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“It’s true. This actually is my mother’s,” he agreed with a laugh. “But the beauty of the barouche, and why I think most older ladies prefer it, is the degree of privacy it allows while still being out and about in public.”
Hilaria arched her eyebrows at him again. “Were you wishing to be private with me, my lord? I do find this surprising.”
“And distressing?” he asked.
“Don’t put words in my mouth, Eastwood,” she returned sharply. “I’m merely surprised, still.”
“I guess that’s fair. It is probably strange. I don’t think we’ve gotten off onto the right foot since we’ve met. But I have a proposal for you.”
“A proposal,” Hilaria repeated, surprised by the flutter of excitement that caused a skip to the beat of her heart. She quickly squelched the ridiculous thought. Eastwood was not in the least what she was looking for in a mate.
The ridiculous viscount chuckled loudly. “You suddenly look terrified, my lady,” he observed.
“Oh, hush, Eastwood, and get to your point. I know you couldn’t have meant a proposal of marriage, so stop playing with words.”
“Well, in a manner of speaking I did, actually, mean a marriage proposal.”
Hilaria felt everything in her still for a moment, and all she could do was blink at him until he elaborated. She couldn’t even care if the blinking made her look foolish. She did feel foolish just then. After a moment, she collected herself and raised her eyebrows as high as they would go and kept her tone haughty while she prompted, “Were you going to get to your point any time soon, my lord?”
“All in good time. I just wanted to enjoy the moment for a little longer.”
“What moment would that be? The one in which you cause me to leap from a moving vehicle from sheer irritation?”
Lord Eastwood’s chuckle was low and deep. If it wasn’t directed at her, Hilaria probably would have enjoyed hearing it.
“Very well, my lady, I will try to get to my point. My apologies for being irritating.”
But he still proceeded to take his time, much to Hilaria’s consternation.
Finally, once they were fully settled into the stream of traffic in the main thoroughfare of Hyde Park, Lord Eastwood settled back into his side of the barouche and in a low, steady voice, proceeded to shock Hilaria into silence.
“While it’s true that I have no wish to truly become betrothed to you or any young lady at this time, I would like to propose that we become betrothed.”
“Have you lost your mind?” She finally managed to squeak out the words even though she wanted to shout at the daft man.
