“I made the offer because I love you.”
Poppy stared at him. It was one thing to hear the words in the darkness of a cabin after a passionate exchange. It was quite another hearing them in the full sunlight of a summer’s day.
“You don’t know me that well.”
“Everything I do know about you I like.”
“Carlos. We lead very different lives. You sail, and I…sew.”
“So?”
She stifled a laugh. “Was that a joke?”
“Might be. Are you laughing?”
“A little.”
“Then let’s say it’s a joke.” Carlos leaned forward. “What are you afraid of?”
“I’m not afraid,” she retorted. “I’m just being circumspect. Not letting my heart rule my head.”
“How can I convince you?”
Her heart started to race, going far faster than her head. “I think you’ve done quite enough convincing already.”
The smile on his lips was enough to make her skin flush with warmth. “What if I keep asking you every day until you accept?”
“I can’t do that. I have obligations, Carlos. My mother, and my stepfather, and their business…”
“So write to them and tell them what’s happened.”
“My God, you want me to write to my mother to tell her I might be pregnant?”
“No. I want you to write to her and tell her that you received a proposal from a charming, handsome—incredibly handsome—and well-to-do gentleman who can absolutely provide for you.”
“And I should just not mention that it would mean leaving England forever?”
“Why would it mean that?”
“Don’t you want to live in Santo Domingo?” she demanded.
“Well, yes, but that doesn’t mean we’d be there always. I’ve got my own ship, in case you hadn’t noticed. We can return here whenever you like, for as long as you like.”
Poppy blinked. “Really?”
“Of course. I’m offering to marry you, not take you as a prisoner.”
“Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference,” Poppy muttered, thinking of the typical expectations for wives. “I suppose you’re annoyed that I’m not throwing myself at your feet.”
“Not a very Poppy-ish thing to do,” he said. “Anyway, I like a challenge.”
“You’re certainly not short of them this summer. How are things progressing with…the other thing?” She knew he was working hard to arrange matters so Spargo and his smuggling gang could be captured, but she didn’t know details.
“Almost ready,” Carlos replied, looking out over the Channel, as if the Seadragon might appear. “In fact, we are ready. Just waiting for the right opportunity to strike. I don’t suppose you’ve heard anything from Miss Metcalfe?”
“Not yet, but she assured me that she’d pass on any instructions from Dr. Drake as soon as she receives it.”
“I hope it’s soon. The longer we wait, the more chance that something can go wrong.”
