When will you be returning?"
"Not as soon as I'd like to. I'm going to have to waste a couple days finding an....acceptable...wife."
Her eyes widened. "You're going to France to get married?"
He didn't answer immediately; he was in fact giving her such a thoughtful look that it began to make her distinctly uncomfortable.
But he finally answered, "Not a'tall. While that might delight my mother, I think even she would prefer an English daughter-in-law. Fortunately, I'm in no hurry to delight her. It's not a real wife I need, just a woman to play the role for a few days."
"A fake wife?"
He smiled enigmatically.
"Exactly."
"Whatever for?"
"If you're offering to play the part, we can discuss it further. Otherwise, it's none of your business."
She snorted and had to wrestle with her curiosity a bit before she could tell him, "Real or fake, I find marriage to you so detestable that my answer isn't just no,it's a resounding no.

Author: Johanna Lindsey