Page 32 of Kneel Before Me

“I assure you I am quite capable of love.”

“I’m sure you are. But—”

“I find it rather insulting that you would assume otherwise. Perhaps you should just leave now if you consider our circumstances so dire.”

Daphne was staring at him with her mouth open.

He casually passed her the wine, which she took.

“I’m not saying that I don’t think I could fall in love with you,” she said firmly. “Or that you’re incapable of love. All I’m saying is that I’ve never been in love. And when I do fall in love, I want it to happen naturally. Not under…these circumstances.”

He tilted his head. “And what circumstances, exactly, are those?”

She looked up at him, answering quietly, “Forced ones.”

Silence fell. Daphne was watching him cautiously, as if she were trying to figure something out. Or figure him out. Maximus wasn’t sure he wanted her to do so.

“My father would not approve of you anyway,” he said.

Daphne raised an eyebrow. “I beg your pardon?”

“It is merely a fact.”

She took a rapid sip of wine. “And why would your father not approve of me?”

“You are not Constance.”

Daphne fell silent. Even she couldn’t argue with that. Maximus took the wineglass back, draining it in a single sip. The alcohol hit him in a merciful wave, carrying away the remaining traces of his earlier anger. This evening had not turned out at all how he had expected, yet it had not turned out badly at all. An hour ago, he’d been in the pantry receiving head. Now he was talking to Daphne with his trousers fully on. He knew perfectly well which one he enjoyed more.

“Daphne,” he said quietly.

She looked up at him. “Maximus?”

He loved the way she said his name. “Shall we make a deal?”

She narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously. “What sort of deal?”

At the look on her face, he rephrased: “An…arrangement.”

“What sort of arrangement?”

Maximus steeled himself. “One wherein I convince my father that I am in love with you.”

She blinked again. Then she took the wine bottle and refilled the glass. “I thought you said he wouldn’t approve of me.”

“He wouldn’t.”

“I thought you said I wasn’t Constance.”

“You aren’t.”

“Then why would you—”

“My father would rather call off the wedding than see me married to someone like you.”

“How flattering.”

“If I choose you, he will never allow us to wed.”