“We did. At length. And yet, you don’t seem to appreciate the fact that this is my life we’re talking about,” she said. “So, youdon’t want a wife in the traditional sense—that’s fine. That’s your choice. But I need more in my life than what you’ve given me so far.”
“What do you want?” he asked her.
She swallowed. It made her nervous to make this request of him. She remembered how Mrs. Flowers had seemed frightened of him.
But there was something about the way he looked at her, even now, that made it worthwhile. He was frustrated with her, she could tell that, but he was also…what?
Intrigued. That was the best way she could put it into words. He seemed intrigued by her, as if the ways in which she was challenging him were more interesting than they were frustrating. As if she was a puzzle that he wanted to figure out.
All her life, people had looked at Isabella as if she was less than what she knew she really was. Arthur was the first person who had looked at her as if she wasmore.
And that was captivating. It made her feel as if her blood was singing. She wanted him never to look away.
“I want you to have breakfast with me,” she said.
He blinked. “Breakfast?”
“Every morning. I know I can’t ask you where you go or what you do all day. But I can ask you to share a meal with me before you leave. Breakfast each morning. I don’t think that’s so much to ask, really.”
He hesitated, and for a moment, she thought he might refuse her. That he might say she was wrong—itwastoo much.
But he nodded. “All right,” he agreed. “Breakfast each morning. I can agree to that. We’ll begin tomorrow.”
CHAPTER 13
Arthur was down to breakfast early the following day.
He told himself that it was because he wanted to get out of the house quickly, that he wanted to make a start on the true part of his day. And maybe that did have something to do with it, but he wasn’t sure. He didn’t feel in a particular rush to leave the house. Once he was at the breakfast table, he found himself feeling relaxed and at ease.
He had beaten Isabella there, but he decided to wait for her arrival before serving himself. Fortunately, she didn’t keep him waiting very long.
Had she dressed for the occasion? He couldn’t be sure. What he did know was that she looked lovely in pale yellow, and he found himself wishing that he had occasion to show her off. If only this had been a breakfast party of some sort where all of society could have seen the lady who was now his?—
He shook his head. What was he thinking? He had never wished for parties in the past. That wasn’t who he was. And yes, he wanted to make an impression upon the members of the ton with her, but he had fully expected that to feel like a chore, not like something hewantedto do.
She sat down, and he tore his eyes away from her, trying to ignore how tongue-tied he suddenly felt. It was almost as if he had been out running—that was how breathless he was in her presence. And the last thing he wanted was for her to realize that.
“Good morning,” he said.
“Good morning,” she returned.
“I trust you slept well.”
She looked up at him. “You don’t need to speak to me as if we’re strangers.”
“Is that what I’m doing?”
She searched his gaze for a moment, and Arthur couldn’t help feeling as if she was staring straight into the depths of his soul. Being around her was so powerfully affecting. Had she known that when she had asked for daily breakfasts? Suddenly, he felt sure that eating with her every day was going to be a source of stress for him.
And yet, he couldn’t bring himself to regret agreeing to it. He was glad he had agreed to it. This was the most exciting thing that had happened in his life in a good long while. And unlike most of the other things in his life, it was entirely positive. Nothing about the time he spent with her was painful to him.
“No,” she said. “Perhaps you’re not. I haven’t gotten used to you yet, Arthur.”
“What’s to get used to?” he asked her. It was a sincere question. She looked as if she was making a study of him, and he couldn’t figure out what it was she wanted to know.
“I just feel as if you’re a puzzle I can’t solve,” she explained. “I don’t know anything about you, and I feel as if I should. Even though we’re not having a normal marriage, wearestill husband and wife. We’re going to spend our lives together. I want to know you.”
This wasn’t what he had expected. “You already know me,” he said.
