“I was going to Silverley. My abigail’s already gone there, so I still have to. If you’ll give me until this afternoon, I’ll have an answer for you. But I must tell you, Anthony, I can’t see myself marrying you.”
Abruptly, Roslynn found herself lifted up and kissed with a thoroughness that curled her toes. “Can’t you?”
She pushed away from him until he let her fall back on the bed. “You only prove that I canna think at all when I’m around you. I’ll be leaving now, if you’ll just get me my clothes. And what the devil were you doing by taking them away?”
“Just making sure you would still be here when I got back from obtaining the license.”
“Did you sleep…with me?”
He grinned at her hesitation. “My dear, I made love to you. Sleeping with you is rather beside the point after that, wouldn’t you say?”
She decided to say nothing more to that, regretting having brought up the subject at all. He could talk circles around her anyway.
“My clothes, Anthony?”
“Dobson is bringing them. And the portmanteau you left in your carriage is in my dressing room, if you need anything from it.”
Roslynn’s brows shot up. “You retrieved it? Thank heavens!”
“Good Lord, don’t tell me you were careless enough to leave something of value in a hired hack?”
She resented his censure. “I was upset when I came here,” she said tartly in her defense. “And more upset after I got here, if you’ll recall.”
“Quite so,” he conceded. “But you had better check to see that nothing is missing.”
“It was only the marriage contract I was worried about. It would take too long to have another drawn up.”
“Ah.” Anthony smiled, humor dancing in his cobalt eyes. “The infamous contract. You may as well leave it with me so I can get the reading of it out of the way.”
“And have you conveniently lose it? Not likely.”
“My dear girl, you really must try trusting me just a little. It really would make for a more agreeable relationship, don’t you think?” When she stubbornly refused to answer, he sighed. “Very well, have it your way.” But to give her a taste of her own distrust, he added, “Youwillbe at Silverley when I show up, won’t you?”
Roslynn had the grace to blush. “Yes. You were kind enough to make the offer. I owe you an answer. But I’ll have no arguing over it. You must accept my decision, whatever it is.”
With a grin that lacked concurrence, Anthony left the room. The fact was, he trusted her at this point no more than she did him. He would have to have someone follow her to make sure she didn’t take off straight for Scotland. He needed someone to keep Warton away from Silverley while she was there too.Couldn’t have them meeting again after he had blackened the fellow with such a walloping lie.
As for her coming up with the right answer, that didn’t worry him. Her cousin wasn’t the only one who could see them married one way or another.
Chapter Twenty
“Idon’t believe it! Tony asked you to marry him?Myuncle Tony?”
“I know what you mean,” Roslynn said, considering Regina’s wide-eyed wonder rather amusing. “I find it difficult to believe myself.”
“But it’s so sudden…well, of course he knows your circumstances. It would have to be sudden, wouldn’t it, if he was going to get you? Oh, this is famous! Uncle Jason is going to just die! The whole family is. We never thought he’d do it, you know. Oh, it’s just wonderful!”
Whether it was wonderful or not was debatable, but Roslynn smiled, not wanting to put a damper on Regina’s obvious delight. She had made her decision on the long ride to Silverley, which was fortunate, because she hadn’t had a moment’s respite since she arrived. First Nettie had laid into her, deservedly, blistering her ears with a thorough scolding for her thoughtlessness. Then Regina had had to hear all about the abduction and the harrowing escape from Geordie firsthand, which Nettie had mentioned as their reason for the unexpected visit.
Now Roslynn had had to admit that Anthony would be here soon for her answer. That Regina hadn’t thought to ask what that answer would be was telling. Of course she would be prejudiced. She wouldn’t be able to understand how a woman might have doubts about marrying someone of Anthony’s good looks and wicked charm, even if he did have a rakehell past.
“Everyone will have to be notified,” Regina continued enthusiastically. “I’ll do that, if you like. And I’m sure you’ll want the wedding just as soon as the banns—”
“No banns, puss.” Anthony sauntered into the drawing room without warning. “You can let the family know that congratulations are in order, but I’ve already sent for the parson, inviting him to dinner, and afterward we’ll have a little ceremony. Is that quick enough to suit you, Roslynn?”
Forcing her to reveal her decision in this casual way, the moment he walked in, was not how Roslynn had imagined it. But he was looking directly at her, waiting for her confirmation or denial, and if she didn’t know better, she would have sworn he seemed different. Nervous, perhaps? Could her answer really be that important to him?
“Yes, those arrangements will do…but we have some things to discuss first.”
