“Let me be very clear: you would belong to me. And I would have no need of another.” The possessiveness in his eyes was unmistakable and filled her with relief.
Yet a question popped into her head. In truth, it had been tumbling about since he’d revealed last night that his marriage hadn’t been perfect, intimating that conjugal relations had been part of the problem.
“Were you faithful to your wife?” she said.
His eyes shuttered. “I told you my marriage isn’t open for discussion.”
“If I’m to make a decision about the future, then I need to be in possession of the facts.” She wasn’t about to back down, not about this.
Silence stretched between them.
His jaw taut, he said, “Sylvia told me to take a mistress, and I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t betray my vows.”
This affirmed what Thea believed about him, that he’d been a true and devoted husband. It also raised more questions about his marriage: what sort of a woman would knowingly send her husband off into another’s arms? Sensing the emotion churning beneath his controlled surface, she decided not to push about his past. At least, not at the moment.
Instead, she said, “I know extramarital affairs are fashionable amongst theton, but I wouldn’t tolerate it. I wouldn’t want my husband sharing intimacies with anyone else.”
“Possessive, are you?” His eyes softened, as if the notion pleased him. “Don’t worry, princess, I won’t stray from your bed.”
They were approaching a topic, a sensitive and critical one. She hesitated, thinking of how hard it must have been for him to lose his wife in childbirth. Yet it was all the more reason she had to ask.
Steeling herself, she said, “How do you feel about children? Having them, I mean.”
Her decision about the future might hang upon his answer. Because she needed—nay, deserved—to be treated as a flesh and blood woman. To have a husband who wanted her as a wife and lover and mother of his children. Being called a princess was one thing; she didn’t intend to be shut away, protected in some stupid tower. She’d wasted enough of her life watching the world go by. She wanted tolive.
With bated breath, she waited for his reply.
His brows came together, his expression intent but not closed off. “I won’t lie. The idea of you going through childbirth takes years off my life. There are, er, methods to prevent conception, of course.” Before she could speak, he went on, “But I would not insist upon using them if your desire was to add to our family.”
“I want any children we might be blessed with,” she said tremulously.
After a moment, he gave a curt nod.
Their negotiations gave her hope. Desire, honesty, and commitment to building a family together would provide a strong foundation for their relationship. It was more than most marriages had. And everything he told her solidified her intuition that he wasn’t a man incapable of love; he shied from it because it had hurt him before. Over time, if she could win his trust, perhaps she could convince him to give love another chance.
Love couldn’t be forced. Luckily, her struggles with her health and her music had taught her patience.
“What do you think about affection?” she ventured.
“A bonus, definitely.” His thumb skated along her bottom lip. “One that I would welcome between us.”
This time, she heard a wistful edge to his reply and saw the fierce longing in his eyes. That, of everything, decided it for her. He might speak of love in a dismissive manner, yet he made her feel desired and wanted down to the marrow of her being. He was a man who guarded his emotions, yes, but he could learn to let down his barriers. Look how he’d been with Freddy. He was opening up to her, too—even if he didn’t realize it.
In her heart, she knew that they could make each other happy. A future with him was worth any risk. She took the leap of faith.
“At our first meeting, you heard my music—heardme. I knew then that you were the husband I wanted. Nothing has changed,” she said.
A breath released from him. The fact that he’d been holding it fueled her optimism.
I love you, Gabriel.One day, I hope you’ll love me back.
“Then the matter is settled. You honor me, my sweet.” He bent over her hand. The gesture was formal, yet primal satisfaction gleamed in his eyes. “Now I suggest we go in before I scandalize my future in-laws beyond repair.”
Chapter Twenty
The next three days passed like the calm before the storm. Thea was well aware of the impending danger, the preparations being made, yet even worry couldn’t erode the happiness she felt. For almost a year, she’d agonized over whether her affections were returned. Now, to know that Gabriel desired her and wanted to marry her… she could scarcely contain her joy.
Of course, there was his moratorium on love, but once she made up her mind about a thing, she stuck to it. She’d decided not to let a mere word get in the way of their future. After all, his views on the subject might change over time, and she would do everything in her power to sway him. For now, it was enough to know that they would have desire and affection, be true to one another.
