She grunted irritably. “This is not suitable conversation, Jareth,” she said, grabbing the bowl and standing up. “Now, do you want some nourishment or not? You really should eat something. You have been through a great ordeal.”
“Nay, I do not want to eat,” he said. “I want to know why this is unsuitable conversation.”
“Because it is.”
“That is not an answer.”
“It is the only answer you will receive.”
She came over to the bed with the bowl of stew, but he turned his head away. He wouldn’t look at her and he most certainly refused to eat. Realizing that, Desdra pursed her lips irritably and sat down next to the bed, still holding the bowl. She watched his profile for a moment before speaking.
“Any woman would be very fortunate to have you as a suitor,” she said quietly. “But let us be completely honest with one another. When you asked me that question, you did not meansuitor.”
He turned to look at her, brow furrowed. “I didn’t?”
“Nay,” she said. Then she took a deep breath to summon her courage. “Jareth, I am glad to be your friend. I am happy to tell you everything I know about the de Long empire so that you know it, too, like I do. I have enjoyed our time together. But I will not become your concubine.”
His eyes widened. “Concubine?” he repeated. “Isthatwhat you think I meant?”
“You once accused me of being Lord Chester’s concubine,” she said. “If you want to know the truth, Lord Chester was the father I wish I’d had. He was kind and patient and he treated me with respect. You, too, have been kind and patient and have treated me with respect, and we have had good conversations. You make me laugh. But do not think my laughter or my respect for you means you can take advantage of the situation. If you try, know that I will leave The Feast and commit myself to a nunnery before I will become anything… unseemly. Am I making myself clear?”
He was trying desperately not to smile because she’d been as brave and unwavering as he’d ever seen her in that neat little speech. She was absolutely serious.
“You are very clear,” he said. “May I make myself clear also?”
“If you must.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “It was never my intention to make you my concubine,” he said. “Ever.”
“Is that the truth?”
“With God as my witness. I would not want you as my concubine.”
Now she was looking the least bit embarrassed. “I see,” she said. “Then I am sorry to have made assumptions. Given what you said to me the first day we met, I… I simply wanted to be clear.”
“I understand,” he said. “And I will be clear now. I said that I would not want you as my concubine because you are too fine a lady for that. But I would want you as my wife. I should like to court you if you will consider it.”
Her face ran the gamut of emotion—surprise, disbelief, shock, and finally confusion. “Me?” she managed to say.
“You.”
“That is impossible.”
“Why?”
“Because… because my father is a very minor lord,” she said as if explaining the obvious. “You are an elite knight. You serve the king. You require a wife with a higher standing.”
He snorted. “I require nothing of the kind,” he said. “You are worth a dozen of those perfumed females. I’ve been around them my entire life and I’ve never met one I was inclined to court. Please, Desdra… say you’ll think on it. I would be grateful.”
Desdra didn’t know what to say, at least not right away. She was elated, but also cautious.Verycautious. Did she want to be courted by a man as glorious as Jareth? A man she’d admired from nearly the start? A man she’d found more comfort, and more warmth, from than anyone in her entire life? It wasn’t a difficult question to answer. Of course she would be delighted to have the man court her.
But there was the little matter of her father.
“If you are genuine, then I will think on it,” she said softly. “But you must think on it, too. You know of my family situation, and it is not a good one. You must understand just how dastardly and conniving my father is.”
“I’ve dealt with men like that before,” he said. “You needn’t worry.”
She shook her head. “You do not understand,” she said. “My father is a gambler, as you know. If you and I were to… well, to marry, he would use that as collateral for his gambling exploits. He would tell people that his daughter was married to the lord of Aphrodite’s Feast and they would give him endless credit, which he could not pay. In order to save your reputation, you would have to pay it. Do you understand that?”
