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What in God’s name did that even mean?
They chatted some more about mutual investments before the duke departed to be with his wife, whom he clearly adored and was not afraid for the world to know it. William shook his head in bemusement. Marriage alliances had little to do with love and were more practical arrangements. Surely the duke knew this, and William certainly did not understand this message that their arrangement might be bitter without this romantic claptrap.
He raked his fingers through his hair, feeling an invisible knot tightening along his throat. Ruthlessly pushing aside all misgivings, he went toward the main estate, and sent a maid to request an audience with Lady Phillipa.
Pippa smoothedher hand over her lime green day gown, opened the door to the intimate parlor where the marquess waited and sauntered inside. He turned from the window where he stood, his gaze sweeping over her in a heated and very thorough caress.
“I am sorry I kept you waiting,” she said with a small smile.
“You look beautiful, Pippa. I daresay it was worth it.”
Pleasure warmed her cheeks. Not wanting to court too much speculation with the other ladies, she left the door slightly ajar and padded over to him. “Thank you, William,” Pippa replied, searching his expression. Why did he seem so forbidding?
He walked over to her, and she clasped her hands around her middle. “I thought you would have returned to your cottage. Your request for a meeting surprised me.”
A mocking smile slanted his mouth, and he lifted his hand, skimming his fingers over her cheek, that touch tender yet at odds with the closed look in his eyes. “We will need to get married by special license as soon as possible. I wanted to discuss it with you.”
Pippa stiffened, a stricken feeling stabbing at her heart. “I beg your pardon?” She hadn’t even considered this was why he requested an audience. William wanted to marry her? “Please explain yourself, my lord.”
His expression veiled. “I will procure a special license, and we will get married as soon as possible. Perhaps within a week.”
“A week!”
“Yes. The duke and duchess will be our witnesses. I’ll send an announcement to the papers and a letter to your father. It is best to act now instead—”
“Your arrogance is astounding,” Pippa gasped, jerking back a step. “Nothing would induce me to accept such a proposal, William!”
He arched a brow, cynical humor touching in his golden gaze. “My first ever offer of marriage and it is to be so summarily rejected?”
She swallowed past the ache rising in her throat, her fingers shaking. “Yes!”
“Why?”
This was supposed to be everything she wanted, yet it was not. Pippa felt hollow instead of thrilled. “Whydo you offer for me? I’ve even heard from your lips that you never planned to marry, my lord. Your offer just now was devoid of all feelings or sentiments!”
Disbelief flashed in his golden eyes. “Have you forgotten that I took you in the cottage?”
The piercing sensation in her heart worsened. “We said no regrets.”
“This is not regret,” he said, a tic jerking in his jaw. “This is me doing the honorable thing.”
She flinched and took a few more steps back from him. Pippa felt as if she wanted to run from the room. “If not for honor…would you marry me, William?”
Oh, please say yes. Everything inside Pippa was drawn tight as she awaited his answer.
“If not for my child that you might be carrying, I might have let our interlude remain a interlude.”
For precious moments her thoughts blanked. “A child?”
His gaze hooded even further. “Yes, that is how they are made.”
Pippa swayed, resting her palm on her belly.A child?Oh, God. She had not given the possibility a moment’s thought. “How long does it take for a lady to know if she is with child?” Oh, God, she needed to speak with Theo right away.
He raked his fingers through his hair. “The general idea is if a lady misses her…menses, she is with child. Other signs follow such as casting up accounts and exhaustion, or even peculiar cravings.”
Pippa stared at him wordlessly. It was a considerable feat to gather her composure and wait for the pounding of her heart to settle. “If I find that I am with child, I will inform you of this matter and then consider if we should marry,” she said hoarsely. “If there is no child, you need not so reluctantly bind yourself to me for something as cold and empty as duty and honor.”
He stilled, his gaze as watchful as a predator, yet he said nothing.
