AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Her eyes flashed. “He was that. For ten years.”
Understanding hit his thoughts.Thisis why the Lyon had not told her. “This is why you do not want—”
“Yes.”
“Yet you still ran his estate.”
She stiffened. “I was the countess! The entire estate depended on me. I could not abandon them just because he was a rotter to me.”
“To them as well.”
“Of course!” Her mouth tightened. “Are you quite finished gawking at me?”
Matthew moved away and sat in his chair again, wondering if he were about to lose this arrangement. “Your scars do not bother me, Lady Crewood. I have seen much worse on the battlefield.”
She replaced the veil. “On men.”
He tilted his head at her. “And women. War does not play kindly with men or women, my lady. And it moves through villages and towns as quickly and destructively as it does farms and fields.”
She sat down again, her shoulders drooping. “I am certain it does, Your Grace.”
Time to fold or bid. “Will you accept my suit?”
Her head snapped up. “I beg your pardon?”
“Would you consent to be my wife?”
She looked at their hostess, confusion tightening her face.
Mrs. Dove-Lyon’s mouth pursed. “I suggest you do, Lady Crewood. For your sake and that of your staff.”
That sounded like a threat, but Matthew would ponder that later, along with other aspects of this conversation. “If you will, I will send a message to the current Earl of Crewood. Is there any other relative I should contact?”
Lady Crewood gave a single shake of her head.
Matthew took a deep breath. “Then here are my terms. I wish to do this rapidly but properly. I will visit you at your home each Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday afternoon, beginning tomorrow. We will stroll in the park, weather permitting. You are welcome to wear the veil, but I hope you will set aside the black. I will have the first banns read tomorrow, then each week following. After the first bann, I will present you to my household. After the third bann is read, I will present you with the marriage contracts for your approval before they are sent to the earl. If at any point before the third bann you change your mind, please notify me by missive, and we will end our association. Is this agreeable to you?”
She nodded once, still staring at him.
“Do you have a need for a large wedding?”
“No.” A light whisper.
“Then we will be married by the vicar with witnesses. I will agree not to touch you except for the purposes of consummation and procreation, if that is what you wish, and only with your consent. Will that be satisfactory?”
Lady Crewood leaned forward, studying him. “My consent.”
“Of course.”
She hesitated a long moment as her gaze lingered on his face. “Your Grace, have you ever been in love?”
Matthew’s words failed.Why would she ask that, when he had said so clearly—
“Obviously you do not see that as a prerequisite for marriage, but have you ever loved someone so much you physically ached to be in their presence?”
Matthew leaned back in his chair. “Why do you ask that?”
“I presume those Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday visits will not consist of us staring silently at each other over tea. Am I not allowed to ask questions?”
