They both knew his mother’s grip on family affairs would not be relinquished easily.
“Let us be clear about something, Mistress. ’Tis not up to my mother whom I choose to wed.” His voice was sterner than he’d ever used to address her.
Her mere presence, even when they were arguing, calmed him. His shoulders loosened, dropping away from his ears. He breathed easier, and sat forward rather than slumping away from the piles of responsibility. His heart beat fast, but that was for his Mistress, and with the need to convince her of his sincerity. He would never admit it in words or expression, but he’d fully expected to be refused on this first visit. Thankfully, he was stubborn (his mother’s word)—or rather, persistent (his word).
His gaze narrowed. “Do you understand what I’m saying?”
Her head rose at his firm tone, meeting his stare, a brow arched. “Enlighten me.”
His mouth went dry at her command, said in her Mistress voice. His heart thumped harder and his cock twitched. Knowing that part of him was not likely to be satisfied that day, he took a slow breath for patience.
“I have options, choices. And as I said, they are my decisions to make, no one else’s. Marriage will of course require two people to decide on each other. I came to state my intention.” Without breaking eye contact, he reached for her hand and squeezed it before continuing. “I choose you.”
She opened her mouth to respond and he raised his free hand to stop her.
“I shall continue to choose you. You may decide not to choose me, which is your prerogative. But I choose you. Forever.”
She shot to her feet, yanking her hand away to twist her fingers together at her waist. “William, no. You do need heirs. We’ve been over this. Not only for your family, but for your own sake. Besides, society will make your life miserable.”
Prepared for this, he came to his feet to face her. “Mistress, with a father who was in his cups more often than he was sober these past years, do you think that society doesn’t already whisper? I could care less. What is important to me is having the right partner for the rest of my life. Someone who will support my decisions, who will even help me make them. Who will manage some aspects of the earldom as I manage others, to give us more free time for each other. A person I can learn with and from. And who can help me forget my worries at night and soothe me through her love. You.”
She blinked back tears, still silent.
He sent his first shot over the bow. “So, Mistress. I have had my say. The choice is now to you. What say you?”
“I cannot.” Charlotte was wringing her hands again.
Ouch. He’d expected her answer, but it still hurt. He rubbed his fingers over his chest, then dropped his hand to his side.
Bowing, he smiled and gave her fair warning. “I accept your answer. For today. Tonight, and every night thereafter, I shall return to ask, again and again, how may I serve you? I am certain you remember how tenacious I can be.”
As he straightened, he threw his shoulders back. This would be fun. He’d always enjoyed a challenge, and he’d won the first battle, gaining entrance this day. His last question was hopefully his path to her brain, as he suspected her heart was already on his side. He was almost positive he could win this one.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Charlotte stood where he’d left her, watching him go.
He spoke and moved with a new confidence. As he’d declared himself, she had thought for a moment that her puppy no longer needed his Mistress. But even his assertion that it was his choice to make showed her how much he valued their dynamic.
Then he’d left, and she’d wondered if he’d wanted the challenge, given his newfound self-assurance. She worried about the loan she’d offered Ruth and her stipulation. That had been done with the assumption she would not see William again, but of course his tenaciousness knew no bounds.
Now, she lay in bed, unable to sleep, book thrown aside after having read the same paragraph four times. Gracious, he was more delicious than ever. His new strength held a unique appeal. The young university student at her command had been fun. But to have an earl, among the most powerful men in the country, at her behest was another level of reign. It might be irresistible.
No. He was what was irresistible. Their conversations, their fit. She’d promised Ruth she’d do the right thing and step back, however.
Unable to reconcile her desires with her conscience, she put her thoughts aside and waited for him, basking in memories and planning what she wanted to do when he arrived.
Given his forcefulness, she thought he might break a door or window if she tried to keep him out tonight. However, there was no reason to make it easy for him. The doors were locked, as were the ground floor windows.
She smiled to herself.
If he still wanted to climb the tree or whatever he had used the prior year to get to her room, then so be it. One could say that an earl’s behavior should be more circumspect, but he had made his disdain for the rules clear.
She was itching to touch herself, her blood racing since his brief visit that afternoon. Her body had hummed with arousal all evening, her nipples chafing her chemise, her hips twitching with electric pulses sparking between them.
But after another hour passed with no sign of him, she sighed and rolled over, away from the window. Blowing the candle out, she counted backward from 100.
Some time later, the smell of spiced rum wrapped around her, tugging at her consciousness. No, those were arms. Her heart would have recognized them as William’s, even without the delicious scent.
