She moved away from him to pace around the room. “So, you’re not one of the infamous impoverished English lords? That will certainly surprise the New York newspapermen,” she said with bite. “They don’t seem to believe that any Englishman would many an American for anything other than money.”
“We will break the mold, then.”
Clara stared at him for a moment, considering all of it. “What about love?” she finally asked, knowing she was pushing the limits. “Since we’re being honest with each other....”
If he were unnerved by her question, he didn’t show it. He seemed more amused than anything by her “negotiations.”
“I wondered if you would bring that up.” He gazed out the window for a moment, then looked directly into her eyes as he spoke. “I won’t lie to you, Clara. You’re an intelligent woman, and you must realize that we barely know each other.”
“I do.”
“As I told you last night, I’ve only loved one woman in my life, and it ended catastrophically. I admit I am jaded, but that doesn’t mean our marriage cannot be a success.”
He was being honest and sensible, admitting that he did not truly love her, and she couldn’t deny that she respected him for that. If he’d told her he loved her, she probably wouldn’t have believed him and would have felt as if she were being tricked or patronized.
But still, in her deepest heart of hearts, this was not what she wished they were saying to each other right now. She didn’t want to hear about other women from his past or have him mention the only woman he had ever loved. The mere thought of her cut Clara to the quick. She had dreamed of so much more where Seger was concerned.Shewanted to be the only woman in his heart and mind, forever and ever.
“Are you suggesting that you would grow to love me?” she asked.
A reasonable question that she hated asking. It hurt. It made her feel rejected and humiliated.
“Possibly.”
Possibly. Not definitely. The response sank like a cold, hard stone into her belly.
Would the mere possibility of love be enough? Could she take such a risk with a man like him? What if he only grew bored with her?
Seger must have recognized the doubts in her eyes, for he strode toward her and spoke with conviction. “I would treat you well, Clara. You would become a marchioness and live here in England near your sister. It would be a life of privilege and grandeur. In addition to that, I desire you and you desire me. Can’t that be enough, at least for now?” He gazed at her for a few intense seconds. “Imagine the pleasure.”
Oh yes, she could definitely imagine that.
He lowered his lips to hers and kissed her, and she wrapped her arms around his neck, reveling in the passion that had taken up permanent residence in her heart.
Holding her face in his hands, he looked into her eyes. “I want to marry you because I desire you. I want you in my bed, and I want no other man to ever touch you but me. Yes, I need a wife and an heir, but this is not about anything as dull as duty, nor is it about money. Believe me. I want you, Clara. Passionately.”
It was about passion, but not love. Could she live with that? She had wanted love.
But wait, no, she had not. She had wanted a decent man who would be a good husband and father. A man who would be faithful to her.
Seger’s heart was decent. She was certain of that—as certain as she could be where any man was concerned. He had always kept her best interests in mind, doing what he could to protect her when she’d ventured outside the safe circle of her proper world. He’d even tried to push her back in. Except for the previous night in his coach, when he had lured her out, but that was because he desired her. Passionately, as he put it.
Perhaps it would not take much to turn that passion into love.
But was she certain he could be reformed and become a faithful husband? Or was that simply what she wished? Everything to do with him had been a fantasy from the start. She couldn’t be sure where the fantasy ended and reality began.
He was very passionate. That much she knew. He enjoyed physical pleasure with women. Would she be enough for him? Would she be able to keep him satisfied for the rest of their lives?
He kissed her again and she melted in his arms. “Say yes, Clara.”
Senses blazing, she returned the kiss with abandon. Then, before she realized what she was saying, she blurted out, “Would you be faithful to me?”
This, she realized, was the final question that would determine her future.
He pulled back to look at her. For a long moment he considered her question while her stomach turned over with a sickening fear that his answer would be no. Or that he would say yes, and she would know he was lying.
“That’s a difficult question. I don’t have a crystal ball.”
She wasn’t satisfied. “Answer the question, Seger.”
