“Why? I would never demand that you do so, Mary. You know this.”
“Yes. I do. But I fear that while we may have averted disaster this evening, it will eventually find us again, and what then?”
“Then we will get through those troubling times as well. Together.” He stretched out his legs and leaned back a little.
“You are the best man in the world. Do you know that?” He seemed to wince, but when he said nothing in response she chose to interpret his silence as proof of his modesty. “I love performing at the opera, but I cannot keep taking the risk. Especially not when there is no longer a reason for me to do so.”
“Because your husband will be able to supply your brother with the funds he needs?”
She bit her lip. “I do not mean to sound mercenary, but yes.”
His eyes left her and he looked up at the night sky instead. “Just as long as you promise always to sing for me.”
“And for our children,” she blurted without thinking.
His face jerked toward her, surprise bouncing in his eyes as if it were a living thing that wished to be set free. “Children?” His voice was but a slight whisper.
“Forgive me. I should not have—”
“Oh no, Mary.” He dropped his gaze to her lips. “You will not retreat from me now. Not when you have just broached the one subject that I look forward to discussing with you in far greater detail.”
Heat rose to Mary’s cheeks while a funny unbalanced sensation took hold of her stomach. Was it possible for her to burst into flames right there on the terrace? An unsteady inhale of breath did little to calm her racing heart. “We should not discuss such things here.”
“Would you rather discuss them somewhere else?” His thumb traced the edge of her hand.
Feeling dizzy, Mary shook her head. Somehow, in the space of a second, Richard had managed to make it seem as though her gown was shrinking. Her chest rose and fell against the now unbearably restrictive fabric. “I think it might be best if I were to retire for the evening.” Trembling, she slid off the bench and rose to her feet.
He rose as well. “I have offended you.”
“No,” she whispered. She glanced toward the doors leading back inside the house. “You are tempting me, Richard, and if you do not stop doing so, I...” Her courage failed her. She was a well-bred lady after all. She could not speak of such things. So instead she told him decisively, “We will be married soon enough.”
He didn’t look convinced but he inclined his head, submitting to her wishes. “Of course we will.”
They started back toward the house, but there was something in his tone that Mary found unsettling. “What is it?” she asked.
His brow creased in a contemplative frown. “You do not trust me.”
“Of course I do!” How could he even say such a thing after all the faith she’d placed in him since their very first encounter.
“I was not speaking of ruining you just now, Mary, but that is how you chose to interpret what I said.”
Baffled, she drew to a halt. “How else was I meant to interpret it? The implication seemed very clear to me.”
“Perhaps,” he acquiesced, “but hopefully you know me well enough by now to realize that I would never try to convince you to do anything against your will. What I said... All I was suggesting was for us to enjoy a little privacy the way we used to before our engagement.” Lowering his voice to a soft whisper, he added, “I miss kissing you.”
An unexpected smile tugged at her lips. “Do you have any idea of how irritable you look right now?”
He raked his hand through his hair. “I feel frustrated. In more ways than one.”
“What do you mean?”
He shook his head. “Nothing.”
Puffing out a breath, Mary resumed walking. “As it stands, there are three weeks left until our wedding. I know my aunt will not approve of this idea and that your mother will likely be opposed to it as well, but what if we were to procure a special license?”
“What about all the preparations? From what I gather, just ordering your gown will take time.”
“I have no issue with wearing one of the dresses that I already own. Especially since I am beginning to fear, judging from my recent conversations with your mother, that any wedding gown I order will be more to your sister’s liking than it will be to mine.”
