He raised an eyebrow. “Why don’t you give me the benefit of the doubt?”
Heavens. What had she got herself into? Could he read her mind? She squirmed in her seat. “I, uh, was thinking about this old castle. I could envisage a knight riding into the forecourt in his armor.”
He studied her. “I have a feeling you’ve left something out.”
She shrugged. Surely her thoughts were her own at least. “It wasn’t important.” She glowered at him. “Really.”
“As you wish.” He rattled his paper as if he’d grown annoyed. “You have an active imagination. Are you artistic like your father?”
“I suspect I am.”
“Excellent. You’ll find much to divert you when by yourself.”
She crumbled the last of her roll while studying him from under her lashes. His coal-black hair was thick and silky, his skin smooth and olive-toned. His dark brows formed a peak when she’d surprised him, and they almost met in the middle when he frowned. He had frowned a lot during the previous evening, but now a tiny smile, albeit a self-satisfied one at dealing with her and then tidying her away, in one of his properties, no doubt, hovered around his generous mouth. She wished she could find something witty to say. She suffered an urge to make him laugh, but that urge died when he resumed talking.
“If you find the situation to your liking, we could be married in the parish church here. I’ll arrange it with the parson and return to Doctors Commons in London for a special license.”
A piece of bread lodged in Kate’s throat. She spluttered.
“Are you all right?”
She took a long sip of coffee. “Yes, I think so. It’s just that it’s so sudden.” She needed time to get used to the idea, but apparently, she wasn’t going to get it.
“Yes, it is, and I’m sorry. I know you women like to turn the occasion into something special. Family and so forth. But you don’t have brothers or sisters, do you?”
“No. Do you?”
“Yes. A half-sister and half-brother.”
Kate longed to be part of a large, boisterous family. “Would they come here? If we should marry.”
“No.”
“But your parents will.”
“I’m afraid not.”
Shocked, she said, “They won’t come to your wedding?”
“As I have said.” His eyes turned glacial, and his expression brooked no more questions.
She gazed at him uneasily, wondering what lay behind his bleak countenance. Was he ashamed of her?
Then, as if the subject of his family had been neatly tidied away, he drank the last of his coffee, put the cup on its saucer, and folded his arms. “I gather this means that you’ve accepted me?”
“You shall have your answer after I read the will. As we have agreed.”
Robert would not tidy her away quite so easily. She pushed her plate away. He took her for granted and did not consider her feelings at all. And he would have to ask her properly.
“As you wish,” he said mildly, and returned to his newspaper as if all would be resolved like magic just to suit him. Everyone must dance to his tune.
Kate drank the last of her coffee and glowered at him.
Apparently oblivious, he folded his newspaper, pushed back his chair, and stood. “You must excuse me, I’m attempting to sort out my uncle’s affairs. You’ll find me in the library.”
“Very well, my lord.”
He paused at the door. “Robert.”
