To Catch A Spinster (The Reluctant Bride Collection) by Megan Bryce Page B

no unexpected consequences.”
    “Do you not wish to have children?”
    Olivia glanced at her. A touchy subject, she knew. “I am an aunt many times over. That’s enough for me.”
    Mary snorted. “You can lie to yourself, Livvy, but I at least know there is a vast difference between being an aunt and a mother.”
    “I know, but it doesn’t call to me, Mary. I don’t lie awake picturing my child.”
    Mary rubbed her belly lightly, then nodded. “I understand. It won’t be the end of the world if you don’t have one.”
    “No matter what Mama thinks. How many grandchildren does one woman need?”
    “I think she wants granddaughters.”
    Olivia conceded the point. The newest generation was overrun with boys.
    “What of Mr. Jenkins?”
    “What of him?”
    “Where does he stand in all this? I thought you liked him. I thought he liked you.”
    “I do like him, and I believe he does like me. But that was never part of our agreement. He agreed to certain rules.”
    Olivia sighed. She should end it now. She should write him a quick note telling him his services were no longer needed. She didn’t know if she could do it, though. How could she give up the best times of her life? Why should she have to?
    Damn men and their rules. Damn marriage. She could be quite happy as a kept woman. As long as she was Nathaniel’s kept woman. What need had she of society? She could endure the jeers of the ton , the insults. Oh, if only she was an only child, with no family to suffer from her actions.
    Mary looked intrigued at the idea of an agreement but merely said, “Agreements change, Olivia. You like him, he likes you. Why are we having this conversation? We should be celebrating your engagement.”
    “It is marriage I do not care for.”
    “What have you against marriage?”
    “Have you met our parents? They’re miserable.”
    Mary studied her. “I don’t think they’re miserable.”
    “They have nothing in common, rarely talk to each other, and remember the fights they used to have? I’m surprised any of us married.”
    “I don’t remember them fighting. And they have six children in common. I think that’s something.”
    Olivia sighed. “Mary, you’ve been in love with Rufus since before you could walk. You were oblivious to our parents strife.”
    “And you are too sensitive. You notice every little detail, but miss the big picture. They’re happy together now, don’t you agree?”
    Olivia shrugged. “They seem resigned.”
    Mary narrowed her eyes. “What of Rufus and me? Do you think that we fight all the time and have nothing to talk about and nothing in common?”
    “No.”
    “But?”
    “But I don’t think it will last. I don’t want to be mean, Mary, but I’ve never seen any marriage stay happy. For instance, Prudence. She’s so miserable, I can hardly stand to be around her.”
    “Prudence is pregnant with her fifth child in six years and you know how swollen she gets at the end. I don’t think that’s a fair example. Besides, just the fact that this is the fifth baby means that she and Marcus have something in common.”
    “A bed.”
    Mary laughed. “Yes, a bed. And don’t knock it. Prue could keep him out of it if she wanted. Just as Mama could have kept Papa out, and they had six.”
    Olivia shook her head. “I know she has what she wants, as does Mama, and so do you. It’s just.... It’s just that I don’t want it. I don’t want to be stuck with someone that I hate, eating meals in silence, or relying on my children for love. I don’t want that, Mary.”
    “And you think that will happen with Mr. Jenkins?”
    “It’s inevitable. One day he will look at me with loathing instead of passion. One day he will think himself a fool for letting his emotions push him into marrying so unsuitably. I need only look at Papa to see how it will happen.” She shook her head and whispered, “I could not bear it if I saw Nathaniel look at me like that.”
    Mary took her hand gently. “I