Page 27 of The Secret of My Seduction
“But I am helpless to change my own feelings, and finally I could not escape what I wanted most: to feel you were mine, as I have felt myself to be yours since the moment you removed your cloak and wore almost nothing underneath.” Her eyes were wide with wonder. Liam dropped the book to the floor; he didn’t need to read the rest, for he knew it by heart. “You are like no other woman I’ve ever known. You are honorable, clever, sensible, and devoted, and since our affair began I have realized you are even more: passionate, wicked, and lovely…” She jerked in his arms, amazed, and he nodded once. “If you want nothing else from me, I will treasure the memory of our three nights together, and vow on my honor to keep them a secret between us, but you should know that I want more—your passion, your intelligence, your love.”
There was a long moment of silence. Bathsheba seemed struck dumb. Liam realized he was holding his breath, waiting for her response.
Her head came up. “Why didn’t you say any of this before?”
“It took me awhile to find the words.”
“Are you certain you mean them?” He scowled, and she blushed. “That is…”
“Yes. Every word.”
“But what about—”
“Bathsheba,” he interrupted, out of patience and burning to know, “will you marry me?”
She gave a quick laugh, startled. “Of course I will. I’ve been in love with you for ages. Why do you think I asked you to seduce me?”
That brought him up short. “That was the reason?”
Bathsheba lowered her eyes. “You thought it was because you’re so very handsome and have the devil’s own charm, didn’t you?”
He grinned. She’d said yes.Of course I will.No doubt or hesitation. And she was in love with him. “Naturally. And also… Because I wouldn’t think you immoral for asking.”
“That would be hypocritical,” she pointed out—his lovely, logical Bathsheba. “But I had to know if you truly meant what you wrote.”
Liam tipped up her face. “Is that any way to proclaim your deep and unwavering love for a man? By questioning his honesty?”
“I only wanted to hear you say it!”
“I love you,” he breathed, his mouth brushing hers. “Are you satisfied now?”
She blushed, and smiled, and opened her mouth to reply just as the door behind them burst open.
“MacGregor,” exclaimed Daniel Crawford. “What the devil?”
Liam looked around. Bathsheba’s brother stood in the doorway, a fierce frown on his face. “I’m here to see your sister—”
“I’m not certain I should allow that,” returned Crawford. “Let her go.”
“Because I want to marry her,” Liam finished. “You’re ruining my proposal.”
The other man’s jaw sagged. “Bathsheba,” he said in a tone of blank shock. “You? And this rogue?” Before either could speak, he said again, “Let her go, damn you. How long has this been going on?”
Liam let his arm fall, but Bathsheba didn’t step away. If anything she pressed closer, her palm on his chest, over his heart. “You’re a fine one to complain, Daniel Crawford,” she told her brother. “Not saying a word about Mrs. Brown until you were betrothed to her!” She looked up at Liam. “He’s marrying a widow from Greenwich. He told me she hired him to rebind her library—”
“What? No, she did!” protested Crawford.
“Just this morning he confided that he’s marrying her. He won’t need me to look after him anymore, though goodness knows, I hope Mrs. Brown understands what she’s getting into with him—” She broke off and shook her head, looking stern.
Liam had to bite back a laugh at the expression on the other man’s face as his sister dressed him down. “Felicitations, Crawford.”
Daniel was no fool; he knew when he was routed. His posture eased, but his frown lingered. “I suppose you’ve accepted him, Bathsheba?”
“I didn’t have a chance, before you burst in without invitation,” she said. She turned to Liam. “Yes, Mr. MacGregor, I accept your offer of marriage.” As if it were a business proposal they had negotiated.
“I’m delighted to hear it, Miss Crawford,” he replied politely, and then he kissed her, not caring what Crawford thought. Dimly he heard the sound of the door, and when he finally raised his head to smile into Bathsheba’s flushed, glowing face, they were alone. “This is not a business arrangement,” he told her.
“No?” She beamed at him. “What sort is it?”
“Obviously marital; possibly including children, who, I expect, will require your keen oversight if they take after me. But primarily…” He slid one hand around her nape as she gave a little laugh. “Primarily it’s one of love and passion.”
“That is the only sort of arrangement I want,” she whispered, and he kissed her again to seal the bargain. Not once, but several times.
