She strolled several paces into the receiving room, then stopped and crossed her arms over her chest. Once the door clicked shut, she said, “How many times must I refuse you? Why do you continue to call?”
Nathaniel moved closer until all that separated them was a high table. He held her piercing gaze and said, “I know your secret.”
Cordelia blanched, her eyes rounding for a fraction of a second before she wiped all emotion from her expression. “Very well,” she said, moving her hands to her hips and notching her chin. “It changes nothing.”
Nathaniel gripped the table as he struggled to control his barely contained anger. “It changes everything,” he said through clenched teeth.
She shook her head. “No, it does not. You never asked for any of this. I never asked for you to do the honorable thing. We are not well suited.” She gave a weak smile. “In fact, I would say we are ill-fated, and I want none of it.”
Nathaniel glared at her. And for the first time in his life, he had the overwhelming urge to beat a woman. “That child,” he moved his gaze to her midsection, “is mine. There is nothing you can do to change that. Nor do you get to decide whether I get to be a father to my offspring. The baby is my responsibility.”
Cordelia blew out a frustrated breath. She took a step closer before she said, “I am setting you free. Take it for the gift it is, and trust that I will care for the child. I am soon to reach my majority, and when I do, I will have access to more than enough funds to support us.”
Nathaniel tightened his grip on the table, his knuckles turning white from the pressure. “And where do you intend to go? Neither you nor our babe will be accepted anywhere in England. Hell, a single mother will be met with scorn and hardship no matter where she goes. Is that what you want?”
Somehow he doubted reasoning with her would get him any further than arguing was, but he had to try.
Cordelia waved a nonchalant hand. “After I get my funds, I will go to France or Scotland and live as a widow.”
“And until then?” Nathaniel asked, the muscle in his jaw twitching.
“It is kind of you to worry.” She drew closer. “But it really is unnecessary. I will go to my cousin’s house in the Yorkshire countryside. It will be easy to conceal my condition there.”
He lowered his head and growled, “Try it.”
Cordelia pivoted and strode for the door.
Nathaniel hurried to block her path. “You have no choice. Try to refuse me and see what happens.”
