“That was…remarkable,” he said.
Her laugh was hardly more than a soft exhalation. “My dear marquess, we have only begun.”
He was grateful. While they continued in their pursuits, she remained in his orbit. He felt more confident than ever that he had been given a second chance at love, and he would not let it pass him by. After what they’d done, she might become pregnant with his heir. There was only one logical path forward.
He wrapped his arms around her. “We could spend every morning like this.”
She snorted. “I do have my own household, Thel. After this matter of the articles is resolved, I will have a life to return to. It would be rather difficult to maintain a social presence if I am always traveling between your house and mine.”
He splayed his hand on her stomach. “That was not precisely what I had in mind.”
“Then what?”
“You could be my wife.”
She squirmed out of bed, taking the blanket with her. “Are you in love with me?”
He could not see her face or read her intentions from her tone. It left him scrambling. “Marriages have been established on shakier ground. We are compatible. We enjoy each other’s company.” He slid off the bed and wrapped his arms around her. “It would be a logical choice.”
She stiffened again. He mentally cursed. It was so difficult to figure out her mood.
“Logic,” she said. “You are right. It would be logical to marry you.”
His heart soared. She agreed with him. He had not ruined his chances after all.
“I decline,” she said.
His heart dropped into his stomach. “Why?”
###
Olivia’s face felt hot, and tears burned in her eyes.
Logic.
A man who was dedicated to love, and he had chosen to woo her with the least romantic method available. She did not know why that mattered to her, but it did.
She could not help but wonder if he was hiding the true reason for his interest in her. The earl had wrapped her up in so many delusions that she’d given him everything. She was older and wiser, but the innocent girl still lived within her and had some sway over her actions. Was it Olivia or Lady Allen who was drawn to Thel? Did he truly love her, or did he simply wish for a woman to bear him an heir? If so, he would be disappointed to learn of the barren state of her womb.
No. Until she was certain of him, she could not risk anything more than a physical relationship. She searched for an excuse and clung to the first one she found.
“We still don’t know why Mr. Dawson is after me, or how far he will go to ruin my reputation.”
She turned, and the despondent look on his face almost undid her. She wanted to rush into his arms and promise him whatever he wanted. Her loyalty to him was already that strong. But that was what she would have done for the earl. Changed herself to suit his needs. She could not do that again.
“I don’t care about your reputation,” Thel said.
“I won’t have people thinking I tricked you into marriage.”
Thel ran a hand through his hair. “If that is what it takes.” He gave her a lopsided grin. “You can be assured that when this matter is settled, I will ask again. At that time, I hope you will say ‘yes.’”
She bit the inside of her cheek. The earl had never offered to do something for her unless it was clear she’d been expected to do something first to earn his devotion. She forced her emotions aside and focused on a matter that did not make her heart ache. “As for Constance, I believe the next event we should attend is Lord and Lady Wintermoor’s masquerade tomorrow night.”
He paused in the process of donning his trousers. “I have been to Lord and Lady Wintermoor’s parties, Olivia. You will not find any acceptable suitors for Constance there.”
“You cannot keep her locked up forever. The masquerade will give her something to focus on besides Mr. Dawson.”
She would not tell him she had arranged for his daughter to sneak off with Mr. Dawson and test his resolve. The same part of her that urged her to test him insisted that if he was like her former husband, he would become angry at her for deceiving him.
