“Wait.”
Emma glanced back at Aaron, her pulsepounding.
“It is not my wish for you to leave.” He closed his eyes. “Leastwise notyet.”
She nodded, a tiny flicker of hope sparking withinher.
He placed his hand on the small of her back and led her through a nearby door into the public receivingroom.
She lowered herself onto a settee and turned her attention to him. Waiting with bated breath. Desperately hoping for something she could not herselfimagine.
He paced back and forth several times before coming to a stop in front of her. Staring down at her, he said, “I want to hear the wholestory.”
Emma released a breath before starting. Her words coming out in a rush, recounting everything from the day she went to live with her aunt and uncle until the day she’d hidden in his carriage. “I had nowhere to go and no money for which to care for myself. It was a hasty decision to stow away in your coach, but I did not have any other option. Uncle Silas was searching for me. I could hear him calling and his footfalls approaching. I did not think, just reacted.” She held his gaze praying he would understand. “Please forgive me for not telling you sooner, and for bringing trouble to your threshold. I never meant to cause anyharm.”
Aaron rubbed the back of his neck n the way she’d come to know meant he was thinking, then shook hishead.
“I did not mean to hurt anyone. I swear it.” She pressed her lips together to stop herself from speaking further. She owed him her silence and the chance to process all that hadhappened.
He released a deep breath, dropping his hand from his neck. “I believe you and I do not assign any blame on you. What your uncle has done is unconscionable.” He began to pace again. “But what are we to do about itnow?”
She had no answer. Emma counted his steps in an effort to distract herself.One, two, three…eleven, twelve…Oh, what would become ofher?
He pinned her beneath his stare. “You know they will return. And soon, I’ll wager.” He resumed hispacing.
“That is precisely why I must leave right away.” Emma stood prepared to go atonce.
“No. That is why we mustwed.”
Her eyes rounded. What? How? Did it even matter? Her mind spun. She placed her hand on his chest, stopping his pacing to stare into his eyes. “You wish to marryme?”
“Yes, right away. It is the only way to rescue you from theirclutches.”
She dropped her hand from his chest, instantly missing the warmth that had passed between them. “I cannot allow you to sacrifice yourself on mybehalf.”
“It is not a sacrifice. I am fond of you. Attracted to you even. And so is Sophia...that is, fond of you, Emma. She needs a mother. I can think of no-one better suited to the role thanyou.”
Emma turned the words over in her head. She did experience an undeniable pull toward him every time they found themselves together, and would never try to deny her love for Sophia, but was that enough? If she allowed him to wed her, would he be happy? Or would he soon grow to resenther?
Would a husband who detested her be any better than one who abused her? One who only wished to posses her so he could indulge hislust?
“I will go to the Arch Bishop at once.” He strolled toward thedoor.
She watched, her head spinning. He could be her salvation. The answer to her prayers. “No.Stop.”
He turned to her. “It is the onlyway.”
“That is not true. I can go elsewhere. Someplace Uncle Silas will not be able to findme.”
“And what of Sophia? My daughter loves you. I can see it in her eyes, hear it in the things she says.” He took hold of Emma’s shoulders, studying her. “You heard her tell me that she wished for you to be hermother.”
A rogue tear left Emma’s eye, gliding down hercheek.
“Can you deny that you love her aswell?”
Emma shook herhead.
He wiped the tear from her cheek. “Can you deny the attraction between us? The passion in ourkisses?”
“No.” Emma answered, her voiceraspy.
“Nor can I.” He brought his lips to her in demonstration, kissing her until her knees threatened to give out. “Marry me, Emma. Say youwill.”
The fight had left her the minute he brought his mouth to hers reducing her to a puddle of desire. All she had left to do was accept her fate. She nodded. “Iwill.”
