Page 14 of The Miracle of Love
“First of all,” she said softly, her voice achingly sweet, “marrying me would taint your family name. Deny it all you want, but it is the truth. I would never insult your loved ones in this fashion after they have been so kind to me. Second, I would rather remain a spinster than agree to a cold marriage. Oh, I know what you are thinking.”
“You do? Pray tell, what is on my mind?” He was too peeved to bother to hide his sarcasm. He hadn’t expected to be rebuffed and did not particularly enjoy the set down. Women fawned over him. They chased him. They offered themselves to him.
The threw themselves at him.
Why was Grace being so difficult?
“You are thinking that I would be so grateful to be rescued from my plight, I would say not a word when you went on with your life as it has always been. You would expect me to hold my tongue while you walked off to spend your nights cavorting with your lady friends.”
“You think I wouldcavortafter marriage?”
“Wouldn’t you? After all, you would not be accepting to marry me out of love. It would be nothing more than an act of charity on your part. A convenient act of charity, because you could then disappear for days, months, years without a word, and not feel any remorse for leaving me behind.”
“Why should you care? We hardly know each other.”
“Precisely my point. You would come and go as it suits you without any thought for my feelings. What kind of life is that for me?”
“A safer life. I still do not see what is wrong with such a plan.”
“Marriage is not aplan. Love is not something to bebargainedover. To me, marriage is about love, commitment, and devotion. Did you think I am so beaten down that I would jump at the crumbs you offer?”
He emitted a soft growl. “Crumbs?”
“Yes. And now you must believe I am the most ungrateful girl you have ever met. But I cannot do it, Deklan. I cannot be in a marriage where love and companionship are an afterthought. I do not know where that leaves me.” She gave a light, groaning laugh. “Probably in a terrible position. But it would truly break my heart if I found my husband with another woman. It would destroy me. I cannot help feeling this way.”
“Grace, you are thinking too hard about this.”
“And you are not thinking about it at all. You have grown used to answering to no one but your superiors in the Home Office, and I suspect you rarely answer to them. Would you ever agree to answer to me? Is this not what husbands and wives ought to do for each other?”
She sat up in bed once again and continued. “My heart can never be cold or detached. I may have fallen low, but I will not accept to be treated as a doormat.”
He groaned.
This is why he avoided virgins.
“Grace, you are giving me a headache.”
“I know. I am sorry.”
“I would never marry you and simply abandon you.”
“I know you are a good man and would never do it on purpose.”
“My brother and mother would take you in and look after you whenever I am gone. They would have full access to my accounts to provide for all your needs.”
“Exactly my point.”
“Gad, you’ve lost me again. What is your point?”
“You will enlist your entire family in the cause…and give nothing of yourself.”
“Enough, Grace. Well, that settles it. I’m glad I did not actually propose to you.”
“So am I, Mr. Quinton.”
“Deklan, damn it.”
She sighed. “Deklan. I can feel the anger radiating off you. All the more reason why I could not marry you. You are used to getting your way…always. I can only imagine the stubborn child you must have been. Despite all these reasons, I’m sure you still think I am an idiot for refusing to consider you as a potential husband. Perhaps I am.”
