“The coach travelers seemed a humdrum lot.”
“But the inn servants heard, and Uncle Paul’s death is the sort of incident they’ll talk about for months.”
He sighed. “True enough. Perhaps you should return to London.”
“How? And in this?” Wind was rattling the windows now and rain was lashing them. “In any case, any damage is done.” When he looked a question at her, she added, “You came in here through the adjoining door. Lady Quill noted it. I saw her.”
“Damnation. You should have locked it.”
“You should have thought!” She calmed down. “It doesn’t matter whose fault it is. Lady Quill will gossip about this event all year, and sooner or later it will connect with the London scandal. Our only explanation will be to tell the world that my brother and your sister eloped.”
“No.”
“No,” she agreed. “Though Phyllis will tell all as soon as she understands the implications.”
“Wretched girl.”
“I think she’s admirable. Honest and courageous. But it would be better if she begins life as the Countess of Langton without scandal hanging over her. So,” sheadded, gathering her nerve, “it would be best if we were the eloping couple.”
“What?”
“Think about it. I didn’t want a society wedding, which would look like an admission of guilt, but we are in love, even if we haven’t sinned. So I persuaded you to an elopement.”
“And I, like an idiot, agreed, even though we’re both of age and could marry anywhere, anytime?”
“Oh.” She grimaced. “It was such a pretty tale, with our elopement interrupted by Uncle Paul’s death.”
“It was an idiotic tale.” But he smiled. “It’s endearing to see that you can sometimes be idiotic.”
“You like foolish women?”
“I like you.”
“I love you.” He looked down. “Titus. I want to be able to call you Titus. I give you your sister’s words: Your vow will make a nun of me. I don’t fancy the idea at all.”
He looked at her with exasperation. “There are other men. Plenty of them. Once you put your mind to it, you’ll find happiness.”
“You don’t believe in a one-and-only?”
“No.”
“What of Seraphina?”
“You won’t let her rest in peace, will you? I thought she was my one-and-only. Until you.”
Ariana smiled and leaned closer. “Thank you. Is your vow entirely about childbirth, or is part of it a vow to her? I don’t think she’d mind.”
“You can’t know.”
That was true. Ariana realized she was thinking of Cleo.
“I don’t believe that anyone who truly loves wouldwant their beloved to be unhappy after their death. I think my mother will marry again.”
“That’s different. Ariana, I couldn’t bear to kill you.”
She went into his arms to hold him. “Oh, love, you won’t. Even if the worst happens, it will be cruel nature, not you. And itwon’t. There’s no reason to expect it. I want you, I want our children, and I want our comfortable old age as grandparents. So many people have that. Why not us?”
“Perhaps I’m cursed.”
