Page 58 of The Duke and Lady Scandal
“Must be a damned big brooch.” The words were out of Ben’s mouth before he could stop them.
Both ladies returned a look of surprise, though only Alexandra wore an amused smile.
Once the informative woman had gone, he offered Alexandra his arm.
“Maybe we should depart before I offend anyone else.”
“You weren’t wrong,” she told him as she wrapped her arm around his. “A hundred-carat diamond would be a bit much for everyday wear.”
“You wouldn’t want a suitor who spoiled you with jewels then?” Another set of words that probably should not have escaped his lips but somehow had.
And he found that he cared too much about her answer.
She took time with it. They’d made their way out of the Tower fortress walls before she turned to him.
“I’ve never had a suitor.” It seemed to cost her something to meet his gaze squarely and offer the confession. He saw her throat working as she swallowed, and her cheeks began to pinken slightly. “So I haven’t given much thought to what sort of gifts I’d prefer from one.”
Her words shouldn’t please him, especially since it was something she found hard to admit. But, more, they didn’t make sense. Even as they’d walked through the Tower grounds, she’d drawn the notice of gentlemen.
Perhaps she’d closed herself off from the possibility as he had, but why?
Now was his chance to explain his choice to her. To explain that he’d never truly courted a lady. That he did not have the time or energy to devote to marriage. Not yet. Perhaps not ever.
Haverstock spoke of how his own wife complained of his absences and preoccupation with his work. He wouldn’t subject a wife to that. And yet everything in him, everything that caused him to give himself to spending this day with her, wanted to offer more.
Hell, he wanted to offer her everything.
“Alexandra—”
“Wait,” Allie stopped him.
She suspected what he might say and there was something she had to get out too, but they should have the discussion privately. “Can we talk on the return trip?”
“Of course.” Within minutes, he’d hailed an enclosed carriage.
Allie reached out and laid a hand on his arm before he could call up directions. “To yours.”
“Mine?”
“I’m not quite ready to go home yet.”
He hesitated only a moment before nodding,telling the driver his address, and helping her inside.
“I want to hear whatever it was you were about to say,” she told him once they were seated across from each other. She stripped off her gloves because she was suddenly overly warm. “But I have something of a proposal for you too.”
“A proposal?” His voice dipped low on those two words.
A little shiver of anticipation rushed across her skin.
All the way to his home this morning, she’d considered why she was seeking him out. What she wanted with him—beyond another kiss, of course.
She’d told him the truth. There’d never been any suitors, and she’d never much minded that fact. Eve often said she didn’t wish to marry because she never wanted to give up control of her choices. Allie’s work managing Princes, her research and writing goals, her dream of one day doing something spectacular enough to live up to her family name—Eve’s philosophy reminded Allie that a husband would have a say in all of it.
Allie had a few hidden romantic yearnings for a marriage of equals, of sharing, and understanding each other as no one else did. She sometimes imagined that’s what her parents’ marriage had been. But Eve had pointed out that Mama had been a skilled artist and writer, and yet all of that skill had been devoted solely to Papa’s endeavors.
But even if Allie could imagine forgoing marriage, she couldn’t accept that she’d never experience passion.
She swallowed, steeled her nerves, digging deep for a bit of Prince confidence.
