Page 2 of Foolish Bride
“Wait? For how long? Mother will not allow me to wait if another offer is made. And what if the gentleman is titled?” Panic tightened her chest until she struggled for breath. She would need to make a list of ways to stall Mother’s plans.
He pulled her closer and nuzzled her neck. “A few months is all I ask, my darling. Just give me a few months, and I will have enough money to come to your father and make an offer. Surely you can hold off your mother for a few months.”
“I suppose I can, but why? I have my dowry. Certainly that will be enough for us to live comfortably.”
Breaking away, he looked down at his feet, which he shuffled from side to side. “I do not want to marry you for your money, Elinor.”
Her heart beat wildly. “But is that not why you pursued me?”
He kissed the tip of her nose. “I will not deny I came to London this season because I needed to marry to restore the money that my father squandered.” He kissed her cheek. “I had every intention of finding a rich bride to enable that plan.” He kissed her other cheek. “Then I met you, and you were the perfect solution to my problems.”
She tried to pull away, but he held her close and kissed her lips. It was only a peck, but the thrill of it traveled to her toes and hit everywhere in between.
His body filled all her curves as he hugged her and spread kisses along her cheek and neck. “I knew you were the one, Elinor. So beautiful, charming, and sweet, I could not resist you. I want to be worthy of your love, and in the weeks we courted, I found a way to get enough money to repair my country home and still have enough to make a good start of the marriage. I made the deal on some grain. It will take a bit of time for my plans to pan out, but in a couple of months, I should be able to show your father that I am worthy of you.”
It was difficult not to let his lips distract her from his words. She heard him say he loved her well enough, though. She breathed normally again, though her heart still raced. “I would gladly have given you my money.”
Stiffening, he frowned. “We can take your money and put it away for our children.”
“Children.” The notion of raising babies with Michael made her sway with joy.
“You do want children, don’t you?”
She looked up at him, holding back tears of joy. “Oh yes. I want a house full.”
“I have a very big house.” The strain around his eyes eased, and his grin spread wide.
“Good.” Tears trickled down her face. Elinor had never been so happy.
With his gloved thumbs, he gently wiped the moisture from her face. “You will wait for me then?”
“I will wait, Michael.”
Kissing her deeply, he tightened his arms, leaving no space between them.
Her mouth opened under his, and she melted against him. Visions of Michael and a house full of children with his marvelous blue eyes filled her head. Her heart beat so fast, when he pulled away, she gasped for air.
“I have to go before I really do ruin you.” Out of breath, his eyes flashed with passion.
“Must you?” She didn’t want him to go. What she wanted was more of his kisses.
He laughed and placed a chaste kiss on her forehead. “It will not be long, my love. I shall return to London as soon as possible, and we will be married.”
Once again, loneliness pressed down on her. “Don’t go.”
“I must, but I will be back. I promise.” He took one step away.
“Michael.”
He turned.
Straining against emotion, she pushed herself to ask, “Do you love me, Michael?”
He wrapped her in his arms as if he’d not seen her in years. “I love you more than life, Elinor. I will not betray you. Please trust me.”
She tentatively kissed the skin behind his ear. “I do trust you. I just want…”
“Yes, my love, what do you want?”
