Kate held her breath as she watched Lord Knox hesitate. Heat flooded her cheeks. She could not just sit back and force this man into a marriage based on a lie. “This is all my doing. He never promised me marriage. I only said that to—”
“I do,” Lord Knox interjected, gently reaching for her hand. She stopped mid-sentence and turned to him. His gray eyes met her gaze, and stomach turned to jelly. “I meant what I said, I want you to be my wife.”
A cascade of mixed emotions flooded Kate. She was both elated and fearful. Had she forced this upon Lord Knox? He’d only wanted to help, and now he was committing to her for life.
“Miss Sheldon?” The widow turned to her. “Do you agree to marry Lord Knox? And before you answer, let me just say, I think you would be a fool to refuse him.”
Kate blinked. Her heart said yes, but her voice could not project the words. She nodded.
“Excellent!” Mrs. Dove-Lyon clapped her hands, breaking the intimacy of the moment. “We all know the urgency of this situation, so I expect you will obtain the special license and marry immediately.” She stood. “My work is now complete. I expect the two of you will want a few minutes alone, so I’ll leave you.” She turned to Aunt Jane, “Will you join me in the gaming room, Mrs. Seton?”
“Certainly.” Aunt Jane stood and gave Kate a beaming smile as she left the room with Mrs. Dove-Lyon.
“I’m sorry,” Katesaid as soon as the women were out of earshot. “I didn’t mean to force this marriage upon you. I’ll find a way to make this right. I’ll explain what happened—”
“Stop.” Oliver moved from his armchair onto the sofa next to Kate and took hold of her gloved hands. “You don’t need to explain because you didn’t force me into anything.”
Kate’s cheeks flushed. “Of course I did, my lord. You hardly even know me. All you did was show me a bit of kindness and the next thing you’re—”
“Don’t call me ‘my lord,’ Oliver murmured, shifting closer, desperate to close the gap between them. “I’m to be your husband, so I’m Oliver to you.”
She gazed at him, devouring his face with her beautiful, soulful dark eyes. He felt certain that she wanted him as much as he wanted her. Then she dropped her gaze and shook her head.
“Kate,” he whispered, reaching out to lightly caress the back of her neck. He wished she would just let him love her.
She breathed steadily as he leaned forward and brushed her skin with his lips.
“No,” she said, moving back suddenly. “I cannot let you marry me out of pity or because you feel the need to save me from a worse marriage. I admire you too much to let you make such a sacrifice.”
Oliver gently squeezed her hand. How could he make her understand? “Kate, listen to me. The reason I want to marry you is entirely selfish. It has nothing to do with pitying you.”
She stopped her protest and gave him her full attention. Oliver released her hands and straightened his shoulders, preparing himself to reveal what was most painful to him. He told her about his wife and her lost child, confessing that he’d been unable to give her another. And then, looking directly into Kate’s eyes, he told her what was now in his heart, “Since losingBeatrice, I have been alone. And I was prepared to stay that way. Until I met you. Now the hope of having a family is real.”
Kate put her hands on her stomach. “You want me for my child?” she said, hesitantly.
“No, Kate. I want youandyour child. Your loyalty, courage, and love for your unborn babe is something I admire greatly—a quality I will cherish in a wife. I want the three of us to make a new and happy family together.”
“And you will love him like your own?”
“Or her, yes. I will be your child’s father in name and heart, and no one need know any differently. If it’s a boy, he will inherit my title, and if it’s a girl, she shall have all the advantages and protections of an earl’s daughter.”
A dimple appeared on Kate’s cheek as her lips spread into a smile.
Oliver slipped out of his chair and knelt before Kate, clasping her hands in his once again. “Kate, you have a fighting spirit, a loving, loyal heart, and a beauty that takes my breath away. What more can a man ask for? I want to wake up beside you every day for the rest of my life. Do you understand?”
Kate bit her bottom lip and nodded, tears pooling in her eyes.
“Then answer me this. Miss Katherine Sheldon, will you marry me?”
“I will,” Kate’s eyes shone with tears. “I will.”
“Then there is only one thing left to do,” Oliver said, slipping his arms around Kate’s still-slim waist and pressing his lips to hers.
Chapter Eight
One Month Later
That first kisschanged everything for Kate. She’d never thought she could feel such an intense passion for anyone besides Theo. Yet, her love for Oliver was even greater, if possible. His kisses were far more tender than Theo’s had been. Oliver took his time exploring her mouth and letting her explore his—their urgency and desire building together.
