“Not now.” His voice dropped low. “Do not tell me that you are inclined to break your word, now that you are safe and warm andfed?”
Annelise felt flustered. “I keep my word,always.”
“And I keep mine.” There was satisfaction in his tone. “And so we begin to find common ground, my Annelise. We can both be trusted to keep our pledges. Is that not a fine cornerstone for a match? Many wed without suchassurance.”
The truth in that made Annelise flush. “I fear you play a jest at my expense, sir. I fail to see the humor in it, I must confess.” She held out his ring. “Please take your ring back. I have no intention of marrying a perfectstranger.”
“I am far from perfect, my Annelise.” The humor in his tone weakened Annelise’sresolve.
She liked hisvoice.
She wondered about hissmile.
She was enjoying their discussion, even though they disagreed. “You understand me well enough, sir. We are completestrangers.”
“Yet with every passing moment, we each learn more of the other.” He folded his arms across his chest, showing no inclination to take thering.
What if he refused to let herleave?
“I do not wish to be rude, sir, but I do not wish to marry you. Indeed, Icannot.”
“Why not?” His voice sharpened. “Are you betrothed toanother?”
“No, not that. I vowed long ago that I would wed only forlove.”
“Now there is a folly unworthy of you,” he said softly, his tone making her feel flustered and uncertain. Truly, her host possessed an unholy charm. “Love is a caprice and a whim, not a feeling upon which a woman should make herchoices.”
“Love is the voice of the heart, of intuition and instinct anddestiny.”
“Surely reason should have a place in the choice of spouse? I have given you sanctuary.” He gestured to the palace but sadly, the movement did not make his hood move so that she could see his features. “I have ensured your comfort. I will continue to protect and fulfill your needs when you are my wife. Is that not ofmerit?”
“It is, sir,” Annelise was forced toconcede.
“And more of a guarantee than many other maidens have upon taking theirvows?”
“More,indeed.”
“Then, let us wed.” His tone indicated that he thought the matter resolved. “Let this love you desire grow in time, after we arewed.”
“Sir, my notion is not whimsy. I do not even know your name! I have never looked upon your face! I know little of you, beyond the fact that you have treated me well on this day. That is notsufficient!”
“But if you thought you loved me, that would compensate for allelse?”
Her conviction sounded foolish when he expressed it thus, but Annelise lifted her chin. “If I believed we loved each other, that would,sir.”
“Shall I try to change yourthinking?”
His low voice had awakened a tingle in Annelise that was not unwelcome. She was keenly aware that she was alone with this man, in a palace seemingly made forpleasure.
With a man who spoke to her as if she were hisequal.
She swallowed. “I think not,sir.”
“Whyever not?” he murmured. He raised that gloved hand to her cheek, letting his fingertips trail across her skin. Annelise shivered despite herself. She found herself leaning toward him, wanting to feel his warmth—and far more. “Many ladies prefer to be convinced,” he said, his voice almost awhisper.
“Not me,” she said with haste and stepped away. “I know my own thinking, sir, and often express it with vigor. Indeed, most men see that quality as aliability.”
The smile was in his voice again. “While I am intrigued. I have a great affection for honesty, my Annelise, and have never desired a wife who would tell me what I sought to hear. You see? Our match becomes more potent with everymoment.”
