“I can assure you, Julian, your concern is misplaced,” she said quietly. She supposed it would only make sense that he would believe the worst, given Decker’s reputation.
Would Julian believe the man had done little more than show her lewd art, kiss her senseless, charm her to the verge of distraction, and feed her cream ice? She hardly thought so.
“You can save your assurances, Josephine,” he returned, still grim as ever. “Forgive me if I do not trust a single word you utter just now.”
That was fair enough. She could hardly argue her actions ought to instill confidence in her honesty. She had deceived him repeatedly. She had also pursued a man she knew he would find unsuitable for her. Whilst it was true that her initial association with Decker had begun because of the list and his taunting blackmail, it had swiftly blossomed into more.
So much more.
“I am sorry, Julian,” she apologized quietly.
She was contrite. It had been wrong to lie to her brother. She certainly had no wish to be the cause of any upset in his life. With Clara soon ready to give birth, heaven knew he hardly needed further worries to fret over. However, she was not sorry about the time she had spent with Decker.
Nor was she finished with him.
But did she want to marry him?
Ah, there was the question.
“Apologies do not speak as loudly as actions do, Josephine,” her brother reminded her tautly.
“I do wish you would cease calling me Josephine,” she said. “You know how much I detest that name. What was mother thinking, burdening me with such a dubious mantle?”
“Mayhap she was thinking you would give your brother gray hair before his time with your antics and I would need a full name to resort to in times of trouble,” he said wryly, the first inkling of his sense of humor returning.
She gave him a small smile, relief washing over her. “I promise I will not do anything so reckless again, Julian.”
“There will not be further chance to,” he said, the hint of a smile on his lips vanishing. “I am going to have to find you a husband now, quickly. Have you any preference? I cannot make any promises, but I will do my best to see you settled with a good man, a man worthy of you.”
The only man she wanted to be settled with was calling upon her tomorrow to reluctantly offer to make her his wife. More guilt knifed through her. Of course, she had no wish for Decker to be forced into an unwanted situation either.
But if Julian was hell-bent upon forcing her into marriage, there was no other man she would prefer.
She cleared her throat. “You cannot force me into marriage, you know.”
“Yes I bloody well can force you to do what is right,” Julian said, his voice vibrating with fury.
Jo would have offered further argument, but the carriage came to a halt.
“This discussion is not at an end,” her brother warned her.
“I dare say it is not,” she agreed.
Still, there had to be a better solution.
She just had to find it.
Chapter Ten
Decker’s headache didnot show any sign of lessening the next afternoon as he waited in the foyer of the Earl of Ravenscroft’s townhome.
“I regret to inform you that his lordship is not at home,” the butler announced with staid dignity.
That old bloody trick.
Decker shook his head slowly. “Kindly convey to his lordship that I will not leave without an audience.”
Not that he wanted to have this particular audience, mind you.
