‘You took advantage of Will going off to war to force a proposal. He kept you a secret from his friends, his father. Was that at your behest so they could not intervene and advise him that it was all folly?’
‘I took no advantage. And what if my circumstances were dire? That was not my fault. What would you have done in my place? Are you such a paragon that you would not cling to kindness in a sea of cruelty and loneliness?
‘Perhaps, but Will would have regretted it. You would never have made him happy.’
‘I would have spent my life trying.’
‘Out of gratitude,’ spat Rawden.
‘Out of compassion. Our acquaintance was short, but I could see that William was lonely. I can recognise that all too easily. As of late, there has been much of that in my life. And no matter what you say, Will wanted me, and I would have made him happy.’
‘My soft brother did not know what he wanted.’ Rawden’s voice had risen to a shout, making Grace flinch. He sighed heavily and moderated his next words. ‘My brother was adrift in life and frightened of going off to war.’
‘If he clung to me as I clung to him, what is so wrong with that? If it comforted William that he had someone in this life who cared for him as he rode into danger, why is that so terrible?’
‘Because it was a lie.’
‘It was not. But you seem determined to brand me a liar regardless of what I say.’
‘So tell me? How would you have cared for him? What did a future with my brother look like?’
‘Is it not a wife’s duty to care for her husband, support him, and offer him comfort?’
‘And what would you have done when he lost his fortune, for my father apparently knew nothing of this match, and when he found out, he would have cut Will off.’
‘I had no mind to his fortune. I wanted a kind companion to stand by my side, and yes, I wanted protection, but for a woman in this world, that is only achievable with a husband. Whatever you think of me, I would have been good to William.’
‘Would you be good to me?’ said Rawden.
‘You do not need my goodness, nor do you deserve it.’
‘Don’t I? Does a broken heart not beat in this breast, Grace,’ he said, his face awfully close to hers. ‘I feel William’s loss keenly. If I do not make good on my promise, I will be letting him down all over again, and that I cannot live with.’
Such a look of anguish came over Rawden’s face, the ferocious mask slipping for a moment, that Grace’s heart lurched in her breast.
‘Do I not need comfort in this world, Grace?’ He gave a bitter smile. ‘I have a feeling I might find it with you, or am I just a fool? Tell me.’
Before she could gather her thoughts or put into words how appalling his proposal was, Rawden Voss kissed her. His arm came about her waist, holding her firmly but not pressed against him like the last time. The other hand went to the back of her head and held it gently. All Grace could think of at first was a way to wriggle out of his clutches, but with the slow slide of his lips against hers, all thought went out of her head, and there was just warmth, tenderness and some measure of comfort in being in the strength of his arms.
She clutched onto Rawden’s jacket, feeling rock-hard muscles underneath. A little whimper of confusion escaped her lips, and his kiss became harder, hungrier, hotter, until he was plundering her mouth. Grace was lost in him, overpowered and helpless. Only the sound of a door slamming downstairs brought her back to her senses.
‘No. I will not,’ she said, pushing Rawden away.
‘Your words say ‘no,’ but your mouth says ‘yes.’ he said, wiping away the kiss with the back of his hand. There was a feverish look of triumph in his eyes.
‘I have not given you an answer to your proposal.’
‘And what is it?’ he said, with absolutely no expectation of rejection.
Grace squared her shoulders. ‘I cannot accept that my fate is to enter a loveless marriage to a bully.’
‘I am no bully.’
‘You are, and my answer is no.’
‘Are you seriously rejecting me after that kiss?’ he spat.
‘I am.’
