Dowry of Diamonds — Lucile Vernon Stevens

Later, Catherine Vickers wondered many times why she hadn't insisted on leaving as soon as she heard the terms of her foster grandfather's will. Harte Vickers had left his estate -- the old plantation of Lorna Burn -- to Catherine and to his great-nephew, Glen Torrence. But, there was a condition: the two must marry. Harte had his reasons: he hoped to save Lorna Burn from the real estate developers, but... a marriage of strangers? It was insane. Yet, Catherine stayed -- partly because she felt she owed it to Harte, partly because Glen assured her it would be a marriage "in name only." And he offered another inducement: hidden somewhere on the plantation was a fortune in diamonds, lost since the Civil War. If they found it, half would be hers. It wasn't the treasure, though, that finally convinced her but something she wasn't ready yet to admit to herself... something she was beginning to feel for this strange young man who had been chosen for her.

The Reading…

“We still have not heard the provision,” Catherine reminded the lawyer.
“So we haven't,” he nodded, and began to read again from the document before him. Carefully, Catherine sorted out the meaning. Then she rose, standing as stiffly as the porcelain figure she resembled, Glen Torrence rose too, black eyes wide with rage.

The provision was that Catherine Eloise Vickers remain at Lorna Burn and that she and Glen Vickers Torrence be united in marriage. Torrence turned to Catherine with a mocking bow:
“Miss Vickers,” he said, voice shaking with fury,” will you do me the honor to become my wife?”

Hero: Glen Vickers Torrence
Heroine: Miss Catherine Eloise Vickers