leave her empty inside. She held him tighter and cursed her weakness.
She thought she might be falling in love with him. She groped for words to free her from her stupor. “Wh-what would you tell someone if they found us together?”
He released her. Even in the dark, she knew he smiled. Amusement rang in his voice. “I would tell them what we do is none of their concern. After all, we are betrothed.”
“But it is a pretense, a lie.” She couldn’t make light of the situation as he did. She needed a promise. Before she could escape back to the house, he captured her hand.
“It wouldn’t have to be a lie.” He drew circles on her wrist with his thumb, lulling her. “All it takes is two signatures on the marriage settlement, and we could become husband and wife. Would you sign it when your brother sent it, Viv?”
Tears welled in her eyes and she blinked them away. His words almost sounded like a real proposal.
“My brother has already signed it. You don’t need my signature.”
“I would want it. Your consent is most important. I’ll dictate a letter to your brother at once to request the marriage settlement. Then I will arrange to have the banns cried. Or perhaps I can send Drew for a special license.”
When he would have kept talking, she placed her fingers over his mouth. She sensed his frown more than saw it.
“Do you want to marry me?” she asked.
He mumbled something she couldn’t make out.
“What?”
Grasping her hand, he pulled it away from his mouth. “Didn’t I just say I wanted to marry you?”
“No!” He’d been discussing a business arrangement, not declaring his love. “Was that your idea of a proposal?”
Luke scrubbed a hand over his jaw. “Damn. I should have gotten down on one knee.” He knelt at her feet and captured her hand. “Vivian Worth, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
A lock of hair was falling down over his eye and driving her mad. She swept it aside and cupped his cheek. “Is this truly what you want, Luke? This isn’t because you feel obligated after kissing me?”
“I don’t feel obligated. Do you?”
She shook her head.
“I know I promised to assist you in making another match, but I can’t surrender you to another man. If you wish to hold me to my word—”
“No!” She dropped her hand from his face. “I want you.”
“And I want you, Vivian. It’s settled between us now.” He stood and placed a soft kiss on her lips, then patted her bottom. “Allow me to untie your laces, love. This may be our only chance to swim together.”
She turned her back to him, her heart sprinting. Without her corset holding her prisoner, she was able to draw in a deep breath, and she laughed. Who knew her clumsy attempts at courting him would actually be successful?
He gave her a nudge toward the lake. “I will join you in a moment.”
She crossed her arms over her chest, suddenly shy about being scantily clad. “You won’t peek?”
He chuckled. “Not today, but if I can’t look, neither can you.”
The water lapped at her calves as she walked into the lake, cooling her feverish skin. Reaching deeper water, she sank down to her neck. There was a splash and Luke emerged from the lake a short distance away. She couldn’t determine what articles of clothing he had removed, but the thought of him in half-dress made her insides quiver.
He shook his head and water droplets hit her hot cheeks. “Come. Show me you can do more than nearly drown.”
Her back stiffened, her nervousness forgotten. “I told you, I know how to swim.”
“So you say,” he teased and splashed her. “Prove it, water sprite.”
“You—oh, I will prove it.” And afterward, she would serve him a huge slice of humble pie. He could stand to learn a thing or two about humility. “I challenge you to a race,” she blurted.
“Hardly seems right for me to beat a lady.” He laughed, goading her.
“I wouldn’t celebrate a victory yet, Your Grace.”
When they’d still had daylight, Vivi had noted a small island a decent distance from shore. She gathered the hem of her chemise and tied the two ends in a knot between her legs. “The first one to reach the island wins.”
“I assume you are aware of what prize I will demand for my victory.”
Her stomach lurched. “Yes, well. You aren’t going to win, so I will be the one claiming the prize.”
His teeth