He took a step closer to her and continued to press his suit. “Taking chances can be scary, but I do believe that there is something that should scare you far worse than anything.”
“What is that?” she asked.
Leaning closer, he responded, “Missing out on something truly wonderful because you were scared.”
Simone searched his eyes, and he hoped she found what she was seeking. He was laying himself bare for her. It was something he had never done before with a young woman. Despite his previous resolve against marriage, being with Simone in this moment made him certain that offering for her was the right decision. He desired to marry Simone not as a means of protection but because of the genuine care he felt for her.
Someone cleared their throat and Caleb turned his head to see Juliette and Victor standing in the doorway.
“My, my, what do we have here?” Juliette asked, a smirk playing on her lips. “It seems that you two are alone, completely unchaperoned. That is entirely inappropriate, is it not?”
Foregoing the pleasantries, Caleb narrowed his eyes and asked, “Juliette, what is your plan here?”
“Dinner first,” Juliette replied. “Then we shall talk.”
Chapter Thirteen
Simone didn’t know what was more awkward: dining with two French spies or sitting next to Caleb, who had just offered for her.
She was listening to the polite conversation that was going on around her, but she noticed Caleb had yet to say a word. He was staring intensely at Juliette and Victor. His body was tense, indicating a readiness to act, though Simone couldn’t decipher his intentions.
As she moved the food around her plate with her fork, Simone couldn’t quite believe that Caleb had proposed the idea of a marriage between them. The worst part was that she wasn’t turned off by it. The idea had seemed ludicrous at first, yet she couldn’t dismiss it entirely.
Caleb wanted to marry her, in name only. Such an arrangement would allow her to maintain her role as a spy, coming and going as she pleased. And they got along, at least for the most part. They would just have to pretend to hold some affection for one another when they entered the world of high Society.
Truth be told, she held Caleb in high regard, but she didn’t want to dwell upon that too much. If she did, she wouldhave to face the fact that her feelings for Caleb were much deeper than she wanted them to be. Which was absurd. A spy did not have the luxury of falling for one’s partner. It was too dangerous to ever blur that line.
Her father spoke up from the head of the table, drawing her attention. “Are you in agreement, Simone?”
Simone brought her head up and saw that her father was staring at her. “I do apologize, but I’m afraid I was woolgathering.”
With a disapproving look, her father said, “You have been awfully quiet this evening and you have been neglecting your duties as hostess to Mr. Bolingbroke.”
“That was not my intention,” Simone said, her eyes shifting towards Juliette and Victor.
Juliette flashed her a smile. “You are looking lovely this evening, Simone,” she praised.
“Thank you,” Simone responded, her words holding no warmth to them. She was not going to make this easy on them.
Not appearing concerned by her lackluster response, Juliette announced, “I have unpacked all my belongings.”
Her father reached for Juliette’s hand and brought it up to his lips. “I am glad that you are here.”
“As am I,” Juliette said. “And thank you for allowing my brother to reside with us.”
Victor tipped his head in response. “It was a most generous offer on your part, my lord.”
Her father acknowledged Victor’s words with a smile. “It was the least I could do, considering you both do not have a home to return to.”
Juliette turned her attention towards Simone and explained, “We lost our country estate in the war.”
“Did you now?” Caleb asked, his words curt.
“Yes, Napoleon’s forces set our estate on fire and we were lucky to escape with our lives,” Juliette replied.
Caleb leaned back in his seat. “I was under the assumption you just returned from France.”
“That is correct,” Juliette replied. “We were able to visit the few family members that we had to leave behind. Bless their souls, they are enduring the terrible effects of war. I’m afraid God only knows what they have been through.”
