Page 85 of The Rogue's Last Scandal
Chapter 22
Gracie closedher mouth and tightened her arms, hugging herself. “I am glad you love me. I have leaned on you very much, Charley.” She inhaled deeply. “I was angry today because I was jealous. It is a foolish emotion when so much is at stake. It seems that to be free, I must pledge myself to someone and I wish it to be you. Please m-marry me. I will try not to trouble you about your l-lovers.” She chewed on her lip, frowning. “I have shared all my secrets, and I should like you to tell me yes or no, whether you will marry me.”
His heart stuttered.
He ought to be happy. But what the hell did she mean about being free? She was fooling herself if she thought marrying him would leave her free to go her own way, have lovers, live apart from him. It wouldn’t happen, and he had no need to brand her. She was his. And he was hers. Until she realized that, a marriage like the one she was proposing would be no more than another cage for her.
And—damn it all—it would be a cage for him also. The freedom he wanted was not that sort of arrangement.
He almost laughed at the irony—the freedom he wanted was the trap he’d been dodging. Or…could it be that was the freedom she was talking about?
“Let me be clear on one thing: I will not marry and take lovers on the side.”
Her gaze dropped to his feet.
“You say you must pledge yourself to someone, but what of love, Gracie?”
Her head moved from side to side. “To love a husband is dangerous, they say.”
“They? Not my brothers’ wives. You haven’t been talking to them.”
“Lady Kingsley—”
“Lady Kingsley beat that convention into you. I don’t think you should trust her.”
Her eyes sparked, shiny and defiant. “I’m not sure I should trust anyone.” She fisted her hands. “Will you marry me, Charley?”
“Without mutual love, Gracie?”
She opened her mouth. Her forehead crumpled. Her lips trembled. No sound escaped.
Oh, this was a stubborn girl, but with good reason. She’d been fighting her way alone through the world for the last three years, carrying a great burdensome lie on her scarred body, all alone.
And he needed to push her just a bit more.
He stepped closer. “Then, no.”
“No?” Graciela’s heart jumped, her chest constricted and real pain gripped her lungs.
He said he loved her, but he would not marry her. Her shame was too much for him. She must find another way.
By force of will she drew herself taller. “Very well.” She turned toward the door.
He reached it before her and blocked the way.
Fear flashed within her, quickly replaced by sense. This was Charley. She did not fear him, and she did not want to leave him. She wanted to be back sitting on his lap, his comforting arm around her.
“That’s it?” In the shadows, only his eyes gleamed. “You’d walk away? You won’t fight for what you want?”
“I am not a coward. You do not want me.”
“Oh, I want you.”
A tendril of warmth unfurled in her. Only his scent and his voice and that gleam in his eyes touched her, yet her body had opened as it had before with him.
“I’m not a virgin.”
“So what? No man or woman is after the first time.”
