“Listen closely, because I’m only going to say this one more time. I willnevermarry you.”
Dirt Bag frowned. His mouth opened like he was about to offer up a threat, but his gaze went over her shoulder and he relaxed. “We’ll just see about that, won’t we?”
Ria turned to see her mother on a fast march toward the three of them.
Oh no.Her mother would probably accept his proposal for Ria on the spot and insist they elope as soon as possible. She might also produce a clergyman and a shotgun to ensure the bride agreed to this horrible, awful, pending arranged marriage in a timely fashion.
Doom cavorted within her soul, doing a hateful dance of glee.
Cam wanted to pick up Ria and run when her odious intended dropped to one knee and proposed. At first FitzOsbern had seemed sincere, whipping out a gargantuan diamond ring—the kind Cam couldneverafford to give her.
But as the conversation went on, it became clear the other man had something else on his mind. FitzOsbern didn’t seem to want to marry Ria. It was more like heneededto marry her. Cam wondered what the guy was up to. It was obvious Ria thought the same thing, but she looked over her shoulder and seemed to deflate. Cam followed her gaze and saw why her spirit seemed to sag and why FitzOsbern seemed so smug all of a sudden.
Governess Ruth Latham Borne marched toward them like a battalion chief about to go into combat. She moved at a fast clip, staring down the three of them like lasers would shoot out of her eyes at any moment, target Cam especially and burn him to the ground until only a pile of ash remained.
“What is going on here?”
FitzOsbern puffed up, showed her the ring box and said, “I’ve just asked your daughter to marry me, twice. She’s turned me down, twice.” Ria’s mother turned on her daughter as FitzOsbern continued, “Now that you’re here, perhaps you can talk some sense into her.”
“Alexandria,” Governess Latham Borne said between gritted teeth. “Do you wish to marry this man or not?”
Ria straightened “I told you before, Mother. My answer is no.” A tear slipped down her cheek. “I will never marry Douglass Barnard FitzOsbern willingly.”
Governess Latham Borne turned to FitzOsbern, cleared her throat and said, “Well, young man, you have your answer. My daughter does not wish to marry you.”
FitzOsbern stood stunned, mouth opening and closing like a crust-fish’s. He wasn’t alone in his shock. Ria exchanged a look with Cam, who was also flabbergasted. He lifted a shoulder in puzzlement. Ria’s mother looked rather…satisfied, for lack of a better word.
FitzOsbern found his voice. “I beg your pardon, madam?”
“I doubt that very much. You’ve been quite a nasty little crust-fish on this whole trip and well before we ever boarded theRoyal Caldera Forteon Alpha-Prime. But let me tell you something, your antics have not gone unnoticed.”
“My antics? Little crust-fish? Are you out of your head, woman?” FitzOsbern’s tone was the epitome of disbelief.
“No. I believe I understand things quite clearly, maybe for the first time since I’ve known you.”
Cam noticed two women approaching, one obviously pregnant, the other holding a baby.
FitzOsbern saw the women and his face went white and waxy. He thrust the ring box in Ria’s hand and grabbed her upper arms. Cam clamped his hands around the man’s wrists to force him to let go, but he held fast.
“Alexandria, youmustmarry me. Today! Our union has been arranged since you were a child. We were meant to be together.”
“Let go of her or I’ll break both of your arms,” Cam gritted out.
FitzOsbern must have realized he meant it and let go. Ria stepped back. Cam let go of the other man and wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin on her shoulder, claiming her for all the world to see and doing his best to ensure the man knew she was off-limits.
The pregnant woman called out, “We need to talk to you, Fitz.”
The baby let out a wail loud enough to reach the outer atmosphere. FitzOsbern looked like he’d tasted something sour.
“Aren’t you going to go comfort your child,Fitz?” Governess Latham Borne asked.
“I beg your pardon. I do not know these base women.”
“That’s very interesting. You certainly seemed to know them well enough back on board the ship.”
FitzOsbern shook his head. “Not true. Never seen them before.”
