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“I see,” she whispered. “Please don’t let my mother know you have asked for my hand. She will try to influence me.”
He smiled kindly down at her. “I understand perfectly.” He kissed her hand. “Please save a dance for me.”
“I will.”
Collingwood bowed and left the room with a disheartened look. Louisa plopped into the chair and covered her mouth with her hand. She had one week. It wasn’t enough time.
Recovering from the unwelcome proposal, she climbed the stairs to dress. Her mother opened the door to her room and peered out.
“Was that Collingwood?”
“Yes.”
“Oh,” she said with a hint of a smile. “Did he have anything of importance to speak with you about?”
Louisa did her best to hide her surprise at the question. “Nothing more than the usual.”
“Oh.” Her mother’s lips drooped into a frown. “You should get dressed, so we are not late.”
“Louisa, come help me dress,” Emma said from her bedroom threshold. “Mary is helping Mamma.”
“Of course.”
“What is wrong, Louisa?” Emma took her hands and led her to the bed. “You look so pale.”
“Can you please keep a secret from everyone, including Tessa and Mamma?”
“Of course, I can.”
“Collingwood proposed,” she whispered. “I didn’t know what to do, Emma. He had hinted at a proposal, but I did not think he would do anything until closer to the end of the Season. Now he wants to be married in a fortnight.”
“In a fortnight? Why the rush?”
Louisa shook her head. “I have no idea.”
“What did you say?”
“That I needed time to think. Collingwood told me to take a week to give him an answer.” Louisa felt the tears burning down her cheeks. “I don’t love him.”
“You love Worthington,” Emma whispered before wiping the tears from Louisa’s cheeks. “It’s obvious to anyone who sees you two together.”
She pressed her lips together as she nodded. “I do love Harry, Emma. But he doesn’t love me enough to marry me. He will never get over his wife’s death.”
“But does he know you love him?”
“I believe so...of course, he does.” Why else would she have let him take such liberties? Why else would she have helped ease his lust? He must know.
“Have you told him?” Emma asked as she sat down beside her.
“No, I cannot just blurt out that I love him.”
“Unless you wish to be married to Collingwood, I would suggest you do just that.”
Tell Harry that she loved him. Would that make any difference? She didn’t think it would...but what if telling him did ease his guilt? Maybe he was uncertain of her feelings for him, and that held him from speaking of marriage.
“If I do tell Harry how I feel, and he wishes to marry me, Bolton might toss you over.”
Emma laughed softly. “Bolton would never do such a thing. He loves me.”
