“Mr. Mannerly, Katie is my constant companion. There is nothing that escapes her attention. The theme of our discussion is known to her. She will be discreet.”
“It is? She knows why I have come?”
“She does.”
“And she will not reveal anything to your father until I have had a chance to present my case to him?”
Miss Grant hesitated. “Sir, I believe I made it clear that there would be no opportunity to speak with my father. This meeting is to be the last. I will give you the necessary insight into my situation that will make you understand. But that will be the end of it.”
For a woman so determined in her decision, Tobias observed, she did not appear content with her choice. It was just as he had suspected. She was once more choosing fear over happiness. But he would give her something worth believing in. Whatever she doubted within herself, she must be certain ofhim. It was time to wipe her objections from the table.
“Miss Grant.” He spoke a little less boldly than he would have liked, all too aware of the eyes of young Katie boring into the back of his neck. He took a deep breath. “Sophia. You will let me call you ‘Sophia’? I cannot unburden my soul to anyone but my dearest Sophia.”
“Really, Mr. Mannerly, you…”
“Tobias.”
“What?”
“Tobias. Please call me ‘Tobias.’”
“I will do no such thing!” Sophia protested. But her ears were quite pink with embarrassed pleasure. And she lifted her hand-cocoon to her breast.
“Sophia, I…”
“Mr. Mannerly…”
“Tobias.”
“Really, I cannot…”
Tobias sighed. “I have already explained. Regardless of our short acquaintance, we are quite beyond the point of Mr. and Miss.Iknow it. You know it. And what I have to say can bear no further interruption. You may object when I am done.”
“Well! That is rather presumptuous, don’t you…”
“When I am done, dear Sophia.” Tobias laid his finger softly upon his own lips, and Sophia—more from shock than willingness—subsided into silence.
“Much of what I would say,” he continued, “you already know. At dinner, I expressed my admiration for you at great length. And always you resisted. The reason evades me. I have seen the fondness your family has for you. The low esteem of your own worth therefore originates with you. You have convinced yourself no one could love you—not truly. You have placed the burden of your value upon your weakened legs and lungs. But they have nothing to do with it! You have all the qualities I treasure. Youarethe treasure!”
He stopped to catch his breath, and Sophia immediately opened her mouth to refute all he had said. But Tobias rushed on.
“I know youwantto believe it. My feelings have been outspoken and obvious. And I sense that you share them, though you are sensible and restrained in your expression of them. I will not let you drown them out. I know a passionate heart beats in your breast! I have seen it in your writing. I have seen it in your eyes. But you bind your passion tightly with cords of fear. Well, I am here to set it free. I am determined to drive the fear and doubt from your mind. This is no idle declaration. I am committed to you—to us. Marry me, Sophia. Marry me! I give you my heart, my life—unreservedly and forever. Will you give me yours?”
A little gasp of delight percolated up from behind him where Katie sat. But Tobias sought his answer from the woman he loved.
Sophia, far from delighted, froze in place like a deer before the hunter. Then, the cherished kiss no longer cradled, she brought her hands to her mouth to hide the expression of horror stamped upon it.
“It is a shock, I know,” Tobias admitted, but Sophia shook her head violently and tears pooled in her eyes.
“How could you?” she whispered.
Of all the responses Tobias had imagined—and he had tried to predict them all—this was not among them.
“I don’t understand,” he replied honestly.
Sophia wiped her tears roughly and sniffed. “I told myself I knew you. I believed you were a man of honor. And yet you mock me.”
“Mock you?Mockyou?” Tobias spluttered. “I offer you everything I have, and you think I mock you? How, pray, have you come to such a monstrous conclusion?”
