Annabelle turned to her, on the verge of panic.
Caroline sent her a gentle smile and took her hands between both of her own. “Annabelle, listen to me. Are you listening?”
She nodded, unable to speak.
“I know you have your doubts. But you are an intelligent, reasonable woman. Ask yourself this: Why do you think Sterling moved heaven and earth to see your ceremony accomplished in such swift order?”
“He hardly did that,” she managed. “A simple donation sufficed to procure the timely marriage license.”
Caroline grinned. “I tell you, the ceremony could have taken place in several months’ time. Do you not wonder yourself what inspired his haste?” Caroline squeezed her fingers and sent her a blinding smile. “He does not want to wait. He does not want to risk you changing your mind.”
Try as she might to suppress the hope embedding itself into her heart like a seed at Caroline’s words, she could not seem to help herself. Hope, that perhaps Sterling had some small affection for her.
Of course, she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt about his sexual attraction to her, not that she could say anything of such matters to his sister. But attraction did not equate to affection.
Still, it was something, she supposed.
“You truly believe he wants this, Caroline? That he wants marriage to me, and isn’t simply doing so out of obligation and honor?”
“I do.”
The carriage slowed to a halt in the forecourt of what Annabelle could see was a small chapel. The cab jostled as Chip, undoubtedly, climbed down from the box. In another moment, he’d set the carriage steps and open the door.
“Nevertheless,” Caroline continued, her expression grave. “I’ve told you repeatedly of my belief that my brother very much wishes to marry you, Annabelle. And one day, perhaps, you will come to believe this for yourself—when you know him fully. But I have yet to hear from you whether this marriage is something you feel you can accept and embrace.”
Annabelle answered without hesitation. “I must.”
“Bah,” Caroline said with a wave of one gloved hand. “Only say the word, and I will order this vehicle to return us to the castle, after which you and I will make our speedy escape. Tell me, now. Do you want this? Do you care for Sterling in some small measure, enough to try to build a life with him?”
Annabelle sat back on the plush cushions and swallowed over the hard lump that had formed in her throat. No one had ever asked her opinion in such a way.
Granted, she often offered her viewpoint. But no one, not her brother, or her father, or even her mother, had ever asked whatshe wanted. In that moment, she would have gladly sworn a desire to marry Sterling if only to procure Lady Caroline as a sister for life.
But she had no need to lie. The truth was, shedidwant to marry him. Something had drawn her to him from the start. And it went so much deeper than his extraordinary handsomeness.
Something noble and intrinsically strong exuded from his very pores. Possibly, her fascination with him had begun before she ever laid eyes on him, thanks to an impression of him she’d developed from Caroline’s anecdotes, and, if she was honest, her brother’s snarky remarks about the man.
Or perhaps, like those shooting stars she’d glimpsed on the rooftop of Stoneford Castle, something more elemental and magical about him caused her blood to sing in her veins, her heart to race, and hope to flood her insides whenever he was near.
“Annabelle?” Caroline prodded.
“I want to marry him. I do.”
“And you really no longer believe him culpable in Gaston’s death?”
She hesitated. She’d been so certain at the outset…and yet, the more time she spent with him, the more she became convinced he did not have it in him to murder a man in cold blood for no apparent reason. “I do not.”
A brilliant smile spread over Caroline’s face. “Then, let us proceed.”
***
The carriage had arrived some five minutes ago. Sterling was certain he’d heard the clatter of horses’ hooves as the contrivance approached. What on earth was keeping Annabelle and his sister? He should never have indulged Caroline’s whim when she’d demanded he refrain from seeing either of them again until the ceremony this morning.
He loved his sister, and he was glad to see her. Glad she seemed to approve the match—not that he would have changed his mind otherwise. Glad that she’d been here to help Annabelle prepare for today. Hell, Caroline was one of his favorite people in the world.
But it had not escaped his comprehension, especially last night, lying in bed, recalling the moments before she’d walked in on them in his bedchamber, that if shehadn’tarrived when she did, he’d have almost certainly made love to his bride andsecured her agreement to marry him in one very satisfying endeavor.
Maybe several endeavors.
