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Victoria frowned.
“What are you…?”
“Remember when I proposed to you three years ago? When I promised to look after you as you deserved? The offer still stands.” He was now looking at her earnestly. “We could marry, go away together, and you won’t have to worry about being forced to marry into the Mowbray family.”
For a moment, Victoria wondered if she had misheard. She remembered that day when Gregory had suddenly approached her and asked her to marry him. That he could give her what she wanted, declaring love for her.
Victoria, believing it to be in jest, had burst out laughing and told him no, she couldn’t marry her dear cousin. If she did end up marrying, it would be for love and not to someone she couldn’t love like that. Gregory had been a little downcast about it, but he hadn’t said a word about it since, although he was still around her and just as attentive.
Had that actually been serious? From the look on his face, it would suggest that it was.
Victoria pulled her hand away.
“That’s not going to solve the situation, Gregory. And we can’t.”
“Why not? It’s not illegal for us to marry.”
“You don’t love me.”
“How do you know I don’t?”
Victoria sighed and shifted away from him.
“I appreciate the concern for me, Gregory, but it’s not going to happen. Our friendship would be ruined if we got married, and I prefer what we have.”
Gregory huffed and sat back.
“Getting you to change your mind is next to impossible,” he grumbled.
“I like to think I know what I want.”
“But you can’t expect to marry Sebastien Mowbray. I mean….”
“I’m not going to blush when you talk about that, Gregory. I know what you mean.” Victoria shook her head. “Sebastien and I have come to an agreement about that.”
When they had been pushed together several times over the last six weeks, Sebastien had told Victoria he would respect whatever she wanted, including intimacy. They had finally come to the mutual agreement that once they were married, they would have separate rooms, and Sebastien would even let her move into the second house he was going to be gifted in Wales so she could have her own household, her own life, while he had his.
They wouldn’t need to meet each other unless they absolutely had to, and he would never touch her in such a way.
It was only then that Victoria backed down a little to what her parents wanted. Having Sebastien on her side made it a little more bearable. The Earl and her parents weren’t going to be happy once they found out what was going to be their future—her mother, especially, was pushing for Victoria to have children—but Victoria didn’t care.
If they wanted grandchildren, they shouldn’t have forced this on her. Sebastien had promised to look after her financially, and she would have as much freedom as she could get being a married woman, and that was enough.
It wasn’t ideal, but it was better than being forced to be intimate with someone she didn’t want to be with.
“I don’t think you should be trusting Sebastien through any of this,” Gregory said darkly. “He’s a Mowbray, and he’s on his brother’s side. What are the odds of him going back on whatever you two agreed to? I’d say they’re very slim at holding firm.”
“Don’t make me feel worse than I already am. I have nothing else to hang onto, and this is the only way I’m not going completely insane.” Victoria bit her lip. “If he does go back on his word, and I don’t think he will, I’ll figure it out. He won’t lay a finger on me.”
“If you need any help, I’ll be there for you.” Gregory put a hand on his chest. “No matter what.”
Victoria did appreciate that. Despite the thirteen years age difference between them, Gregory had always been there for her. She was grateful for that; she needed someone on her side. There were Abigail and Gregory but no one else.
And Sebastien. He’s on your side.
He’s on his own side. He just agrees not to disrespect what I want.
“Rafe Mowbray’s going to be at the wedding, isn’t he?” Gregory said quietly. He tilted his head to one side. “What are you going to do when you see him?”
