“A woman?” Laurence’s face grew lined with confusion. “Women do not invest, my dear.”
“I know it’s frowned upon, of course,” she said. “But the exchange with your cousin a few days ago had me thinking of my own financial situation. I wondered if I could secure my future more fully if I were to put some of my savings into investments like the ones he was discussing. I know some ladies have done so through solicitors or male relatives. I’m sure Silas or Vaughn would be helpful if Danford would be open to such a thing.”
Laurence was simply staring at her now. He almost appeared annoyed. “I could ask, I suppose. My cousin knows him better. But you know, I come here to forget these sorts of petty things.”
“Or course,” she said. “Forgive me, it’s simply been on my mind.”
“Why?” he asked. “You’re provided for well enough by me.”
“I am!” she agreed, and it wasn’t a lie. “You are a generous protector, Laurence, I would never say a word otherwise. But a woman in my position must think about the future, mustn’t she? The reality is that I may not always be in the same place I am now. And I might not always wish to continue as a courtesan.”
His brow wrinkled. “Yes, I suppose ladies age out of such things, don’t they?” He was silent for a moment, buthis attention didn’t move from her. “Your future. What an interesting thought. You would have a future.”
She had to force herself not to pull a face. It seemed the man had just realized she was also a person for the first time since they’d begun their relationship months before. Not unexpected from a man of his rank, but still…it did make a person feel invisible.
“I hope I will,” she said when he didn’t continue. “Though perhaps…Laurence, I did want to talk to you about something tonight. I planned to wait until after supper, but perhaps now is the better time.”
He was still staring at her even as he sipped his drink. “What is that?”
“Our time together has been very fine,” she said. “I could not ever complain. But I wonder if it’s time to…to…” She struggled. It was always easier when the man did this. “Change it.”
“I agree,” he said, and set his glass aside. “After all, nothing can stay the same. And sometimes change can be a fulcrum. Shift the focus, alter the environment, and open up a world of possibility.”
Now confusion flooded her. What was he talking about? Because it didn’t seem like ending things.
“I…suppose. Laurence?—”
“You should marry me.”
CHAPTER 3
Julia’s ears rang as she stared at Laurence, but his image was blurry, even when she blinked to clear it.
“M-Marry?” she repeated, as if saying it out loud would somehow make her wake up. She had to wake up. This couldn’t be real. This man who she’d been about to end things with couldn’t have just asked her to marry him.
Not asked. Told. He’d told her she should, not asked if she would.
“Yes,” he said. “It’s a very good idea, I think. It would work nicely.”
What was he talking about? “I’m sorry, Laurence, I feel as though I’m spinning. Are you actually asking me tomarryyou?”
He fully looked at her again and there was a light in his eyes that wasn’t quite loving or even friendly. It was as if he’d just figured something out or found some kind of key.
“I am, Julia.”
He moved from the settee and down on one knee. Now his expression was softer, more what she would have expected from a romantic suitor asking a lady to join her life to his for the rest of their days. He took her hand and her breath hitched a little.She had pretended this moment dozens of times during her childhood.
“Julia Comerford, would you be my wife?”
She blinked. All the reasons she’d had to end things with this man just a moment before blurred a little. What he was offering might not be a great love like Arabella or Evie had. In fact, she knew it wouldn’t be. But it would be stability. True stability. She would be titled, just like Evie was. Her sisters would never have to step in to her aid again.
Better still, Julia would never have to go through the process of finding a protector again. There would never be that worry that came along with matching with a man and hoping he wouldn’t be terrible in bed or stingy with his allowance or, worst of all, cruel.
The fears, the anxieties, they would all be gone. Her future would be set. Perhaps it wouldn’t be entirely fulfilling on every level, but she would be free. Solid.
“Julia.” His tone was sharper. “A man doesn’t expect to have to wait for an answer to such a question.”
She shook her head. “I’m still shocked. Are you certain, Laurence? Your family might not approve.”
