“Why?”
She rolled his question over in her head. Why wasn’t it important? Was it because of what she’d heard him and the widow discussing so seductively? She tried pushing aside the pain from his refusal and focusing on why he had made her upset tonight.
Finally, anger rose inside of her, and she felt more like herself again. She yanked herself out of his arms and took another step back.
“Fine. I shall tell you what was on my mind.” She folded her arms and glared. “You have no right trying to ruin my chances with other men. When you refused my offer, I moved on. Why can’t you let me find another man to become my husband before my father signs the betrothal papers with Lord Stone?”
Slowly, Vincent nodded as he tapped his finger on his chin. “I understand now. You thought I was trying to interfere when I was only trying to help. I realized you didn’t know about those gentlemen, which was why I stepped in. Forgive me for trying to save you from a bad marriage. I didn’t want you to be with men who didn’t put their love for you first in their lives.”
She huffed and stamped her foot. “Why can’t you understand that I don’t care about love? I gave my heart away a few years ago. There is nothing left of my heart to give to another man. I just want to find a way to keep from being wed to Augusta’s nephew. If you knew Edgar, you’d know why I don’t want him in my life.”
He nodded again. “I’ve seen Lord Stone strike a woman across the face.”
“Which is why I don’t want to be living with him as his wife.”
Vincent continued to gaze at her, even though she couldn’t see his eyes. She wished she could read his expression. Had she finally gotten through to him? Would he leave her alone now?
“I do understand, Ellie. But I also wish you would understandme. You are too special to be tied to a horrible husband. That’s why I tried to scare you away from Pettingill and…um, that other one.”
She rolled her eyes. “Mr. Hobart.”
“Oh yes. That’s the bloke.” Vincent stroked his thumb against her chin before slowly trailing it toward her lips. “I’m not sure you understand the purpose of marriage, my precious. You may want to marry a man in name only, but men wed to have heirs. Even if you convince yourself it’s in name only, I assure you, the man you marry will eventually want to consummate the marriage. He will want a child to carry on his name and title. There is no way he would be immune to your beauty for very long before giving in to his desires.”
Her face heated from this very improper topic. She shouldnotbe discussing this with Vincent. However, her mind started clicking, and a question lurked on her tongue. “Is that why you turned my offer down?”
She wished she could see his eyes. Were they filled with panic right now? She just hoped he told her the truth.
After a few uncomfortable moments of silence, he cleared his throat and dropped his hand. “Yes, I suppose that’s why I refused. I’m not ready to settle down and have heirs. And just like you, I’m not ready to fall in love.”
She sighed heavily. Finally, he let her know his feelings. At least she was relieved he hadn’t turned her down because she was hideous or because he didn’t like the way she’d kissed him. “Yes, you are correct, Vincent. Eventually, a married man will want to beget heirs. I’m happy to know that’s what you were truly thinking when you turned me away.”
“Of course it was.” He rubbed his palms down her arms before grasping her fingers. “I do still care about you, and I don’t want to see you get hurt, which was why I stopped you from getting to know those other two men.”
Although she should yank her hands out of his grasp, she kept them there. Why did it feel so comfortable when she knew it shouldn’t? “Tell me, Vincent, are you going to help me find my future husband? Is that what your purpose is here tonight? It’s obvious that you aren’t here to help your sisters find beaus. If you were, you wouldn’t be standing in the shadows under a tree with me right now.”
He chuckled and brought one of her gloved hands to his mouth, kissing her knuckles. “You wish me to help you find a husband?”
She shrugged. “If you are going through the effort of trying to scare them away, you may as well assist me in finding therightman. It would be less work for you. Perhaps you could introduce me to some of your friends.”
He laughed again and lowered her hand, but he continued to cradle it in his strong grasp. “I really don’t have many friends who are searching for a wife.”
“You are friends with my brother.”
His brows lifted. “Forgive me, my precious, but I don’t think it’s proper to marry your brother.”
She huffed. “Of course it’s not. I was just pointing out the fact that youdoknow men who are available for marriage.”
“Not as many as you’d think. Besides, the ones I know are rogues.”
“Like yourself?”
He barked out a sudden laugh. “Yes indeed, but worse.”
“You think they are worse because none of them actually care about the women they try to seduce?”
His smile vanished. “I didn’t exactly seduce you, Ellie.”
“I saidtriedto seduce.”
