But she couldn’t.
She would not.
Her pride wouldn’t let her... and also her loyalty to Elise, who all but worshipped him. Elise had been furious when she’d first heard the rumor linking his name with Dara’s. A marriage would send her spinning.
However, the most important reason for refusing him was that his proposal had been uninspired. True, she’d told him she did not wish to marry him, but if hehadto ask, he could have put some emotion into it. A bit of warmth.
“No, Mr. Brogan, I can’t marry you.”
His formal facade dropped. He made an annoyed sound. “Do you remember when I first arrived? Just now? I said I would not let you refuse my offer. That was only a few moments ago, you know.”
Nowhe was showing emotion. Aggravation. She’d known she could bring it out in him. She crossed her arms, aware that she was rejecting the only way out of the mess she was in. Then she thought of Elise. It gave her the courage to say, “You behave as if I don’t have a choice.”
“You do not.”
“Hmm... that is funny. Ihavemade a choice, so I think I do.”
He took a step toward her.“Dara.”He did not say her name as if they were lovers, or ever could be.
“Michael,”she responded in kind.
He shook his head. “You are the mostexasperatingwoman in London.”
“Obviously not wife material,” she countered coolly. And then, because she was who she was, she told him the truth. “Elise admires you. I won’t hurt her.”
“Dara, I have made no promises to your sister.”
“You don’t have to. We women imagine what we will. Elise sees herself with you.”
“You speak of choices, and yet I am denied mine? What if I don’t see myself with Elise?”
This was dangerous ground. “You are asking me to be your wife out of obligation—”
“What if I wasn’t?”
For the first time in her life, Dara was robbed of speech.
Was he saying what she believed he meant? She feared examining his words or giving them too much credence. Every man wanted Elise.
And yet his face had an expression she couldn’t define. Oh, his frustration with her was there, but also something else. His gaze dropped to her lips. Deep inside her, muscles tightened in response.
He spoke, his voice low and tight, almost as if he struggled within himself as well. “If you don’t marry me, you will be ruined. I can’t let you be destroyed after you so heroically saved a child’s life.”
Bitter disappointment struck her with what seemed to be a hundred little darts. She’d misread his intention—again.
She took a step back. “You are like David, ready to take on the Goliath of Society, to stand for what is right—”
“To stand for you.”
He wasn’t going to make this easy. She felt thesting of tears. She blinked them back to continue doggedly, “Except, unfortunately, there is too much at stake for me.”Such as her heart.“Society’s disapproval means nothing compared to betraying a sister who trusts me.” Elise had become a good excuse. A true one, and much safer than Dara honestly confessing her feelings for him.
“She will understand, Dara.”
“I think I know her better. She won’t. You are quite a prize, Michael Brogan. On top of being important and impossibly handsome, you aren’t afraid to let a woman speak her mind. Who among us can resist that? Especially once she learns how well you kiss?” Her throat was tight. She was just barely holding herself together. She looked away from him. “Marriage is a drastic measure for a few rumors. It also makes a mockery of the sacrament.”
“Dara.” He said her name as if it was caress. He moved closer to her. She watched him approach, almost afraid to breathe.
He stopped. They were practically toe-to-toe. “I will not let you drown in the gossips’ meanness any more than you would have let that child drown.”
