Married to the Rogue (Season of Scandal #3) - Mary Lancaster Page 0,10

back out?

“Did I say, Miss Shelby, that you have no reason to fear me?” he said abruptly. “I have a temper, but I could not hurt a friend, and I hope that is what we shall be.”

“I’m not afraid of you,” she said at once, even as she wondered if it was true.

“I forgot to ask you if there was someone else.”

“Someone else?” she repeated blankly.

“Some other gentleman whom you might have hoped to marry.”

“Oh, no.”

“I don’t want to deprive you of happiness. Our agreement is that we may follow our own hearts, within the bounds of discretion. I shan’t force my attentions on you.”

Her face flamed. “Thank you,” she replied in a strangled voice. I think… “What do we do now?”

“Am I correct in thinking you don’t want to make a fuss over the wedding?”

“Quite correct,” she said in relief.

“Then, with your agreement, I shall see about having the bans waived. With luck, we may be married in the village church the day after tomorrow.”

“You have a way of depriving me of breath.”

“Too soon?” He almost sounded disappointed.

“No, no, by all means, let us have it over with.”

His lips twitched. “You really don’t like fuss, do you?”

She bit her lip. “I’m sorry. That must have sounded terribly rude.”

“No, I like that you say what you think. I hope you always will. If you are agreeable, we can move into Gosmere Hall immediately after the wedding.”

“Will your grandfather not object?” she asked nervously.

“Lord, no, He left yesterday, shortly after I galloped into you. I shall write to him today and tell everyone who needs to know. As should you.” He frowned suddenly. “You are more than one-and-twenty?”

“Three-and-twenty. There is no one whose permission I need.”

“Then I will make arrangements and let you know. Is this your house?”

“Yes.”

He opened the gate for her and followed her to the front door, where he held out his hand.

Slowly, as though she were giving herself, she put her hand in his and watched his long fingers curl around it. To have and to hold. Was she truly about to give this stranger complete power over her? Terrifying. And curiously exciting. There was latent strength in the hand that held hers with gentle firmness. She did not mind his touch. She did not mind it at all.

“You have not told me your name,” he observed.

“Deborah.”

“Deborah,” he repeated. “I’m Christopher, though you may call me Chris or Kit if you like. Until tomorrow.”

She slid her hand free. “Goodbye.”

He smiled, tipped his hat, and returned her basket before striding back down the path.

Am I dreaming this?

*

Deborah decided on the blunt approach. When her mother and sister returned from Letchworth House, she waited until they were seated in the parlor and left a gap in their speculations as to when precisely Sir Edmund might make his offer. The children were playing and squabbling over aspects of their extended game but had also quieted for a moment.

Deborah took a deep breath. “Mr. Halland made me an offer of marriage this afternoon, and I have accepted him.”

All eyes in the room turned on her in astonishment.

Her mother frowned. “I don’t think that’s a terribly tasteful jest, Deborah. You know how much we are depending on this match of L—”

“Of course I do, and I’m trying to tell you not to be so anxious over it anymore. Mr. Halland has assured me that he will arrange for your financial security as well as school for the boys, and a governess.”

“But what are you talking about, Deb?” Lucy demanded. “Do you mean Mr. Christopher Halland at Gosmere? You only met him once!”

“Twice,” Deborah corrected. “I ran into him in the village this afternoon.”

“And on the strength of that, he made you an offer of marriage?” her mother said in disbelief. “Deb, have you considered that he was jesting? Gentlemen can be cruel, particularly if he had heard of your…trouble. He did not mean it, my dear, and I’m surprised you do not see that.”

“I did consider the possibility,” she allowed. “For I was at least as astonished as you. But he was honest with me. He did not pretend any tender feelings that I would not have believed. He knew of my trouble, as you call it, and pointed out I was truly in need of a husband, and if he marries me in full knowledge of the trouble, Sir Edmund could have less reason not to offer for Lucy.”

“But why?” Lucy demanded. Deborah could see she was torn between relief and