She straightened her shoulders. “Now that we have that out of the way, I see no reason why we cannot address our mutual concerns with respect and civility.”
“I agree.”
Encouraged, she went on, “There are, obviously, two issues before us. I’ll begin with my estate. I will not sell it to you, sir, for any sum.”
He didn’t counter her statement. Instead he asked in neutral tones, “Why not?”
“Camden Manor is more than a piece of property to me. It is my sanctuary.”
“Not only yours.” His gaze was shrewd. “Your estate provides a refuge for your tenants as well.”
His insight caught her off-guard. Shifting uncomfortably, she said, “My motives aren’t altruistic. I need tenants to farm the land. But I’ll not discriminate on any basis other than honesty and effort, a willingness to work hard.”
“Your farmers hold you in high esteem, Miss Brown. As do I.”
His gentle sincerity made her heart somersault.
She cleared her throat. “Then you understand why I will not sell you my land.”
“I do. But that doesn’t take a compromise off the table.”
She frowned. “What sort of compromise?”
“Before we get to that, I want to hear your reply to my proposal of marriage. That, I take, is the second issue before us?”
A part of her wanted to press him on the railway because there was no compromise possible that she could see. At the same time, anxious butterflies swarmed her at the mention of his other offer, and she wanted to get it over with.
“As flattered as I am by your proposal, I cannot accept,” she stated.
“Well, you’re nothing if not consistent.” He quirked a brow, not seeming the least bit offended. “Would you mind telling me why?”
“As I said before, we are not a match physically.”
He gave her a lazy, heated look. “That was not the case at the masquerade.”
“I had amaskon,” she said in exasperation. Was the man being purposefully obtuse?
“And it wouldn’t have mattered if you didn’t.” All sensual indolence fled him as he stalked up to her, took her chin in his big hand, making her meet his eyes. “Do you really think a scar could diminish your beauty? Could change a man’s attraction to you?”
Yes. A fist pounded painfully in her chest.Because it has before.
Because before…it changed everything.
“What happened, angel?” His voice gentled, as if he could somehow read her mind. “Did someone hurt you?”
Her throat closed. He was a light that threatened to expose her darkest corners. The part of herself that she kept locked away because the pain was too much to bear. She held onto her composure, the shield that had helped her to survive fortune’s slings and arrows. She drew the shutters over her heart. Shoved the memories back where they belonged.
She met his gaze evenly. “Neither my scar nor my past is subject to discussion.”
He studied her. “You’re right. Discussion isn’t getting us anywhere, is it?”
Surprised but relieved at his capitulation, she nodded. “It would be more productive if you simply accepted—” Her words ended in a gasp as he moved, quick as lightning, sweeping her feet off the ground.
“What in heavens are you doing?” she demanded breathlessly.
“Being more productive,” he told her.
* * *
