He looked into Ria’s face, dropped to one knee, held up the box and popped it open to display a huge diamond ring. “Alexandria Latham Borne, will you marry me?”
Chapter Nineteen
Ria wasn’t often at a complete loss for words, but having Dirt Bag FitzOsbern drop to one knee and propose in front of the love of her life rendered her absolutely speechless.
Her mouth opened. Nothing came out. She closed her mouth. She tried again. Open. Nothing.
“Alexandria?” Dirt Bag prodded, looking at Cam with annoyance. “Well, will you?”
Why is he doing this? What is he up to?
He didn’t want to marry her before. She recalled easily the lip curl he’d exhibited the last time the topic came up. Her mother had, of course, been the only one talking about their marriage and how wonderful it would be.
Dirt Bag huffed impatiently. “Are you going to answer me?”
“No. I willnotmarry you.”
“What? Why not?” Dirt Bag stood up, looking clueless as to why she didn’t fall to the ground at his feet and accept his unexpected proposal after snubbing her for the entire trip from Alpha-Prime to Earth.
Oh no.A horrible thought occurred to her. What had happened with Cam’s aunt on the trip? Had she done something to make Dirt Bag want to marry Ria? That didn’t seem likely, given what Prudence had said. It sounded like Cam’s aunt wanted Ria with her nephew. She wouldn’t want Dirt Bag to propose. Would she?
Operating on instinct alone, Ria asked, “Do you happen to remember the journey to Earth the first time? You couldn’t be bothered to speak to me the whole trip.” Maybe he’d give her a clue. Hopefully, the imposter taking her place hadn’t done anything to change his mind about their future together. “So, tell me what has changed in the last ten days, huh? What?”
Dirt Bag tilted his head so far back she thought it might fall right off his shoulders. He snapped it forward. “I know we didn’t see much of each other on this trip, but that will change now.”
“Will it?”
“Sure. Now Iwantto spent time with you.”
Cam looked like he was about to tear Dirt Bag limb from limb. She had to get to the bottom of this. Fast. “Why?”
“Why else? You’ll be my wife.” He shrugged. “And once we get married, you can talk all you want.”
In an imperious way that only a FitzOsbern could pull off, Dirt Bag looked around the way station, his expression eloquent in his disappointment at the array and variety of shops and eating places. Were they not up to his exacting standards?
Ria leaned against Cam’s side, gathering strength. “What ifIdon’t want to talk toyou?”
“Fine. Whatever. Don’t talk. That’s up to you.” He kept searching the area as if not finding what he was looking for.
“So, is there a place we can get married here on Earth somewhere?” he asked a bit distracted.
“What!”
His gaze returned to her from the fruitless search. “I thought we should get married right away. We can go back to Alpha-Prime already married and then have a big party with my parents. What do you think?”
“I think you’re…off your rocker.”The Earther phrase book comes in handy once again.
Dirt Bag frowned. “What does that mean?”
“It means she thinks you’re crazy,” Cam said. “So do I, by the way.”
Dirt Bag stood up and eyed Cam. “Who in the deep dark space potato patch are you?”
“Don’t use that language with me.” Hostility came off Cam in waves. Ria wanted to wrap herself around him, but it probably wouldn’t be appropriate. She slid in front of Cam so he wouldn’t give in to the temptation to punch the pompous idiot. The FitzOsberns, as a rule, didn’t forgive bad behavior and had been known to prosecute folks for less.
Dirt Bag turned his fierce gaze from Cam and focused on her. “I thought you were hot to marry me for my money.” He looked even more pretentious than he usually did. “So let’s go get married. What’s the issue?”
