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“I don’t like the taste.”
She frowned. It was a strange comment to make about something one did not eat.
“And you?” he asked. “Anything you don’t care for?”
“Nothing that I can think of—oh...there is one thing.”
“Name it.”
Her face felt warm again.
“That’s a pretty blush. What’s the reason for it?”
She hated her fair skin and how easily it pinkened. “It’s not about me. I just thought you should—I suppose we both should—that is to say—stop smiling!”
“Sure and a man can’t help it when a lady blushes and stammers so.”
“Why must you make this so difficult?”
“I’d love to make it easy for you, lass. I’m curious as a cat.”
“I think it would help if you didn’t look at me.”
He glanced about the coach. “Where should I look?”
“I don’t know. Out the window?”
He parted the curtains. “We might see some sun today after all,” he remarked. “That will make for a good crossing.”
“Yes. That is good news.”
He continued to stare out the window, while she tried to think of the best way to say what she wanted.
“Lass, this is the part where you tell me the reason for the blush. Or am I to stare out the window all day?”
“I just thought—” Oh, how she hated this embarrassment. She would simply say it! “While we are in Ireland, pretending to be married, I think we should be faithful to each other.”
She saw his head move, as though he wanted to look at her, but he managed to control the urge.
“What I mean is, if we’re newly married you wouldn’t be seeking out other women. If you were, it might look suspicious.”
“I know the marriage vows, lass.” He looked at her, and she lowered her eyes. “That’s a lot to ask of a man. Living with one woman I can’t touch and not able to look for satisfaction anywhere else, either.”
“It’s temporary,” she said. “And I will be in the same circumstances.”
“That’s true. Of course, you don’t know what you’re missing.”
She looked up at him, scowling. “If it’s really that much of a problem, then fine. Just be discreet.”
“There’s another way, you know.
She shook her head. “I have no idea what you mean.”
“We don’t have to just play at being husband and wife.”
She swallowed and stared at him. “Are you asking me to marry you?”
His eyes widened in horror. “No!”
