As long as he’d lived, Liam had never seen anyone look so heartbroken. He wished he could do something that would make her smile again. Instead, not only would she find herself unmarried, she would have to face down the rumors that would find their way around town after tonight.
It was so unfair that it made him want to do something to protect her.
“An advertisement?” Marshal Wright asked, looking at Liam now.
“Through Mrs. Gilbert’s agency,” Liam said. “It was . . .” He trailed off. Noting that he hadn’t meant to place the advertisement felt disingenuous. After all, hehadwritten it. And he did hope to place it at some point in the future, when he was more established.
And if he were honest with himself, Miss Wright was precisely the sort of lady he’d hoped might answer it.
He looked from Wright, who was still sizing him up as if he wanted nothing more than to haul him outside and show him exactly what he thought of him, to Miss Darby who watched him with an expectant look, to Miss Wright, whose despair was written all over her face.
And he knew what the answer was.
There was only one way to satisfy the marshal, save Miss Wright from being shipped back to Kansas in ruin, and keephimself on good terms with the Darbys and everyone else in town.
Liam swallowed and shoved down every doubt he had.
“I’ll marry her.”
Chapter Eight
TILLY BLINKED.
She couldn’t possibly have heard what she thought she did.
But then Mr. Hannan nodded and repeated himself, his eyes on her this time.
“Do you mean that?” Jamie barked at him.
“I do,” Liam, still looking at her, almost as if he were half-afraid that she’d turn him down.
“Tilly?” Jamie turned to her. “Do you want this? I won’t force you to wed a man you don’t wish to be with.”
Tilly could hardly breathe. Did she want it? It wasallthat she wanted. Although she certainly would have preferred for it to happen under better conditions. For it to be entirely Mr. Hannan’s idea, and not something he felt himself forced into doing.
But she was hardly about to say no.
“Yes,” she managed to say.
“It’s a wise solution,” Miss Darby said approvingly. She smiled at Mr. Hannan, and Tilly had the sense that no one could stay angry with him for very long.
Jamie looked between her and Mr. Hannan. “All right,” he finally said. “Tomorrow. I’ll arrange it. Miss Darby, could I prevail upon you to keep Hannan’s room for one more night? I’ll take my sister home with me.”
“No,” Tilly said at the same time as Miss Darby said, “Of course, Marshal. I’ll make an exception this once.”
