Without the clatter of horse hooves and all the noises associated with a carriage in motion, the silence stretched long. She needed to say something. But where to start?
“The ring…” She held her hand up to the moonlight streaming through the window. Deep crimson absorbed the light and glowed. “It’s the correct size.”
“You have a slender hand.” He shrugged. “I took note when I shook it.”
“It’s very similar to the one you wear.”
“I thought it would be a nice touch.”
“To further the myth of us.” She wasn’t proud of the tartness of her voice.
He didn’t seem to notice. “I almost went with a sapphire, but a ruby suits you.”
“Why is that?”
“You have a bit of fire about you, don’t you, Lady Beatrix?”
A smile wanted out, and perhaps a small one escaped, but she realized she did have something to say… “It’s too much.”
“It’s not.”
“Like everything else.” Now that she’d finally gotten started, she couldn’t stop. “The new wardrobe…the house staff…the hot chocolate in bed…the ten thousand pounds.”
Themagic, she didn’t say.
“But you’re my fiancée.”
“I’mnotyour fiancée, and that’s rather my point.”
“In the eyes of the world, you are.”
“So?”
It wasn’t the reality.
He needed to understand that.
Actually…
It was her who needed to understand it—and keep it in mind at all times.
The magic he presented was too seductive.
But he appeared unmoved as he continued. “In the eyes of the world, you are my future wife.”
“And?”
“And as such, you must maintain a certain standard of living.”
“This is aboutyou, then.”
“It’s about appearances, and how important they are in your world.”
“Appearances.” The word nettled beneath her skin and found purchase. “Appearances.” She laughed.
Blimey.
From his seat opposite, he watched her, silently.
