“Oh yes. We couldn’t forgetOthello. Our second agreement then. We’re on our way to a happy future, I’m sure.” His teasing expression faded. “This will all be rushed. Your parents pushed the idea of the special license to so many people that there will be no choice but for me to obtain one. We’ll be back in London within the week and probably married a few days after that.”
Her vision swam and she gripped the armrest of the chair with all her might. “Yes,” she squeaked out.
His brow wrinkled and his hand came to cover the one on the armrest. When he touched her, she relaxed just a fraction and her breathing slowed a little. “When it’s over, though, then it will just be you and me. Sowe’llget to decide what a marriage between us will look like.”
She worried her lip. “What do you suggest?”
“Perhaps we could be friends.”
Friends. With this man. Truth be told, she did often see his charms. And he was intelligent. He could be kind. Not to mention that in her most secret admissions, things she’d never say out loud, she had very much liked kissing him. The idea of being his friend was not repugnant.
“I would like to be your friend.”
He leaned closer again and the half-smile was back, along with the wicked twinkle to his eye. “Even though you think me a scoundrel, Miss Lockhart?”
“Today you weren’t a scoundrel at all,” she said, refusing to tease back about so serious a subject. “Under the most trying of circumstances, you’ve been nothing but gentlemanly.”
He arched a brow. “Except when I kissed you in the library.”
“Yes, thoroughly,” she admitted with a blush.
He chuckled. “I could have been more thorough.”
She turned her face because she didn’t really understand what he meant. He’d touched his tongue to hers, how could one be more thorough than that?
“Did you like it?” he asked.
She refused to look at him and instead picked at a loose thread on the upholstery of the chair. “The kiss? It is unseemly to say.”
“Propriety tells you that?”
She did glance at him then, trying to see if he was mocking her. He had a serious expression, though, so she nodded.
“There is only us here. I’m asking for honesty between us. Did you like it?”
When he’d covered her hand earlier, it had calmed her, but nowthe riotous emotions were back, her breath was short again. He was treading into waters that felt very dangerous and yet there was a thrill in her chest, not fear. Why did she feel that?
“I…I did,” she admitted, and then lifted her hands to cover her burning cheeks.
He smiled again. “There is the physical part of marriage, Clarissa. I don’t know if your mother has spoken to you about it yet as you haven’t been engaged before. But…I do want you. Desire you.”
She blinked. “I’m not certain what that means.”
He made a little strangled sound in his throat and then got up to pace away from her. “Well, we’ll work that out. We’ll be friends and I hope lovers. Perhaps that will be enough in the end. I do promise you that I’ll never harm you or control you. I’ll never make you afraid.”
She stared up at him, declaring this vow that felt as powerful as whatever one they’d take in a church so soon. She felt compelled to make one in return. “And I-I’ll never embarrass you. I’ll do everything to make my duties as countess pleasing to you. To always elevate your legacy with my behavior.”
His brow wrinkled a little, but he nodded. “I believe you.”
He had moved to stand near her dressing table and he glanced down. She realized he had discovered her copy ofThe Mirror of the Gracesand she rose, blushing as he lifted the book and looked at it, thumbing through the pages.
“A comportment manual?” he said, glancing up at her.
“Yes. My mother gave it to me for my birthday. I’ve been making a study of it the last few months.”
He nodded. “I see. Perhaps once we’re wed, you’ll allow me to review it.”
“Why would you wish to?”
