Page 40 of The Gentleman Was Right
“I didn’t expect to find you here,” he murmured quietly. “But I’m delighted that you are.”
She frowned. “Youwantedme to come to your brother’s house?”
“I wanted to assure myself that you were well. You left without a word. I didn’t know where you went or if you were safe, and I could not help but worry.”
She studied his face as if trying to decipher whether he told the truth. “I apologize for giving you cause to worry. It was not my intention, and as you can see, we are perfectly safe. We came straight to London on the mail coach. I thought…I came to…I confronted Basil and he”—she chewed on her lip—“ignored me. Again. I can marry him.” She hesitated. “Or I can marry you. I have no other realistic options.”
His happiness deflated at the miserable look on her face. He couldn’t savor her acquiescence, nor should he accept it, because she was in an impossible situation. Marrying a woman who had no other options was cruel and unfair.
It wasnotan invitation to happiness.
Not for either of them.
He knew that now, even if he hadn’t known it then.
“I cannot marry you,” he told her gently, even though he absolutely still wanted to.
“What?” She stepped into his space, her hands latching onto his biceps and her eyes glittering dangerously. “You’ve changed your mind?”
“Not at all,” he rushed to reassure her.
She squeezed his bicep harder and stepped even closer. Her eyes flashed, and he caught a whiff of her scent. He inhaled through his nose and willed himself to focus. “I would be more than happy to become your husband, but you feel trapped between two things you don’t want. What kind of man would I be if I took advantage of your situation? Basil might not listen to you, but I am not him, and I will not allow you to sacrifice yourself. We will find another way to break your betrothal and secure your freedom.”
He wished he’d tasked the investigator with discovering more than her well-being. He should have learned all he could about Basil, her inheritance, and her father’s work. Then he would have a better idea of what they could do to oust the other man from her life and her livelihood.
And how long it would take.
She released his arms and stabbed him in the chest with her finger. “You aren’t listening to me. I accepted your proposal. I’ve thought about little else since I left the cottage. Marrying you ismychoice.”
“But you don’t want to.” He hated arguing against himself, but someone had to look out for her interests, and if she wasn’t going to, then he would.
She pulled her finger back and stabbed him again. “You are an infuriating man. You claim you want to help me. You offer to marry me. But then when I agree, you decide I don’t know my own mind. Is it or isn’t it my prerogative to reevaluate my situation and change my decision?”
When she put it that way—“It is. Of course it is.”
“And your offer stands?”
“It does, but?—”
“No.” She stabbed him again. “It either stands, or it does not.”
He took an unsteady breath. “It does.”
Her gaze dipped to his lips and then slowly returned to his eyes. Maybe the brief flare of passion they’d shared had made an impact on her too. And maybe, just maybe, she had thought about it once or twice in the days since.
He couldn’t help hoping, even if it seemed unlikely.
“If that is the case,youdo not get to decide for me.” Her palm flattened over his heart like she was claiming it. “I will marry you at your earliest convenience.”
Her fierceness did something to him.
It made him feel protective. But also protected.
There was no way to know if she would come to love him, or if he would come to love her, but it was a risk he was willing to take because he could see the possibility. In coming to him, she had proven that she was strong enough to claim the future she wanted.
Furthermore, it was clear that she would not allow him to make decisions on her behalf. Edward couldn’t pinpoint exactly why, but he liked that about her. It offered a freedom he hadn’t known he desired. “You are certain?”
Her eyes narrowed. “Yes. I shall not change my mind, and I would appreciate it if you would cease doubting my word.”
