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Lottie groaned and closed her eyes. “I know why you’re doing this.” She glared at him. “Addie must have told you about my encounter with Lord Sterling yesterday. She also told you I was leaving Bath to avoid the nastiness that would begin as soon as word spread who my mother is.”
He continued to smile at her like she was telling him a lovely bedtime story. “Yes. Lady Berkshire was thoughtful enough to rouse me first thing this morning to tell me what happened with you and Sterling—who I will visit sometime soon for a chat—and your intention to leave Bath.”
He held up his hand as she started to speak. “I don’t personally know, but have heard of, Mrs. Danforth. What I didn’t know was she had a wonderful, beautiful, smart, charming daughter.” He cupped her cheeks. “Who I have fallen madly in love with.”
She shook her head. “No. No. No.”
“Yes.” He shifted her so they sat face to face. “I don’t care who your mother is. I love you. I want you to be mine.”
She rested her hands on his shoulders. “You’re the son of an earl! Can you imagine what your father would say if you were foolish enough to marry me?”
“I hope he would say ‘congratulations’ but even if he doesn’t it makes no difference to me. He doesn’t make me as happy as you do. He doesn’t fill the open spots in my heart like you do.”
She raised her eyes to the heavens. “Do you understand the sort of remarks that will be tossed my way? How you will be shunned for being married to me?”
He stiffened and the look on his face frightened her. “If anyone says anything to you in any way derogatory, they had better be prepared to be pummeled into the dirt.”
“Then you had better be ready to spend quite a bit of money on bandages because once it becomes known that I am the daughter of Mrs. Danforth there will be plenty to say.”
He ran his finger down her cheek, most likely attempting to distract her. “Please say yes. You will have the protection of my name. Of my family. No one will cast a slur upon you.” He grinned again. “Even if they don’t mind the threat of a beating.”
If she seriously considered his offer—was she really thinking that way?—she had to tell him one more thing. “There is something else that you should know before you continue to wish me upon you for the rest of your life.”
“Yes,” he gently kissed her lips.
“I do not wish to . . .”
“To what?” He nibbled on her ear. ‘Twas most distracting.
“To do what my mother does.”
His eyebrows almost reached his hairline. “Become a courtesan?”
“No, of course not. I mean, yes, I don’t want to be a courtesan. You’re mixing me all up.”
He took her hands in his and kissed her knuckles. “Just say it, sweetheart. Tell me what troubles you.”
“I would not want to consummate our marriage.”
Carter stopped and looked up at her from where he was about to kiss her knuckles again. “What?”
“I don’t think I can do it.” Her face was a bright red and she chewed on her lower lip. “I can’t bring myself to do what my mother does for money.”
“Then I won’t pay you.”
She pulled her hands away and placed them on her hips, which given the rough road they were traveling over, might end up with her on the floor. “This is not a joke.”
“I’m not joking. I will do whatever it is you want me to do to make you feel secure and safe. But—I must draw the line at no consummation. For one thing, I would like children one day.”
“I would too.”
Carter shook his head, not believing the conversation they were having, but glad that it was taking long enough for her train to leave without her. “My love, in order to have children, there must be a man and a woman, and they must have sexual relations. And since it is quite rare for a woman to conceive with only one attempt, sexual relations must be continuous.”
Carter was not discouraged. The time he’d kissed Lottie and when he’d held her in his arms while dancing, he sensed the unleashed passion in her. It might be something she thought she didn’t want right now, but given enough time and effort, he knew he could convince her that pleasure between a husband and wife could be a wonderful thing.
“Just promise me that you will allow me to hold, touch, and kiss you.”
“That’s all?”
