* * *
Matt had presented himself at Stanwood House late the following morning and handed his card to the butler. He couldn’t believe that this whole time she’d been right across the square from him. “Is her ladyship feeling better?”
The man bowed in that stately way butlers had. “To the best of my knowledge, my lord.”
God knows Matt had never been able to trick his butler into descending to the level of a mere mortal.
“I would like a private interview with her.”
“If you will follow me, my lord.” The butler bowed again and led Matt to a parlor overlooking the street. “I shall inform her ladyship you are waiting.”
He clasped his hands behind his back, stood staring out the window. Sounds reminding him forcibly of a herd of elephants, or more accurately his sisters, came from the corridor. Then he heard an older, sharper voice, and the herd moved in mass up the stairs. He turned as the door opened.
Lady Grace entered, closed the door behind her, and curtseyed. “My lord, how may I help you?”
She was still a little pale, but as beautiful as ever. Grace clasped her hands in front of her. Bowing, he smiled as he approached her. “You can help me by darn well marrying me. I meant to ask you that first morning, but you forgot to tell me you’d planned to leave so early.”
A light blush crept from her slim throat into her cheeks. She refused to meet his gaze. “There is no need for a proposal. It was merely a pleasant rendezvous, my lord. Nothing more.”
He unclenched his jaw and found himself clenching his fist instead. After last night, that wasnotthe answer he was expecting. What was going on here? No woman of her obvious quality, not to mention only recently former virginity, would make love with a man and try to pass it off as nothing.
Matt tried to relax his churning stomach and maintain an unruffled countenance. He kept his slow pace and now stood only a few inches from her. “For you,perhaps,but not for me.” He raised a brow. “Even if I thought you were telling the truth about the first time, last night was not nothing.”
The blush deepened and Grace’s gaze flew to his face. “I—I do not understand.”
Pleased to have caught her off guard, he noted her quickened breathing and the confusion in her lovely deep blue eyes. Taking her in his arms, he kissed her. Her lips opened to him as he—hehad taught her. No other man would ever touch her. Lady Grace Carpenter was his. Matt lifted his head. “Not nothing. No mere rendezvous. I think it is time you tell me what you’re playing at, my lady.”
Grace couldn’t believe Worthington was in her parlor kissing her. What was infinitely worse, she was kissing him as well. What kind of power did he have over her? It was as if she had no control, her arms reached over his shoulders and her hands clutched the back of his neck as if she were clinging to him for life, again. The door opened and feet shuffled in.He,not she, broke their kiss. Why did she have no resolve when it came to him?
“Why are you kissing Grace, sir?” Mary asked.
“That is an answer I would like to have as well,” Walter added.
Worthington held her so close the rumble of his deep chuckle vibrated through her.
“I’m trying to convince Grace to marry me.”
She shook her head trying to clear it.
Philip frowned. “Well, if one has to kiss a lady in order to marry her, I don’t think I shall.”
The last thing she needed was to have her overly curious brothers and sisters involved in this. “All of you, leave now, and do not open this door again unless you’ve been given permission to enter.”
They backed up out of the room. Alice and Eleanor pulling Mary with them. The door closed.
Grace swallowed. Maybe now he’d understand. “My lord . . .” His mouth captured hers again. Her tongue tangled with his, savoring his taste and the soft caresses. Once again his wicked hands lit fires under her skin.
He lifted his head and her lips followed. “Will you do me the honor of being my wife?”
Grace fought herself to let go of him and back up, yet he refused to release her hands. “My lord, thank you for your very kind offer, but I find I cannot accept.”
His expression rapidly changed from humorous to confused and then severe. “Why?”
She closed her eyes and fought to steady her voice. “All those children, they are my brothers and sisters.”
Frowning, he shook his head as if trying to make sense of what she’d said. “Very well. Many families have a number of children. What does that have to do with anything? I have sisters myself. I’ve been hoping you liked children.”
Tears stung her eyes as Grace bit her lip. This was the hardest thing she’d ever had to do, but do it she must. Her throat tightened, threatening to choke her. “I am—I am their guardian. I will never give up that position.”
