“If Marcus has proposed to your sister to force you from hiding... and still hopes to marry you for your inheritance...”
“My birthday is only two weeks away. If I can remain unwed until I receive my inheritance I will grant Caroline a generous dowry and she can marry someone worthy of her. And I can marry, or not, as I wish.”
He shook his head. “You have been living under our roof for months now, Margaret. A gentleman in such a situation, unusual as this one is, has a certain duty, a certain obligation.”
A chill ran through her. She lifted her chin. “I assure you there is no obligation, Mr. Upchurch. You and your brother did not know I was here, though I suspect your sister knew all along. You need not worry. You are under no compunction to uphold my honor, such as it is after all this.”
“It would be no burden, Miss Macy, I promise you.” He took a step nearer, a grin touching his mouth. “In fact, I can think of no other woman I would rather be shackled to.”
She stiffened, anger flaring. “I don’t want you to beshackledto me. I don’t wantanyoneto have to marry me. Not Marcus Benton, not Lewis, and not you.”
“Margaret, I was only joking. Don’t—”
She whipped opened the door and whispered harshly, “Now I must ask you to leave, sir, this very moment.”
Nathaniel hesitated. Then, with a look of pained regret, he complied.
She closed the door behind him, then lay on her bed and wept, sorrow and confusion muddling her thoughts. Surely a marriage of convenience to a good man was not the only alternative to marrying a despicable man. Had Nathaniel offered only out of duty as she’d accused him? Or did he really wish to marry her? He had never said he loved her. She remembered his kiss. He certainly wanted her physically. But did he love her? Was he, like Lewis, only willing to overlook her faults and give her a second chance now that she came with the added attraction of an inheritance?
She detested the thought of giving in to the Bentons, especially now that her birthday was a mere fortnight away. She was so close to reaching her independence. But if she waited to save her money—her self—might her sister be lost?
But Margaret also knew the Upchurches needed money. If she gave up her inheritance to buy Caroline’s freedom, would she be giving up her chance with Nathaniel Upchurch all over again?
———
What a mess he had made of it. He never should have suggested he waswillingto marry her to protect her reputation. How condescending he must have sounded. Hewantedto marry Margaret with every ounce of his being. He fought the urge to wallow in the sense of rejection that hovered over him like a wet wool blanket, foul and suffocating. But was he fooling himself? Had he not all but begged her to marry him as he had two years before onlytoberejected again?
He tried to imagine himself in her situation. But it was difficult to guess what a woman might be thinking on the best of days, let alone in the midst of the strange muddle Margaret Macy had created for herself.
Nathaniel ran frustrated fingers over his face. Who could understand women? Perhaps another woman, he realized. He would ask his sister. But it was late and Helen had already gone to bed. He would ask her first thing in the morning.
Nathaniel awoke early. Perhaps one of the maids delivering hot water had awoken him, though he saw no one about. More likely, it was his eagerness to right last night’s debacle that spurred him from bed. He couldn’t wait until breakfast. He wanted to talk to his sister now and figure out what to do about Margaret.
Helen answered his knock and invited him in with a sleepy smile, sitting up in bed. “Well, well. You haven’t come to my room this early since we were children. What is it?”
“It’s Margaret, uh, Nora, um...”
“It’s all right, I know. I’ve known all along. Well, practically.”
“I wondered if you did. You always were the cleverest of our lot.”
She frowned. “Tell me she hasn’t thrown you over for Lewis again—that was my biggest fear. If she has, I promise I shall brain her.”
“No, it isn’t that.”
“Then what is it? Tell me everything.”
So he told her. Everything. Well, not quite everything. He didn’t exactly mention that kiss in his room....
Helen listened soberly to his recounting of events and his last conversation with Margaret. When he finished, she asked, “Did you tell her?”
“Tell her what?”
“That you love her?”
Nathaniel felt his cheeks heat to be speaking of such things with Helen. What had he been thinking to confess to her what had transpired between him and Margaret? But then her words penetrated his self-conscious embarrassment and echoed in his mind.
Had he? He racked his brain.She must know.All the things hehadsaid. The way he had looked at her, touched her, offered to marry her... But had he ever said it?
