Falling for the Marquess - Julianne MacLean Page 0,51
walk away a virgin.”
Clara felt dazed by his suggestion. “My brother-in-law didn’t put you up to this, did he?” she asked. “He didn’t give you a bloody nose, I hope.”
“No, he did not. In fact, he has no idea I am here, let alone proposing to you. Even if he knew, I’m not entirely sure he would approve.”
Breathing deeply as she gathered the facts—and her composure—Clara searched for understanding. She needed to know what this was about and how the marquess truly felt about being married to her for the rest of his life.
“I don’t want a forced marriage,” she said. “I want my husband to be sure that he wants me.”
“There are no worries there. I am sure.”
She narrowed her eyes at him.
“I can see you want more from me,” he said. “You want me to pour my heart out to you.”
Clara saw the reluctance in his eyes and knew that he had already said more and done more than he ever intended to say or do with any woman.
A sudden thought of all the other women shook her confidence, and she reminded herself what kind of man he was. She told herself it was dangerous to hope for too much.
Seger moved to the mantel. “I am not a poet, Clara, nor am I inclined to lie to you. On top of the reasons I already gave you, I’ve always known that I must marry eventually. I require an heir, and I would enjoy having children with you. Making them, especially.”
Even when he was giving her the cold, hard truth, he was delivering more flattery than she’d ever known in her life. He looked at her like he wanted to devour her, and it made her feel weak in the knees. She felt as if he could pull a yes from her lips with a mere smile.
“So, it is duty,” she managed to say.
“Only partly.”
“And desire.”
“Definitely that. I can’t resist you.”
She took some pleasure from the compliment, for he was in his own way telling her that she was special. She had done something no other woman had been able to do. She had gotten a proposal out of him.
“What about the marriage settlement that is sure to be offered?” she asked. “Have you been seeking that all along? Did you somehow manipulate all of this to cause a scandal and force my hand?”
“Good heavens, no. I have enough money of my own. I don’t dabble in politics, so I dabble in other things. The American stock market for one. I am probably as rich as your father.”
Clara’s eyebrows lifted. “I had no idea.”
“Not many people do.”
She moved away from him to pace around the room. “So, you’re not one of the infamous impoverished English lords? That will certainly surprise the New York newspapermen,” she said with bite. “They don’t seem to believe that any Englishman would many an American for anything other than money.”
“We will break the mold, then.”
Clara stared at him for a moment, considering all of it. “What about love?” she finally asked, knowing she was pushing the limits. “Since we’re being honest with each other....”
If he were unnerved by her question, he didn’t show it. He seemed more amused than anything by her “negotiations.”
“I wondered if you would bring that up.” He gazed out the window for a moment, then looked directly into her eyes as he spoke. “I won’t lie to you, Clara. You’re an intelligent woman, and you must realize that we barely know each other.”
“I do.”
“As I told you last night, I’ve only loved one woman in my life, and it ended catastrophically. I admit I am jaded, but that doesn’t mean our marriage cannot be a success.”
He was being honest and sensible, admitting that he did not truly love her, and she couldn’t deny that she respected him for that. If he’d told her he loved her, she probably wouldn’t have believed him and would have felt as if she were being tricked or patronized.
But still, in her deepest heart of hearts, this was not what she wished they were saying to each other right now. She didn’t want to hear about other women from his past or have him mention the only woman he had ever loved. The mere thought of her cut Clara to the quick. She had dreamed of so much more where Seger was concerned. She wanted to be the only woman in his heart and mind, forever and ever.