“Well, that is your problem, is it not?”she asked defiantly.
“And yours, too, I fear.”
His control exasperated her.“No.It is yours.I simply wish to return to my old life, without any further interference from you.”
His mouth tightened again.“It is too late for that, Kate, and you know it.”
She turned away.“I cannot do it.Don’t you understand?I cannot be… them,” she said, waving a hand toward the window.
“Who?”
“I cannot go to London and play at conversation with such wretches, smiling when I don’t mean it, waving fans—”
“What?Pimperington and his ilk?”Grayson dismissed them with a contemptuous snort.“They are idiots, not fit to grovel at your feet.”
Kate’s heart threatened to melt at his quick defense, but she would not allow it.“I cannot pretend to be a part of that world.I am a cook and a groom and a maid.I am no longer a lady.”
Grayson gave a low growl of laughter that made her turn toward him again.“You have more integrity and dignity than any noblewoman.You can be whatever you want, Kate.After what you’ve done here, you can do anything.”
His faith in her was daunting, and perhaps, with his help, she could reenter that glittering existence, but that was the least of her reasons for refusal.“No matter, for I will not do it.Nor will I marry you.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Grayson said.“You’re a sensible woman, Kate.”
She nearly flinched at the word, which had become onerous.When had she ceased wanting to be prudent?When she marched into the Marquess of Wroth’s study with a gun in her hand?Or when she first looked upon his face or touched his body?
“You want respectability for your sister.How could you want anything less for yourself?”he asked.
Kate glanced at him, so sure in his assumptions, and she felt as though she were unraveling.They had begun their odd relationship on even ground, both of them independent and assured, and now… Grayson stood before her as haughty as ever, her heart in his keeping, while she had nothing, not even her composure, to call her own.
“You have no idea what I want,” she managed.
“Oh, I think I do,” he said, his lips curling into a provocative smile that sent tendrils of heat twining through her limbs.The involuntary reaction made her stiffen, and she glared at him.
“You are arrogant enough to think so, but you don’t.”
He lifted a dark brow in amusement.“You positively wound me, Kate.”
“If only I could,” she whispered.Straightening her shoulders, she walked past him, intent upon her own company and whirling thoughts.Behind her, she heard his low, seductive voice, taunting her with its power.
“I shall procure a special license, so we can be wed as soon as possible,” he said.
Kate’s steps faltered at the suddenness of it all, but she should have known that a man like Grayson could accomplish anything with all speed—even an unwanted wedding ceremony.Shaking her head, she resumed walking, not even turning back when she heard his last warning.
“I’ll expect you to do what’s right, Kate.”
***
Watching her go, Grayson felt helpless, an uncharacteristic condition that both angered and dismayed him.He knew he ought to go after her, to make sure that all was settled between them, but he was feeling unaccountably raw and exposed by her adamant refusals.
Refusals!He stalked across the drawing room.How could she possibly deny him?The very idea was ludicrous.Any woman in her position would be a fool not to snap at his offer.
Not only was she in need of his wealth and power to redeem her heritage, but he had compromised her and publicly announced their betrothal.How the devil could she say nay?
Grayson strode to the windows and stared out at nothing.Obviously, Kate felt ill-equipped to be his wife, and he should go to her, if only to reassure her that she need not waste her time among theton’sdubious company.They could travel or make their home at his country seat or at any number of houses.They even could stay at Hargate, for all that he cared.
And he would have gone after her in an instant to tell her so, if he had not sensed there was more to her refusals than a reluctance to enter society.Kate was too brave to risk her future on such a trifling excuse.
From her wary, defiant expression, he knew she had other reasons for tossing his proposal back in his face.But what?Grayson walked to the threshold, only to stop abruptly, uncertain of himself for the first time in years.
