“No, I–” Her face burns as she falters, “I, well–” She heaves in a deep breath and stuns me by saying, “I am being hunted for my fortune. For my virginity and for my hand in marriage. It crossed my mind that if I, well, removed at least two of the challenges, they might give up and we would be safe.”
I swear I’m seeing nothing but white lights before my eyes as my mind detonates.
“So…” My voice trails off and she bites that goddamned bottom lip nervously and whispers, “I understand it’s a lot to ask and of course you can say no if you want to but will you, well, um, will you marry me, Julius?”
24
ROSE
Ican’t believe I said the words that have been on the tip of my tongue all day. I’m guessing Julius isn’t a man who is lost for words often, but he is now.
He is obviously shocked, and I sense the storm raging inside him. If anything, he appears angry, and my heart sinks. He doesn’t want me. It’s obvious, and I bite down hard on my lip, wishing I could take the words back but accepting I would never rest until I voiced them.
He is the risk my heart is taking before my mind can beg me to stop.
“Rose.” He exhales sharply and fixes me with a frown.
“Do you understand what you are asking?”
“Of course.” I maintain a blank expression because if he is going to hurt my heart, I won’t let him witness it.
He tugs me down beside him onto the couch, and as he holds my hand, it’s as if he is about to explain one of life’s lessons to a child.
“It’s been two days since you left the convent you were about to dedicate your life to. Now you are asking me to marry you with no regard for the outcome.”
“I’m not stupid.” I straighten my back and fix some fire in my eyes.
“You said yourself I am a target. I am being hunted, and today was an example of that. My theory is to remove the bait. If I’m already married, it’s game over.”
He stares and then appears to relax and nods, leaning back against the couch, his expression a blank one.
“So you want to marry me to keep the threat away.”
“I’m not using you, Julius.”
“It doesn’t sound like that to me.”
“Think about it.” I implore him, hoping I don’t sound like an overeager schoolgirl.
“It makes perfect sense. We marry as soon as possible, and the threat is extinguished. We have time before Tiffany is required to marry and um–”
I break off, and Julius adds softly, “Is pregnant with her first child.”
“Yes, um, that.”
I’m unsure where to look because if I’m honest, I never thought this through and Julius sighs, running his fingers through his hair as he struggles to form a sentence.
I realize I’ve shocked him. It was pretty obvious, so I wait for him to digest this new information, and after a while, he huffs, “I could use a drink. Fuck this has been a helluva day.”
“Would you like me to fetch you one?”
I’m anxious, and if anything, his expression softens, and he reaches for my hand once again.
“No, Rose.”
I’m surprised when he pulls me a little closer and his soft smile reassures me—a little.
“Do you realize what you’re asking, baby? Marriage isn’t a contract I take lightly, and neither should you. It’s for life,much like the commitment you were preparing to make to God just a few days ago. You are making decisions based on fear, and I will never allow that.”
