Page 35 of The Marquess's Final Fling
He fought with himself through breakfast. And lunch.
Unable to do a damn thing, he ordered his butler to get his coachman to bring round the town coach.
He was shrugging into his greatcoat when the clatter of horses’ hooves stopped before his home.
He motioned to his butler to see who called.
Running up the walk was Penn.
Her hair hastily pinned up, wisps of it escaped her little hat. Her cheeks were rosy. Her complexion gleaming. She clutched a shawl of all the frigging things and picked her way across the ice in slippers! Satin slippers!
Was she mad?
He was horrified as much by her footwear and what he saw on her face.
She’d been crying, tracks of tears marred her lovely cheeks. Fear widened her eyes as she rushed inside, glaring at his butler.
He motioned for his man to take his leave, then he took her by the points of her shoulders. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m surprised.”
“What?”
“And shocked.”
“What?What?All right. Why?”
She bit her lips. “Oh, Theo.”
“What, my love?” She looked marvelous. She looked like the hounds of hell were after her.
“I’ve had the physician.”
My Christ.She hated them to a man. “What’s wrong with you, darling?”
“I can’t eat. Just your biscuits.”
He looked her over. She seemed thinner. Except for her breasts. Were they bigger? But what in hell was wrong with her? “And?”
“Oh, Theo!” She could barely whisper. “Theo!”
“Whatever it is, my darling, you will come here and live with me and I will take care of you.”
“Oh, Theo!” she wailed and tears cascaded over her chubby cheeks. “You’ll have me?”
“I will, my love, today.”
“But I refused you,” she complained.
“I have a license. I’ve had one, you know.” He laughed like a Bedlamite, hoping he could make her laugh. But his joy was hollow. “You’ll come here—”
She grabbed the wool of his cape as if it were a lifeline over rushing waters. “You’ll marry me, Theo?”
“I will. I will. Are you asking me?” He did smile at that. Wait.Was he dreaming?
“I am. I am. You’ll marry me?”
“I will.” He hauled her closer. She was so precious to him and if he was to lose her to some horrendous disease, he’d have her for the days she had left.Christ, what was his curse that all the women he touched died?
