Chapter 1

Gazing across the ballroom, his eyes found the object he was looking for. Lifting his glass to take a small sip, he watched her while she talked to a small group of ladies. Tonight she was wearing a gown of deep blue with a slim gold chain around her neck. His mouth went dry as his eyes noticed how the dress clung to her curves. Most men of his aquantience would shy away from a woman with curves such as hers but to him they added to the allure as to what lay underneath. Was he sure he wanted to do this?

Pushing off the coloum, he set his glass on a near by table and made his way to where she as standing. "Ah, Mr. Reid, I see you have decided to leave your estate and join us where the entertainment is," Darcy chuckled and clapped his longtime friend on the shoulder.

Taking his eyes off his target, Cole Reid of Riverton Hall grinned at Fitzwilliam Darcy. "Nice to see you Darcy. I only come to town when I have purpose in mind." Slanting his gaze to the young woman in blue as he spoke.

Following his friends gaze, Darcy grinned. "Let me introduce you to my wife Mrs. Darcy and her sisters."

Making their way to the group of ladies, Darcy quickly made the introductions. Cole found his gaze often drifting to his target. When there was a lull in the conversation he asked, "Would you care to dance, Miss Bennet?"

Holding out his hand, she grasped it and let him lead her out to the dance floor. Taking their places next to the other dancers, they stayed quiet as the dance started. When they came back together, he spoke, "I have a proposition I would like to discuss with you Miss Bennet."

Her lips parted slightly in surprise and her left eyebrow rose just a bit. "What proposition could you have that would interest me sir?"

They parted again and when they came back together he spoke, "Would you care to take a turn around the ballroom when we complete our dance? This discussion is of a sensitive matter."

Pushing her spectacles further up her petite nose, she gave a slight nod. Finishing the dance in silence, Cole quickly led her towards the punch bowl where her sisters and Mr Darcy were waiting. Whispering in her sister's ear, Mary gave a little smile when Elizabeth glanced at Cole and gave a small nod.

Bowing to the party, he held out his arm for her. Slipping her hand into the crook of his elbow, she rested her hand lightly on his sleeve.

They were halfway around the edge of the dance floor when Cole spoke. "i like to be direct when I am speaking to someone and with you being a lady I will be no different. i am in need of a wife and I have selected you at that lady."

"Pardon me?"

Turning so they were face to face, he had to drop his gaze to see into her light blue eyes. She was a couple of inches shorter that his six-foot four height. "Miss Bennet, will you consent to becoming my wife?" he asked watching her reaction carefully now that he could see her face.

Mary's eyes widened slightly and her breathing became rapid. He wants to marry me? Me? Bookish, plain, sermonizing Mary Rae Bennet? Her mind screamed as she thought of all the words people used to describe her when they thought she could not hear them.

Pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose, she paused when she noticed Mr. Reid swallow as he followed her movements. She caught the quick flick of his eyes as they darted to her mouth and a brief flash of something moved through his eyes before he quickly snuffed it out. Letting her gaze travel over him as he waited for her answer, she took in his dark brown hair that hung just below his shoulders and had started to curl around his ears. Her eyes skimmed over his face, noticing the unusual color of light grey eyes that seemed to be studying her. His shoulders were broad and pulled the fabric of his coat tight across his back. A slim waist led her eyes down to his muscled legs beneath his breeches. She swallowed when her mind started to drift to what the muscles in his legs would feel like beneath her hand. Raising her gaze, Mary blushed when she found Mr. Reid smirking at her.

"Well Miss Bennet, do I pass the test?"

"I...I," she stumbled over her words when she realized that he had been watching her look him over like a prized stallion. Rasing a hand to her cheek, she wondered if it was as red as it felt.

Cole grasped her hand and pictured the wedding band that would rest there. Hearing her soft gasp, he realized that he was bordering on the lines of propriety. He had been away at his estate too long. "I understand that I am asking you to leave your family and marry a gentleman that you have only met tonight but I have seen you at a few other balls over the summer months and you are not like the other young ladies here. Can I be completely honest with you Miss Bennet?" he asked and he took her hand and tucked it into the crook of his arm.

Continuing their walk around the ballroom as to not draw too much gossip, Mary kept her gaze straight ahead. Her thoughts were tumbling about and she did not know how to quiet them. "Yes you can be honest with me. I do not pass idle gossip."

"I am nearing my thirtieth first birthday and I do not come to town more than twice a year unless I have business matters to attend to. I spend most of my time at my estate Riverton Hall, overseeing the planting and harvesting of my crops. I also have a small stable of horses that we breed and sell to neighboring counties. To be honest, I am looking for a wife who will enjoy spending her time out in the country and not have to be in town the whole year. I have heard about the Bennet ladies while I have been in town the last week and what I have heard about you Miss Bennet is that your personality would suit my lifestyle. This is not how these things are usually done but like I said earlier I do not have a lot of time to dwell on this and spend time looking at all the young ladies out this season." Letting out a sigh, Cole glanced down at Mary and noticed that she was biting her lip.

When she did not speak for several moments, he became nervous that he had over stepped his bounds and frightened her away. "Miss Bennet?"

Startled to be pulled out of her thoughts, Mary flicked her gaze to him and found him studying her with a concerned look on his face. "I am fine, sir. You have laid out a very important proposal that should be considered very carefully before a decision is made on my part. This decision will mean i could possibly spend the rest of my life with a man I just met."

His heart gave a little lurch of hope that she had not turned him down flat. "Do you need a few days to think on it?"

Glancing at him again, she suddenly found herself lost in his light grey eyes. Could she find happiness with this gentleman? A lot of marriages had started out on less than an acquaintance. She would not have to spend anymore time in town being paraded around in front of people she would never see again. She could enjoy her days pursuing the things that she loved and have a family of her own someday. "No."

"Oh, so you are turning down my proposal?"

"No I do not need anymore time to think about your proposal. Mr. Reid, I would be happy to accept your proposal."