“You did.”
“I did not.”
He shrugged. “You did.”
Leonie wanted to lash out at him. Wouldn’t she know if she had married him or not?
Or perhaps she wouldn’t?
Her mouth had a sour taste, her stomach was still tender, and the devil inside every muscle and every joint would not go away.
“Did I speak clearly?” she wanted to know.
“Your diction was perfect.”
She frowned at his offhandedness. “We were pronounced man and wife?” she wanted to clarify.
“Absolutely. Reverend Davis said the words loud and clear and then you nearly hit the floor.”
“Ifellto the floor?” Certainly, she would have remembered something like that. And wouldn’t she have at least a bump or a bruise?
“No, I caught you before you could injure yourself.”
“So gallant,” she muttered to hide the fact that she was appalled by her behavior. She had spoken vows in a ceremony she did not remember, a ceremony that was considered the highlight of one’s life. “Did I walk out of the church on my own?”
“No,” he said. He poured himself a cup of tea. Apparently there was truly tea in it. It was a small victory that this time the sight of the teapot didn’t make her so much as shudder. “That is why we brought you here instead of the Pulteney. I had no desire to be seen hauling my unconscious bride over my shoulder and up the hotel staircase. Your father thought it wiser to bring you here. I did carry you across the threshold as if I was the most eager of swains. You had your head buried in my shoulder. Everyone was fooled but I believe you feared you were going to be sick.”
Leonie remembered none of this, and yet she did not question it had happened, especially when she squeezed her hand and then realized something was different. She looked down and was startled to see the ring on her left finger. It was a star sapphire. “I haven’t seen one of these since I was in India.”
“Yes, well, that is where I’d purchased it.” He didn’t look at her as he spoke but focused on the tea in the cup he held. It must not have been hot because he downed the contents.
Leonie raised her hand so she could see the ring in the lamplight. This was her wedding ring. The setting was simple and yet elegant. The stone was beautiful. She’d always marveled over the star in sapphires.
He had chosen this for her—just as if he knew her tastes.
And she knew nothing about him. Over the past few weeks, she’d been more preoccupied with her own concerns.
He watched her. There was no humor in his gray eyes, no warmth in the set of his mouth. She deserved his scorn.
“I don’t remember any of the ceremony,” she confessed. It was a humbling admission. She looked at the ring again and then closed her fingers, feeling the metal circling her finger. It made her nauseous to think she could behave in such a manner. Still... “You never answered my question about our future. Weareto be a marriage in name only, aren’t we? Of course, you will wish that now?”
His answer was to set the teacup down on the tray. An angry muscle worked in his jaw—and she knew the answer.
“I won’t, you know,” she said.
“Won’t what?” His voice was quiet.
She knew he understood exactly what she was talking about. It was there in the glint in his eye. He was not one to enjoy being challenged.
However, this was important to her. The matter should have been settled by now.
Leonie looked down at the ring and then, squaring her shoulders, met his gaze. “I have no desire to share the marriage bed.” Her boldness frightened her. She’d been bold with Arthur and it had not gone well. However, she was not alone this time. If she screamed, a dozen guests and a harpist would come to her aide.
“We have no such agreement.”
“I’ve spoken to you about this from the day you made your offer. In fact, I never accepted your proposal. You dragged me into this marriage because all you want is my dowry.”
“And for that you felt it necessary to arrive at the church drunk?”
