“Then accept that this is something I can’t do and, thankfully, I came to my senses before it was too late. I’m not as strong as you are, Hawk. The next time I might give in. I ask that you be a gentleman and don’t ask this of me again.”
“Then marry me,” he said quickly, not really knowing where the thought, the words had come from, but knowing that he meant them. He wanted to marry her. For the first time in his life he stood before a woman he didn’t want to lose.
After a long intake of breath that ended on a shaky sigh, she whispered, “What?” She stepped back, hitting the wall. “You can’t just say something like that to me.”
“I can. I know in my heart you belong to me and no one else, Loretta. Marry me.”
“I belong to no one. I can’t. And you know I can’t marry, either. I took a vow to never marry!”
“Break it.” He grabbed hold of her shoulders and demanded it hotly.
Her beautiful gaze searched his just long enough to give him hope, but suddenly she tore away from his grip and whispered earnestly, “No. I can’t. You’re being cruel even to suggest I do such a thing.”
“I’m being honest,” he said, his anger flaring because she wasn’t being reasonable. Did she think he took it lightly when he asked her to be his wife? “You were eighteen, and you were forced by your uncle to take that vow.”
“There’s truth to what you say, but I was also of a sound mind when I said it and I had a choice not to. I could have married Lord Denningcourt. So no matter what my hearttells me now, it doesn’t absolve me from the commitment of the words I said.”
“Vows are broken all the time,” he answered, not expecting this to be a battle he’d lose.
“But I took the oath in the church, standing in front of the vicar,” she exclaimed emphatically. “It was no less binding because of circumstances. And I never looked at them as just some words I flung into the air to try to appease my uncle. Please don’t ever ask me to break the vow again. I can’t.”
Loretta turned, opened the door, and rushed away.
Chapter 19
A gentleman is always prepared with an answer, no matter what the lady may ask.
APROPERGENTLEMAN’SGUIDETOWOOINGTHEPERFECTLADY
SIRVINCENTTYBALTVALENTINE
The rattle of harnesses and neighing of restless horses was a welcome sound. It was time to leave Hawksthorn. Loretta had never thought she would welcome going back to Mammoth House, but she wanted to be alone with her heartache. Whether Hawk had been sincere when he’d asked her to marry him or just caught up in the heat of their passion and wanting to win the battle he said was between them, she didn’t know.
It was best that she never know.
Her eyes adjusted to the faint gray light of the early dawn morning. She stood with her back to the manor, watching the hustle and bustle of servants tying the baggage onto the coaches while she waited for Paxton to come down so they could leave. Her dark-brown cape and gloves were on and her bonnet was tied under her chin, but theouter clothing didn’t keep the damp chill from nipping at her cheeks and nose.
She’d managed to get through the whole of yesterday without any uncomfortable words passing between her and the duke. The sunshine had allowed them to ride around the estate in an open landau with Paxton, Lady Adele, and Mrs. Philbert. The wind was still and the temperature warm enough the ladies didn’t need blankets for their laps. They’d stopped and enjoyed refreshments on a bluff overlooking the mansion. Paxton and Lady Adele had seemed as happy together as two frogs croaking to each other across the moors.
Dinner had been a repeat of the night before with a glamorously set table, more food served than it was possible for her to eat, and Mrs. Philbert to help keep the conversation level and on casual issues. However, plenty of sudden glances, long stares, and thoughtful expressions had passed between Loretta and the duke.
At the sound of male voices, she turned to see Paxton and Hawk walking out of the house side by side. Her heart started beating faster. It didn’t help that Hawk’s gaze was fixed on her face. Perhaps it was womanly intuition or maybe just a great desire for it to be so, but she felt he was looking at her as if he were hoping she would ask to stay.
He stopped in front of her. “Miss Quick.”
She caught the calming, clean scent of his shaving soap that she enjoyed every time she was near him. She breathed it in deeply, hoping to memorize it.
“Your Grace, I didn’t expect you to rise and see us off this morning. I thought we said our good-byes last night.”
“Did we?” he asked, as much with his expression as his words.
“I thought we did, too,” Paxton added. “But it was kind of you to come down.”
“No matter,” Hawk answered. “You’re my guests, and under my protection, until you arrive safely back at Mammoth House.”
“Thank you for making this visit happen for me. I am glad I met Lady Adele. She’s—”
“Not a vicar’s daughter?” Hawk cut in and asked before Loretta could finish her sentence, and then he smiled.
