A Scandalous Portrait (The Rose Room Rogues #1) - Callie Hutton Page 0,41
driver along today so we can freely converse.” Hunt helped her up into the vehicle where they sat side by side. The lovely scent of bay rum drifted to her nose from Hunt’s close proximity.
Diana snapped open her parasol and rested the shaft on her shoulder. “It’s truly a beautiful day for a drive, Hunt. I’m so glad you suggested it.”
He studied her so carefully, she grew uncomfortable. “What?”
Hunt shook his head. “Nothing. I was just thinking how very beautiful you are, Diana. I don’t think I say it often enough.”
She waved her hand, feeling the rising of another blush to her face. “Oh, please. I am no more than ordinary.” She’d never been vain but was certainly aware of her appeal to the male species. For some reason, however, Hunt’s very sincere comment both pleased and disquieted her.
He took her hand in his and linked their fingers. “There is nothing ordinary about you, sweeting.”
Wishing to move the subject off herself, she said, “I believe you were to meet with your Home Office contact after our return from Grafton Manor. With all that happened, I’ve forgotten to ask you about it. Did you pass your information along?”
Hunt shifted to rest his foot on his knee, giving Diana much needed breathing space. “I did. Sir Phillip was quite pleased with the information I was able to pass along to him.”
“What next? Did he say what he would do?”
He placed his arm across the back of the seat and leaned in close. “Yes. Sir Phillip has commissioned me to search Melrose’s house for documentation he can take to the Prime Minister.”
Diana’s eyes grew wide. “How very exciting. How do you plan to do that?”
He sat back. “Arrangements that you need not concern yourself with are in play. I hope to have it all finished and be done with the entire matter by next week. We do have a wedding to plan.”
“Um, just a minute. We are not planning a wedding. I accepted this ring with the condition that we would court for a while and see if we suited.”
“We are courting. We’ve been to the theater and now on a drive through Hyde Park.”
“Two events does not a courtship make.”
“Darling, we have been friends most of our lives. The purpose of courtship is for the man and woman to learn about each other. I doubt there is anything about you I don’t know, and vice versa.”
She shifted so she could share her displeasure by glaring at him. “Are you going back on our deal, my lord?”
“No. Yes. I don’t know. I keep hearing rumors and comments, and I don’t like what I’m hearing. I hate to revisit the subject again, Diana, but we have very little choice in this matter.” He placed his knuckle under her chin and tilted her head up. “What are your reservations? Truly. I want to hear them.”
Diana looked out the side of the carriage. They were growing close to Hyde Park and no conversation would be private once they arrived. “I don’t want to be a man’s penance. I don’t want to be married to someone who is always waiting to see what trouble I will get into next. I don’t want a marriage where I am considered a fumbling, troublesome woman. Someone who will never be a true partner because she has to be watched and guarded at all times, lest she lose one of the children, or burn down the house.”
“We will have a nanny to watch the children.”
She turned back to him. “This is not funny, Hunt. You know deep in your heart you never wanted to marry me. I will not be a wife, but an albatross.”
“Stop. And wait just a minute. I’ve let you go a bit too far with this. You are not my penance or an albatross. I agree that marrying you was not in my original plans, but plans change.” He placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her toward him. “I want this, Diana. Not because I’m being forced, but because I want you. You with all your faults, foibles and propensity for getting into trouble.”
“Why?” She was genuinely confused.
“Because I have come to realize the type of woman I thought I wanted bores me to death. One thing I can say about you, sweetheart, is there will never be a boring moment in my life.”
“And that is enough?”
“Yes. That is enough. Well, aside from the fact that I desire you so much I cannot think of