we don’t, you will no longer be accepted in polite society. Never again,” he countered.
“That is something I’m resigned to live with.”
His words didn’t affect her. Her father had already informed her that since the youngest of her three sisters was to have her come-out next year, Nella would not accompany them to London. He could not afford the expense of outfitting all of his four daughters.
“You can save your words, my lord. My mind is firmly made up. You are not obliged to marry me. You may inform Society that you did what you were required to do and offered for my hand but were refused.”
“Who do you think will believe that, my lady?”
“You believe you are that remarkable a catch?” Nella asked, then wished she could take back her words. They were hurtful and cruel and nothing that resembled her true nature.
“I’m sorry,” she said, lowering her gaze. “I know people will at first doubt that your offer was turned down, but in time, they will believe you. My father will make it known.”
Nella paced the floor and tried to come up with another reason to thwart his claim. “I have no doubt that at first all will believe you paid my father to avoid having to marry me, but that notion will fade in time. And…” Nella swallowed hard. She did not want him to think she pitied herself, yet she knew that was how her words would sound. “…and, no one will blame you.”
An angry expression darkened his features. With long steps, he walked to her father’s sideboard and poured himself a glass of Dutch courage. He took one long swallow, then turned to face her.
“Why are you doing this?”
“Because marrying me is something you do not want to do.” She spoke the words with every bit of emphasis she could summon.
“Do you honestly believe that makes a difference?”
“Accept the out I am offering you, my lord. It’s what you want, and it’s what will be best for both of us.”
He separated himself from her and turned to look outside. He stood with his legs braced wide, his white-knuckled hands clasped behind his back, and his broad shoulders rigid. He did not speak for what seemed an eternity, and Nella wondered why it was taking him so long to agree with her offer. He should jump at the chance to avoid marrying her, yet…
“We will marry, my lady. I will procure a special license, unless of course, you wish to have an elaborate London wedding.”
Nella felt her temper rise. “I do not wish an elaborate London wedding, my lord.” She took one step toward him. “I do not wish to have any kind of wedding at all.”
“Then perhaps you should have thought of that before you compromised both yourself and me.” He took another swallow of his drink. “I did not invite you to that room. You came of your own accord. Nor did I entice you to stay there until we were discovered. That, too, was a choice you made. If anyone is the innocent party in this debacle, I am. It is now incumbent upon you to do what is required in order for me to get my good name back.”
Nella stared at him. It was he who pinned her to floor. It was he who resisted her attempts to get him out of the room in time. Yet, he was putting the blame for what had happened on her. He was demanding that she marry him as penance. She would die of embarrassment if she was forced to stand at his side. The ugly duckling and the handsome prince. Him the frowning beauty and her the cringing, hideous beast.
Nella walked to the sofa on unsteady legs and sank down with an unladylike plop. She stared at the paisley carpet that swam before her eyes and prayed it would stop moving. In time, she slowly lifted her gaze.
“If…” she said, “and it’s a very uncertain ‘if’…” She swallowed past the lump in her throat. “If I agree to marry you, what would you expect from our marriage?”
The earl leveled her a serious look. “I would expect you to be a wife to me in all ways.”
Nella stared at her hands clutched in her lap and nodded in assent.
“And, I would hope that in time you would give me an heir.”
She clutched her hands tighter and nodded in assent.
“And what would you expect, my lady? Or are your demands so numerous you cannot name them