There was also another reason for him wishing to drop all formalities when he was within the Swedish community. Erika, whether she realized it or not, was more relaxed around him when they were able to just be Christian and Erika. And the more comfortable she was in his company, the better the chance he had to convince her of becoming a part of his plan.
“Yes, I like just being me,” he replied.
“And who are you?”
He considered his response for a moment, carefully choosing his words. “Christian. Someone who enjoys being with you. Erika, you mean a lot to me.”
She narrowed her eyes at him, suspicion evident in her manner. “What are you up to, Christian? You have been behaving strangely all morning.”
Damn. I am going to have to speak to her today. I can’t afford to have her putting up her defenses. She has to trust me.
“Let’s go inside and have some food. Order anything you like, I am paying. Once your belly is full then we can talk.”
Christian followed Erika inside the tavern, all the while praying that they served good strong vodka and plenty of it. He had a horrible feeling that he was going to need every drop before he could summon up the courage to ask her what he needed her to do.
As they settled into a cozy wooden booth and ordered their first drinks, he once more considered the question which had been rolling around his head for most of the morning.
How do you ask a woman to become your fake fiancée?
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Chapter Fourteen
“Are you mad? That is a ridiculous idea.”
Christian held his hand up in front of her. “No, it’s not. Just hear me out, Erika.”
Erika wasn’t sure whether she should be hurt or just plain offended at his offer of a fake betrothal. In fact, she was still trying to figure out whether she had heard him correctly in the first place. Any wonder the blackguard had offered to pay for her meal, not to mention the half-dozen large glasses of potato vodka he had insisted she drink.
A woman would have to be half drunk before she seriously considered such an outrageous proposition.
They would pretend to be engaged for a time, work together at the most exclusive of private parties, and get Christian well entrenched into the upper echelons of London society. Through their combined efforts, he would gain valuable influence and leverage.
And I will gain a sullied reputation . . . How fabulous.
“You don’t have to do anything other than help translate for me. Oh, and of course look your usual, stunningly beautiful self. And . . .” he added.
She glared at him from where she sat on the low sofa opposite to his chair in the sitting room. He was going to have to try harder if he thought she was going to succumb to his sweet words.
I now understand why you have been so attentive toward me. You are just like my father and your brother.
At least he had had the decency to wait until they’d returned home before springing his nasty surprise on her. If he had been so foolish as to ask her while they were still in Wapping, there was every chance Christian would have found himself in the River Thames. And then she would have set the dog on him.
“And what?” she replied.
He shifted uncomfortably in his seat on the chair opposite to her. He looked out the window, then to the floor, before finally meeting her gaze.
Please don’t let there be anything else to this madness?
“And you have to pretend to be in love with me. This has to look like more than just an arrangement,” he said.
An arrangement. That was exactly what they were going to be—a ruse to fool London society. The cheeky devil wanted her to show everyone that she loved him while all the time living a lie.
This would be so easy if Idid notlove you. Why do I have such a foolish heart?
Erika picked up her cup of tea and took a sip before setting it back on the nearby coffee table. She ignored the sweet cinnamon bun—it was hard enough to get the tea down her throat. “And what of yourself? Are you going to be staring all lovelorn at me? Or is this a one-sided love affair, with me just being grateful that I am allegedly marrying into the Swedish royal family?” Her words sounded cold and brittle. In her heart they were.
Anger boiled up inside her at such a furious rate, Erika feared she may not be able to control it. She got quickly to her feet and took the handful of steps which the cramped room afforded in order for her to reach the window. She turned and made the short journey back to the door, before resuming her progress to the window. If she kept this up, there would soon be a nice worn track in the middle of the rug.
