They stared at one another for a moment then Beth said, “Please beseated, my lord.” She chose a chair for herself, one as far away from himas possible.
How ridiculous it was to imagine herself married to such a man. He wasa being from another world.
His features reminded her of pictures of the Greek gods, an impressionaugmented by the style of his bright curls. His eyes were the clear blueof the summer sky and ridiculously fine for a man. He was head andshoulders taller than she and twice as broad. Growing up tall in a societyof women, Beth was always made uneasy by height.
Lucien wondered how anyone would believe he had fallen in love withsuch a plain Jane. She was not exactly ugly ? her features were regularand her figure appeared average under an unbecoming gown and a concealingapron ? but there was nothing remarkable about her at all. He sighed. Hehad no choice.
Beth heard the sigh and tightened her lips. She was not about toattempt polite conversation.
The marquess suddenly stood up again. “Come here.”
Beth looked up in surprise. “I beg your pardon?”
“Come here. I want to look at you in the light.”
“Go to the devil,” said Beth clearly and was pleased to see him blinkwith surprise.
After a moment a smile softened his beautiful mouth.
“We are in a mess, aren’t we?”
Beth relaxed a little but hoped it didn’t show. “Our predicament is ofyour family’s contrivance, my lord, and the solution is to your family’sbenefit.”
He was studying her cynically. “You see no gain for yourself in this,Miss Armitage?”
“None at all.”
He sat again, his mouth retaining a trace of humor. “Is there nothingin life you want which you do not now have?” he asked indulgently in themanner of one used to purchasing anything, including people.
“My freedom,” Beth replied. It wiped all humor from his face.
“None of us are ever entirely free,” he said quietly. “We must marry,Miss Armitage. There is no avoiding it. But I will be as considerate ofyou as I can. You have my word on it.”
It was, she supposed, an admirable expression of intent, but she saw itas a declaration of dominance. He, the ruler, was promising not tomistreat his vassal.
“I will have more than that,” she said, having thought on the subject agreat deal since the duke’s visit. “I want a handsome settlement ofindependent income. I will not be dependent on your good will.”
He stiffened. “It has already been arranged by my father. MissArmitage. But, I’m sorry, it only comes into effect after you have borneme two sons.”
Beth lowered her head. For all the boldness of her demands she had noleverage, and they both knew it. Moreover, this frank talk of childrenfrightened her. Beth had not been raised in ignorance of the mechanics ofprocreation. At this moment, she wished she had been.
He stood again and walked over to stare into the fire. “There’s nopoint in this, is there?” he asked bitterly. She hoped for a moment thathe was rejecting the whole idea, but he simply turned and said, “MissArmitage, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Beth stood, too, and swallowed. She considered a further appeal butknew it would do no good. If the de Vaux family wanted her chopped inpieces and served for dinner there was nothing she could do about it.
“I suppose I must,” she said.
He produced a ring from his pocket. He would have put it on her finger,but Beth held out her right hand, palm up and after a moment he droppedthe ring into it. It was a large diamond surrounded by emeralds and notnew. Probably a family heirloom. She placed it on her ring finger herself.It looked utterly ridiculous there.
“What happens now?” she asked, trying to ignore the shackle. Shesuddenly realized he might expect a symbolic kiss and looked at him inalarm.
Such a thought had obviously not crossed his mind. “I see no point indelaying matters. Come with me now and I will take you to Belcraven.”
“Tomorrow. I must gather my belongings.”
“There’s no need to bring much,” he said with a dismissive glance ather attire. “We will buy you a new wardrobe.”
Beth drew herself up. “I prefer my own clothes, thank you, Lord Arden.Your father said I need only marry you, live in your house, and bear yourchildren. He said nothing of allowing you to dress me to suit yourfancy.”
