Page 13 of The Miracle of Love
Bollocks.
Knowing how she had suffered, he ought to have been more considerate with his words.
He gnashed his teeth as he tried to make amends. “Grace, do you see me rolling on the floor in gales of laughter? If anything, I was making fun of myself, not you. What is so terrible about marrying me? Most women consider me irresistible and would happily accept to be my wife.”
She gave a dismissive snort.
“They would. And has it not crossed your mind that marriage to me would solve all your problems? Why are you so put off by it?”
She was still sitting up in bed, looking delectably prim and irresistible despite her scowl. “How can you ask such a question?”
Gad, those buttons at her throat were driving him insane. He wanted to open them one by one and slip his hand inside, but he was officially on duty now and could not act on any of his urges. “What is wrong with such a plan? You would be marrying the Crown’s top agent. No one would dare abduct you if you were my wife. I’ve worked hard to earn my reputation as England’s most resourceful and feared weapon.”
“Is this how you think of yourself? As a weapon?”
“Yes, and what is wrong with that? I am fierce, lethal, fearless. I protect England and its royal family. The job is dangerous, and I get it done.”
She sighed. “I know you do. I do not mean to sound ungrateful. But you’ve given the idea of marriage no thought at all. It is obvious you have no desire to settle down. And to marry me? I suppose you are right, it is the most laughable thing imaginable.”
“Don’t say that, Grace. You dismiss your worth.”
She gave another irreverent snort. “What worth? I have been stripped of all valuable possessions. I would bring nothing to the marriage but the clothes on my back.”
“You would bring yourself and that is treasure enough for any man. I don’t want to hear you belittling yourself again.”
“I am only speaking the truth.”
“No, you are merely repeating what the cruel gossips are saying. You’ve told me that you have done nothing wrong.”
She nodded. “I would never cheat or hurt anyone.”
“Then how are you not a treasure? If I were to propose to you, how would I be making a bad bargain? Should a man not want an honest, compassionate wife?”
“Are you mocking me again?”
“No, Grace. I haven’t been mocking you at all.” He had been lying on his pallet, propped up on his elbows while he studied the girl. He shifted position to sit up for a better look at her.
She now had her knees drawn up against her body. All he saw were her big, green eyes staring back at him.
Heaven help him, he really liked the look of this girl. “What about you, Grace? Would you not be interested in marrying into the Brayden clan? Anyone foolish enough to come after you would not only have to take me on but my entire family.”
“Do stop. You are talking nonsense.”
“Why is it nonsense? By marrying me, you would be better able to protect your mother and younger siblings. Does this not count for something?”
To his mind, those reasons were quite sensible and not idiotic at all. So why was she not making every attempt to persuade him to marry her?
“Go to sleep, Mr. Quinton.”
“The name’s Deklan.”
She huffed again. “Go to sleep, Deklan.”
“Why are you so resistant to marrying me?”
“Seriously?”
“Yes, seriously. Not that I am proposing, mind you. But it is not outside of the realm of possibility. I wouldn’t have asked if I did not care to know the answer.” He lay back on his pallet and propped his hands behind his head to stare at the ceiling. He could hear the lightwhooshof her elegant sheets as she sank back and began to restlessly toss and turn in bed.
