“A large staff, tenants, those who look to the baroness to become involved in village affairs. Raising my children, but that goes without saying.” He eyed her carefully. “My wife would be my partner in running the abbey, as well as my partner in life.”
The carriage swung around a corner and threw them together. She felt the warmth of his body through her gown. Laura lost the thread of her argument as a surprising sense of yearning filled her. “I don’t dislike the idea of children,” she said,tentatively.
His smile stretched into a grin, his teeth white against his olive skin. “I’m pleased to hear it.”
The carriage deposited them outside the Opera House in Covent Garden where they joined the milling crowd dressed in their opera cloaks and finery. As they moved through the entrance hall, Laura caught snatches of conversation. Men were discussing the Boer War. She had questioned her father about it. Although he was reluctant to tell her much of the unpleasant details, the broadsheets had filled in thegaps.
She’d read John Stuart Mill who said that although war was an ugly thing, moralists and patriots who think that nothing is worth a war are much worse. She would like to have Lord Lanyon’sopinion.
He tucked her hand into the crook of his arm, and they climbed the red-carpeted staircase together. She glanced up at him, curious to discover more about him. “If women were in charge of the country, there would be no wars,” she said, becoming purposefully provocative to draw hisresponse.
A dark eyebrow raised a fraction. “You may be right.”
“If our country was in danger, would you fight?”
“Every able-bodied man would.” His fingers tightened around her arm. “What a solemn discussion. Let’s enjoy the evening, shall we?”
Chastened, Laura wondered if she’d shocked him. Or worse, had he found herimmature?
From the lavish opera box, she gazed down on the stage, soaking up every nuance of the music as the pianist created magic. She turned once to glance at Lord Lanyon and found him watching her, a soft smile on hislips.
Later, as they stood awaiting the carriage, she remained deeply affected by the superb virtuoso. “I enjoyed tonight very much. Thank you for inviting me.”
“I enjoyed watching you.” The look in his gray eyes sent her pulseracing.
“You didn’t lose yourself in the music?”
“Music and art are agreeable, Laura. But true passion comes from living.”
“Life would be dry as dust without them.”
The beginning of a smile lifted the corners of his mouth. “But we don’t have to live without them, do we?” He assisted her into the carriage and sat beside her, taking her gloved hand inhis.
She should protest at the familiarity of his gesture, but she liked the firm decisiveness of his hand clasping hers. The carriage rolled away, the horses trotting down BowStreet.
“I suspect you wish for a spirited conversation,” he said. “And I promise we will talk of these things at another time. I have something more important to discuss.”
Laura drew in a deep breath. That meant he wanted to see her again. She had been afraid he might not.
“My estate in Cornwall demands much of my time, as do my parliamentary duties.” His gaze settled on her mouth, causing her pulse to flutter madly. “I don’t have time to court you, Laura. I must return to Cornwall in a week. And it will be some weeks before I can return to London. I’d like this settled between us one way or the other before I leave.”
She blinked. “Settled?”
“I require a wife, someone who can take on a good deal. I’ve come to believe you would perform many of those tasks with grace and competence. I like to think you would enjoy it.”
With a soft gasp, she dropped her gaze to her lap. How could he have made such a swift assessment of her abilities? She couldn’t help being flattered. “My plans don’t include marriage.”
“You’ve made that plain, but I hope to change your mind. Are you sure you want those things above all else? What a terrible waste that would be, and what a half-life you would resign yourself to. You are made for more than becoming a fighter for women’s rights, Laura. You have a great passion for life. Are you going to deny that part of you?”
He undid the pearl button on her glove and peeled it back, exposing the skin on the underside of her wrist. The warm touch of his lips made hertremble.
She eased her hand away. He was so sure of himself, and of her, apparently. She swallowed her annoyance at how much he unsettled her, wishing he wasn’t quite so intriguing. “You feel you know me on such a short acquaintance?”
“I know enough. And the rest, I look forward to discovering.” There was a wealth of experience in the depths of his eyes. Sadness too, which was notsurprising.
If she did contemplate marriage, she doubted he’d have the qualities she sought in a husband. He was rather enigmatic. Would they share true intimacy,love?
“Will you marry me, Laura?”
