“Yes, we were talking about how stubborn you are,” Victoria said.
“I suppose I am—when I want something.” He paused to drop a kiss on her head before going to the sideboard to get some breakfast.
The kiss sent a flush of heat up Victoria’s neck to her face.
“I do believe I’ve had more than enough to eat,” Ainsley said. “Please tell Andrew to bring coffee up to my room.”
“You don’t have to run off,” Victoria said.
“Actually, I think I do.” Ainsley pushed back her chair and hurried from the room, dodging Andrew, who was coming in with the coffeepot.
“That was odd,” Nicholas said.
“I’d better go check on her.”
He pressed a gentle hand to her shoulder. “Stay right there. Andrew, please ask Mrs. Taffy to check on Lady Ainsley. She can also bring up her coffee.”
“Right away, m’lord.”
Victoria sighed. “I do think I should go see her.” Ainsley rarely showed emotion, but the discussion about Cringlewood had clearly upset her.
“In a bit,” Nicholas said, taking his seat at the head of the table. “First, we’re going to have a talk.”
“Are we?”
He gave her an exasperated look. “You cannot avoid me forever, Victoria.”
“We’ve all been busy, in case you failed to notice. By the way, how is Grant this morning? He must be relieved about Graeme.”
“He’s fine. Everyone is fine, so please stop fretting about them and try worrying about me for once.”
“I always worry about you,” she said before she could stop herself.
Nicholas gave her a slight smile over his cup. “I’m very glad to hear that.”
He’d managed to shave this morning and was impeccably garbed in breeches, boots, and a dark blue tailcoat. Still, he looked a bit haggard and slightly grim.
“You’re worn down,” she said. “Which is why we shouldn’t be discussing complicated issues right now.”
“I hardly see how we can avoid them, when several of those issues will likely show up on our doorstep sooner rather than later.”
“Such as a constable with a warrant for my arrest?” Just thinking about that possibility made her stomach lurch.
“I think it likely, so we should get married as soon as possible. Today, in fact. I can send a note to the vicar right after breakfast.”
Her teacup clattered back into its saucer. “Um, what?”
“If you’re the Countess of Arnprior, you cannot be hauled off willy-nilly before the courts. I’ll be better able to protect you.”
She gaped at him as he forked up a bite of ham, looking as calm as if they were discussing the weather. “That’s rather a dramatic solution, don’t you think?”
He swallowed before replying. “It’s a bit of a rush, I admit. But it’s not like I didn’t intend to marry you anyway, sweetheart.”
His casual attitude began to annoy her. “My lord, as I pointed out on our journey here, that was not my impression after your meeting with Mr. Fletcher.”
“And as I pointed out to you that same day, I wasn’t thinking clearly at the time. I was startled.”
He’d been more than startled, but she had no desire to rehash that unpleasant scene. “Well, it’s not a good enough reason to get married.”
