The Gift of Love (The Book of Love #8) - Meara Platt Page 0,29
it gently, and she hadn’t been tugging very hard. She supposed he would have released her if she’d persisted. She sighed and cast him a stern look. “Indeed, you are mad. I have been an insufferable watering pot for the last two days. I cry and grumble and mope.”
“I’ve known you for several months now. You did not cry, grumble, or mope before that weasel Wainscott crushed your soul. I liked that happier Dahlia very much.” He finally released her and stepped away to casually lean his hip against Romulus’s desk. He folded his arms across his chest, another casual gesture, but it only brought attention to how muscled he was. Now, she was tingling again.
He continued, unaware of the effect he was having on her. “I even like the crying, moping version of you. Let me put this another way. I won’t accept to do this with anyone but you.”
She sank into one of the overstuffed chairs and emitted a long, ragged breath. “I repeat, you are mad. What will happen if I refuse you?”
“The House of Lords will likely decline most of our funding requests. In turn, the Lord Admiral will strip me of my rank and assign me to swabbing decks on a scow for the duration of my commission.”
“He couldn’t possibly...he wouldn’t ever...”
“He most certainly would.”
“But that’s awful.”
“I certainly think so.” He shrugged. “My future is entirely in your hands. The choice is yours, Dahlia. If it’s any consolation, we only have to keep up the pretense for the next two weeks. The vote comes right before Christmas. This will also give us more time to read that book together. No one will be surprised to see me come around daily if they believe we are courting.”
“When you put it that way, it sounds most efficient.”
He nodded. “But it has to be our secret. Everyone has to sincerely believe I am besotted and now courting you.”
She struggled not to cry. This was awful. But if she refused to go along with his plan, the safety of every seaman could be put in jeopardy. Indeed, the safety of England. Not to mention the inexcusable waste of having him demoted. He was brilliant. The navy needed him. “Then, after the two weeks, you’ll decide you don’t love me after all, and you will end it?”
He moved to settle in a chair beside hers and took her hands in his again. “I would never do that to you. I don’t know what will happen at the end of that time. Hopefully, we will be done reading the book and have a better idea of what love and marriage entail. But if this courtship is broken off, it will not be done by me. Only you can break it off.”
“Well, it’s the same thing, really. It will be broken off, but you’ll allow me to save my reputation by being the one to do it.” She shook her head again. “It won’t work, you know. There is not a young lady in London who would ever walk away from you. Everyone will know you were only being polite to allow me to end the courtship. Having two men walk away from me in less than a month will ruin my chances of ever making a match.”
Her heart felt as though it was being torn to pieces. She’d dreamed of her come-out season for years, silly, magical dreams where she would be the diamond of the ball, declared an Incomparable, and catch the eye of England’s most eligible bachelor. He would be someone as handsome and splendid as Ronan, of course. “I don’t care about this second humiliation for myself. But Heather’s chances could also be hurt simply for being related to me.”
“Dahlia, you are my Queen Pea. I will never let this happen.”
She rolled her eyes. “That was just a game.”
“Not to me. I give you my oath. Upon my honor, I will not break off the courtship. If it happens–”
“When it happens,” she corrected.
He tossed her an impatient look. “If it happens, then it will be because you chose to end it.”
She frowned. “And if I decide not to break it off with you?”
“Then I will marry you,” he said with steady resolve.
She stopped breathing. “Marry me?”
“Yes. I believe that is what I just said.” His expression turned achingly tender.
She stared into his eyes and tried her best not to burst into tears. How could he do this to her? “Am I supposed to be grateful for this? The