently placed on a side table, and refilled his glass. “You are no fool, Reggie, as you already recognize the danger this woman presents. I too would hate to see you fall back into old habits. However,” he reached forward to top off his friend’s glass, his voice deceptively casual, “I have always thought that it is almost impossible to truly recognize danger until it is bearing down upon you. Until it is, as it were, too late.”
    Reggie stared for a long moment, then slowly shook his head. “Not this time, Marcus, I will not permit it.” He paused, then blew a resigned breath. “While I am certain that you are mistaken, and I am confident in my ability to be the master of my own fate, there’s something else that has occurred to me that will no doubt strengthen your belief in your infallibility.”
    “I do enjoy it when that happens,” Marcus grinned.
    Reggie braced himself. “Don’t you think this house refurbishing venture of hers—”
    “Business is what it is.”
    “Yes, of course, this business, then, is a bit odd for a woman to take on?”
    “Odd?” Marcus snorted. “Odd is an understatement and precisely why her brother referred to her as eccentric.”
    “Setting that aside, do you think she is doing this because she wants to or,” he met his friend’s gaze directly, “because she has to?”
    “Effingtons are notorious for doing precisely what they please, and she would not be the first woman in that family to dabble in enterprises, even businesses, best left to men. I daresay this particular Miss Effington would not do anything she did not wish to do.”
    “I don’t mean that exactly,” Reggie said slowly. “I was just wondering…”
    “Yes?”
    “Is it possible her family could be facing financial difficulties?”
    “The Effingtons?” Marcus laughed. “They’re one of the wealthiest families in the country.”
    “As an entire family, perhaps, but I’m wondering if her father, Lord William, might not be—”
    “That’s absurd.”
    “Her brother did beg off paying me the wager I won.”
    “Even so.” Marcus shook his head. “Reggie, you are jumping to unfounded conclusions.”
    “They’re not in the least bit unfounded,” Reggie said staunchly. “Why else would a young woman of good family put herself in a position—”
    “Bloody hell, I can’t believe it!” Marcus leaned forward and stared at his friend. “You’re doing it again!”
    “Doing what again?” Reggie forced an innocent note to his voice. Marcus leapt to his feet and stared at his friend. “Did you