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"Yes, you may," she said firmly as she drew Lord Campbell from the room. "What is the matter with you?Why would you attempt to prevent him from talking to her? What if he wishes to propose? And if not , the two spending time together alone is more than enough reason to force a marriage!"
Caroline's entire face heated up as her mother's scolding whispers to her father wereloud enough for both her and Alexander Mannfield to hear. She was mortified and could only look down at his feet. She could tell from his frustrated scoff and the pacing that followed that Alexander had heard her mother's words as well.
He seemed angry, but then who wouldn’t be? Her words were proof she was trying to trap him. She chanced a glance at him and her thoughts melted in her head.Why is he so handsome? He has rendered me speechless.Even contorted in anger, Alexander’s face was still the most handsome one she had ever seen.
His icy gray eyes were sharp as glass when they cut to her, and she flinched involuntarily. Since she had been caught staring already, she didn’t look back down, and instead looked directly at him, giving a curtsy.
“Sir Mannfield. A pleasure to make your acquaintance.” Although he had ruined her plan, she might as well try to talk to him. Perhaps she would be able to explain her plan to help them both escape their predicament, and he would be her ally in making it work. A grimace scrunched up his features as he gave her a quick bow.
“Indeed, it is. I have come—” he paused, making her cock her head to the side, wondering what he wanted to say. From his facial expression, he was having a very hard time bringing himself to say the words. “I have come to formally propose. I am a gentleman and I shall take responsibility.”
With those words, he whipped out a ring box, and held it out to her, clearly upset. He looked as though someone stood behind him with a whip, demanding he offer her the ring. Caroline looked from the ring box to his face, in utter shock that was quickly becoming annoyance.What does he think? That I will happily snatch up a box that he has offered so begrudgingly?
"Could you take the ringwithout wasting my time? I shalllike to finish this quickly." Alexander said, incensing her further. Caroline understood. He was upset. He was clearly struggling. He loved another, yet he was being forced to offer a ring to her instead. She knew this, but she also knew that none of that gave him the right to be so rude in the name of a proposal.
For a moment, she fought against her impulses.Calm down, Caroline. Calm down, do not stoop to his level just because he is being uncouth.Unfortunately, she could not stop herself from giving him what he deserved. Stepping forward, she smiled as she took the ring box from him. She waited, keeping her gaze fixed on him until he looked ather inquestion. She maintained her smile and droppedthe ring box on the floor. Alexander gasped and took a step back, taken aback by her actions.
“What are you—” he started to say, looking up at her with shocked eyes.
“Oh no, my hand slipped,” she said, keeping her smile.
“What in the world is the matter with you, woman?” he asked, his shock ringing through his voice.
“The matter withme? Oh, what is the matter withyou!Cominghere andoffering me a ring as if I were a poor beggar you found on the streets of London!" Caroline shot back.
….
“Please, do not feign dignity. Where was said dignity when you and your mother conspired to spread these rumors so that you could force me to marry you? Did you think I would come to you willingly?” Alexander spat, letting his true thoughts out.
He saw the shock and a sliver of guilt on the young woman’s face, and he scoffed, utterly disgusted. She at least had the grace to look guilty, her cheeks flushing a deep red that he could not help but think suited her. Perhaps it was a malicious thought, but he wanted to have her face like that as much as possible. Her embarrassment, however, quickly turned to rage as she glared daggers at him.
“How dare you! Shifting the blame us! None of this would have happened had you and your lover not frolicked around while unmarried! Andyoudare to questionmydignity?” she thundered.
Alexander saw red at her words. “Don’t you dare speak ill of my lover like that ever again. The situation between us is none of your business. I would marry her if not for your scheming!”
“Were you? Were you really? Because I am rather certain it is far easier to make your intentions known to her father than sneak in through her windows every now and then for your carnal activities. It would appear you do not know the difference between love and passion,” she shot back.
Her direct words hit Alexander where it hurt. He stepped forward and glared at her. “At leastIchased love. What areyouchasing, hmm? Trapping a man who is clearly interested in another. It surely is not love propelling you.”
Caroline looked like she would cry at those words. “I did not want to marry you anyway!” she shrieked. “I never wanted to marry you! I hate this way more than you do! I want to marry a man I love, not a rude cad who wanders into the windows of young maidens at night and offers me a ring without a shred of respect!”
Admittedly, this was not the way Alexander had planned for this to go. After his father’s advice the night before, he had gone to see Isabella, and they had talked. He told her what his father said, and she told him that she understood. She was already set to be betrothed to Lord Westworth after all. They had shared a final passionate embrace. One that left his heart raw and bleeding as he returned to his bedroom at the crack of dawn and prepared himself to visit the Campbells and do the right thing.
He was stretched thin, and still annoyed by the fact that they were tricking him into this marriage, but he wanted to be a gentleman. He was going to ignore their excesses and take responsibility for his faults since none of this would have happened if not for his careless mistake. However, hearing what Lady Campbell said had lit a fuse under him.
They were not even hiding it, talking about finding reasons to tie him down, right in front of him. The utter disrespect. Did they think he was a fool? He had struggled to keep himself in check. To not be rude. However, he felt like a total idiot. As though pretending he heard nothing and politely asking for her hand would be a total submission and a display of defeat. So, he rebelled without meaning to. Perhaps it was because he was already angry that he had lost control and acted the way he did.
Regardless, this woman was too much. The first real look he had at her face, was when she had looked directly at him to take the ring. He had felt a knot forming in his stomach because her beauty had hit him like a storm, but before he could even process those feelings, she had dropped the box.
It was a level of insult he was sure had never been breached before. He glared at her, feeling deeply unsettled. He was not sure if the fire he felt in his veins was because he was angry with her, or because he was attracted to this crazy woman. But he wasn'tdying to know right then; his rage was stronger than his curiosity.
Pushed to his limits, he snatched the ring from the ground, turned around and stormed toward the door, leaving her behind. “Whatever it is you claim that you wanted, it does not matter now. You have made your bed. You must lie in it. It is just unfortunate that I will be forced to lie with you.”
As he flung open the doors, he wasn’t surprised to find her mother standing there. It seemed she had been eavesdropping as she was doing a very bad job of acting nonchalant while leaning against the wall.
Alexander narrowed his eyes. He wanted to say terrible things to her, but he knew better. It was one thing to argue with Caroline Campbell, but it would be wrong to be disrespectful to her mother.
"Lady Campbell, I believe this conversation would be easier if you and the Lord were present. I havecome to fulfill your request and accept responsibility." He displayed the ring box to her. The woman's eyes widened, and she motioned him to follow her.
