She is not jesting.Colin had to admire her brazenness. He was seeking a wife, that much was true, but he could not marry just any woman. Since he made his intentions public, he had received offers from several gentlemen on behalf of their daughters and sisters, and even from widows, but never from a young lady.
He allowed several long seconds to pass before he shook his head. “I am flattered by your offer, Miss Hampton, but this is not done.”
She pressed her lips together. “You do not look like a man who is flattered.”
“But I am, Miss Hampton,” he responded. Of all the offers he had received, hers complimented him the most because she had personally come to him, which also disturbed him. “However, I cannot accept it.”
“Because I did not send my father to ask on my behalf?” she challenged, and both of his eyebrows rose.
That, and she was not the sort of woman he would take for a wife. She was too pale and slender, and she would certainly take offense if he told her that. His ability to be tactful had never been tested like this before.
“Yes,” he lied.
Miss Hampton straightened her shoulders and raised her chin. She would not be defeated by that simple word, he realized. “I am one-and-twenty, Your Grace. I do not need my father’s consent to marry.”
“I see.” He leaned forward and took her cup, seeking more time to think of a better way to reject her. “You should have more tea.” He tipped the teapot over the cup and filled it before giving it to her. Their fingers brushed as she took the cup, and his jaw tightened. His body certainly was contradicting his opinion of her appearance. “Why are you unaccompanied?”
“No one knew I left the house,” she replied. She did not lack ways to shock him. “I rode the coach, and when it stopped ten miles short, I walked.”
“Your family must be looking all over London for you.”
Her long lashes covered her eyes and she raised a small shoulder in a detached shrug. “Yes, but I am not in London.”
“Forgive me, but I struggle to understand why you will disregard your safety and reputation to come here to ask me to marry you when we have never met before.” Her father had a respectable fortune, and so Colin was willing to dismiss her intentions as being mercenary. Perhaps she was being coerced to marry a man she did not want.
“Iwantto marry you,” she simply insisted. Bishop was right. She was persistent.
“Why?”
She shifted slightly in her seat before she proudly asked, “Is my previous answer not sufficient?”
“Intentions are very important to me, Miss Hampton.”
“I am not after your fortune, Your Grace, nor did I ever have the desire to become a duchess.” When she reached to set her teacup down again, he saw another mark on the underside of her arm near her elbow. He could be mistaken but he thought it looked like a bruise.
“Then is it my body?” Colin asked, and her pale face gained color for the first time since he saw her.
“I beg your pardon?”
“Is lust the reason for your proposal?” he clarified, even though he was sure she understood the first time. The heat in his blood increased as her flush deepened.
“How conceited and presumptuous of you, Your Grace, but no. That is not the reason I am here.”
Her words stung his pride, and he inhaled. “Have you no concern for the sharpness of your words, Miss Hampton?”
Her composure faltered, and her dark eyes blazed with the fire in the hearth. “Have you no concern for yours? To assume that wealth, power, and lust are my only motivations is offensive. You have no wish to marry me, I understand that, but you did not have to pronounce your ignoble assumptions.”
Colin had not anticipated such a passionate defense from her, and he took a moment to mentally compliment her. “Forgive me,” he murmured. “As I said earlier. Intentions are important to me.”
She rose, her posture straight and noble. “As they are to me.” She curtsied gracefully as he joined her in standing. “Thank you for your time, Your Grace.” Then she turned and began walking toward the door.
“Where are you going?”
She paused but did not turn. “Back to London. I have no cause to remain in Hertfordshire any longer.”
Colin strode after her, and acting purely on impulse, he took her hand. It was small and cold in his, and suddenly, he wanted to draw her close and warm her. He abruptly released her. “What manner of man would I be if I allowed you to go out in this storm?”
“I will find no fault in such an action. After all, you were not expecting me, but were gracious enough to see me.” She was disappointed, and he felt some guilt, but it was not enough to sway his decision. He had specific requirements that the woman he was going to marry must meet, and Miss Hampton did not appear to fulfill any of them.
