Elinor brought her gaze up, her eyes searching his. “What if I had never agreed to marry you?”
“That is impossible,” Alden said with a boyish grin. “I can be quite charming when I want to be.”
“I’m afraid I haven’t seen it,” Elinor retorted playfully.
Alden shook his head, smiling at her teasing. “You do know how to keep a man humble.”
“What of Mrs. MacBain or Miss Fraser? Did you fancy either of them?” Elinor asked.
“No,” he replied. “From the moment I set eyes on you, I have only been interested in pursuing you. I just couldn’t let on what I was doing.”
Elinor eyed him curiously. “Why me?”
Alden decided it would be best to tell her the truth and be done with it. “At first, I was beguiled by your beauty, but over time, I realized that your beauty wasn’t just skin deep. It went deeper, down to your very soul.”
“I don’t know if that is true,” Elinor said, shifting in her seat.
“No, it is,” Alden insisted. “I have known many beautiful women over the years, and none of them could hold a candle to you. You must know how enchanting you are.”
Elinor frowned. “I want to be more than a pretty face.”
Alden leaned forward. “You are,” he rushed to assure her. “You are running a profitable horse farm. That is quite the feat.”
“For a woman?” Elinor challenged, arching an eyebrow.
He knew he needed to proceed cautiously. “No, it is quite a feat for anyone- male or female. I do not think I could have done as well as you have, which is why I want you to keep running it.”
Elinor winced. “I’m sorry I am so defensive. I am used to being told what I can’t do, and not what I can do.”
“That ends now since we are married,” Alden insisted. “Everything we do, we will do so together.”
“That sounds nice,” Elinor said softly.
Alden moved his chair closer to Elinor. “I mean it,” he replied earnestly. “I want to make this marriage work.”
Elinor bit her lower lip, a sure sign she was upset. “Do you think you could ever come to love me?”
He sighed. “I told you that love in a relationship only complicates things,” he started, “but that doesn’t mean I don’t care for you. I do.”
“I understand,” Elinor said, lowering her gaze.
“I know you want love, but what we have is better,” Alden asserted gently. “We get along nicely, and we have genuine affection for one another.”
Elinor’s eyes grew sad. “I should be happy, but I want more.”
Alden reached for her hand and gently held it. “I promise that I will always care for you, and I will be faithful to you. Is that not enough?”
“I suppose it will have to be,” she murmured.
“Elinor… I am sorry,” Alden said, his voice thick with regret. “I hope I can be enough for you.”
Elinor glanced down at their joined hands, but not before he saw the mixture of emotions playing across her face. She wanted more than what he could offer her, and quite frankly, she deserved more. But this was all he could give her… for now.
She slipped her hand out from his. “I should go. It is late.”
“May I walk you up to your bedchamber?” he asked, hoping to prolong their time together.
With a slight bob of her head, she replied, “I would like that.”
