She cleared her throat. “As you can see, I am fine. You ought to return to your guests now.”
“No, Temple. You shall not be rid of me so easily.”
“No?” She placed a hand on his chest, intending to nudge him back a step, but his body felt so warm and solid beneath her palm that she scandalously allowed it to linger there. She enjoyed the strong, steady beat of his heart.
Was it beating that little bit stronger for her?
Hers was in a mad flutter.
Again, not something ever to admit to him.
She let out a soft breath and looked up at him. “May I speak honestly, Your Grace?”
He finally managed a smile, albeit a small one, and she could tell by the light twitch of his lips that he was struggling not to let it come forth.
A pity, for he had a divine smile.
Divine lips, too.
“You are asking my permission?” Now his smile fully burst forth. “Why bother to ask me now when you have never done so before? Don’t you always speak your mind, Ailis?”
Ah, he was liking her again.Ailis.It felt so nice to hear her name come out in the deep rumble of his voice.
She cleared her throat again. “Well, yes. I do my best to always be honest with you. With anyone, in truth. But I also try to be kind, for I never wish to hurt anyone’s feelings.”
“Are you about to hurt mine?” He was still smiling, so she did not think he was overly concerned about what she was going to say.
“No, Your Grace. I never would.”
He gave her cheek a light caress. “Go on, then, speak your mind.”
She licked her lips and cleared her throat yet again, then took several deep breaths while trying to collect her thoughts.
He laughed. “Ailis, stop making sounds like a little chicken and just tell me.”
She nodded. “All right, here goes…and these are my sincere and honest feelings. You must not mistake them for pandering or mere flattery. What I would like to say is that the world needs wonderful men like you. The world needsoffspringfrom wonderful men such as you. This is why you must marry.”
He arched an eyebrow. “Ah, that is quite the revelation.”
“Why are you surprised that I think so highly of you? Most people do. My point is, who will lead us in the next generations if not the children and grandchildren of these rare men of intelligence and valor?”
“Such as myself?”
She nodded again. “They do not spring from the ground like wheat stalks or root vegetables. These exceptional people must come from somewhere equally exceptional—for example, from their forefathers. Oh, I am not saying you are the only source. But I think you are a vital and important influence.”
He grinned. “And what of you, Ailis? Should such exceptional children not also come from exceptional mothers? Do they not need to be nurtured by intelligent, compassionate women like yourself? This is perhaps more important than any impression a father might have on their upbringing.”
“Perhaps, and I agree that mothers are also vitally important. But how would I ever qualify as someone exceptional? My influence does not extend beyond the parishioners of this church, and it is merely one of several in Broadmoor. Your influence, on the other hand, impacts the entire country and even extends to other nations.”
“You hold me in too high regard,” he insisted. “And need I point out that siring offspring with a woman who is spoiled, short-tempered, and shortsighted is not going to create these splendid children you seem to think will lead us into the future?”
“Are all the diamonds visiting you so awful?”
He shrugged and finally took a step back, releasing her. “Perhaps not quite as bad as I make them out to be, but I am not so far off the mark. They are not right for me.”
She set aside her feather duster and motioned for him to take a chair so they could sit and talk. “Surely you must have come across some intelligent, thoughtful, and compassionate young ladies in your time in London. I cannot believe there is no one out there who would suit you to perfection.”
“There might be,” he admitted, “but she is definitely not one of those four. In any event, all is not what it seems.”
