She gasped at his audacity. “You cannot force me to marry you! I have no wish to marry you—I have no need to marry you. I am not marrying you, and that is that.” She turned to go.
He reached over her shoulder and placed his palm flat on the door, preventing her from opening it, should she try. She did not. “Please remove your hand,” she said calmly, although she was beginning to perspire and tremble.
He turned her around, and she gasped again. “You have no choice. Look at the bright side, it will be best for Nicole.”
“Best for Nicole! What do you mean, I have no choice? I am telling you, I refuse to marry you.” She was shouting.
“Have you forgotten?” he said softly, so softly she hadtostrain to hear. He smiled. “I am your guardian, Jane, and you are under age. We are getting married next week.”
Understanding dawned. Horrified, Jane could only stare. He was going to marry her whether she liked it or not—she had no choice.
The earl had left. Jane sank down into a plush chaise, still shocked. She knew the earl well enough to know that if marrying her was within his power, and this was his desire, he would accomplish it no matter who objected, no matter the cost. She did not stand a chance.
Her head began to pound with the beginnings of a headache. She rubbed her temple, trying to think, trying to sort out her feelings and what must be done.
Only one fact was clear. He had broken her heart, bastard that he was. And she wasn’t indifferent to him, not at all. To the contrary, at the very least she was physically attracted to this man. And she still suffered bouts of compassion for him. To be married to him under these circumstances would be intolerable. He would probably break her heart again.
She tried to hate him. She couldn’t, but she was angry, so very angry, and so damn frustrated …
There was one single bright spot to the entire rotten tangle. Nicole would have a father and would not grow up a bastard. Maybe this was for the best. But what about their relationship?
Suddenly Jane was swamped with the realization of just what marriage entailed—and she was terrified.
She would be his wife. Caring for Chad and Nicole, caring for his house, caring for him. An image of them in bed together assailed her. Shaking, she rose abruptly and went upstairs.
The earl had said he would come back tomorrow to see Nicole. Tomorrow was not soon enough.
Jane changed her clothes and was on her way to Tavistock Square. She was so determined and so preoccupied she did not have a smile for Thomas when he let her in and ushered her into the morning room to await the earl.
She paced. She was flushed, her blood pounding. Her fists were clenched tightly at her sides. When the door opened Jane whirled. The earl smiled. “So eager to see me that you couldn’t wait until tomorrow?”
“Eager? Not quite,” she said coolly. She marched to the door and slammed it behind him. He regarded her with interest.
“I realize that we are getting married no matter how strongly I object,” Jane said. “True?”
“True.” He watched her.
“We have not discussed the terms of the marriage.” He raised a brow.
“Firstly,” Jane said, “I am continuing my work. You will not interfere in my career. Is this understood?”
“You may have your goddamn career,” he said easily, but his eyes were diamond hard. “We will reside in London during the run of your performance. However, you will take a few months off between each performance to come to Dragmore and behave as a mother should.”
Her fists tightened. “Are you insinuating that I am lacking as a mother?”
“I am merely pointing out that Nicole is your first priority.”
“So far I have been the best of mothers, even while working full time.”
“It is impossible to be the best of mothers while working full time.” He smiled irritatingly with superior knowledge.
There was no point in banging her head against this wall. Jane fumed. “Are we agreed then? I perform until the run is finished, then return to Dragmore for two months?”
“Three.”
“Two!”
“Three. Do not test my generosity, Jane.”
