Perhaps Cupid had been controlling her aim even back then.
“You are the female equivalent of a rogue, aren’t you?” he teased, the oddest sensation gripping his chest.
She displayed a wan grin. “Until you make an honest woman of me, I suppose I am.”
He narrowed his eyes, realizing that unless they married—and quickly—gossip would paint her as his mistress, or worse, a strumpet. The need to protect her suddenly consumed him.
“So... you’ll marry me?” he asked, nearly wincing at how desperate he sounded.
She blinked, apparently not expecting the query. “Is... is that a proposal?”
Although Daniel Sinclair hadn’t spent much time considering how he would acquire a wife, he had never thought it would be as simple as this. Someone with whom he had enjoyed spending time in his youth was offering herself—and a dowry—to be his wife.
He would be a fool not to take advantage of the situation.
But was it fair to her? What would be in it for her?
A gainfully employed friend who happened to be handsome.
Isabella seemed terribly willing. She had already admitted her move to Edinburgh was due to him. “Yes,” he said in answer to her proposal question. He glanced around where they sat, finally locating a small dandelion bloom. Much as they had done when they were younger, he plucked it from the grass and quickly formed it into a ring by tying the end of the stem near the yellow flower.
“What are you doing?” she asked in fascination.
“Making you a betrothal ring. This will have to do until I can retrieve my grandmother’s ring from Sinclair House and line up a wedding date with Lord McDonald.” When he saw her eyes widening, he added, “He’s a judge in the civil court. Said he could see to a quick ceremony for us.”
“Oh, did he now?” she said, displaying a look of awe. She removed her glove so he could slide the dandelion onto her finger.
“Indeed. Seems my reputation has been questioned, and I’m determined to set my best client straight on the matter. Plus he intends to pay for the work I’ve completed on his house plans.”
She wiggled her fingers and grinned. “I do like yellow.”
“As do I,” he said.
The two stared at one another for a few seconds before they leaned in for a kiss at the very same time. Having a moment to prepare, Daniel knew exactly where to place his hands, exactly how to angle his head so he could simply enjoy the intimate exchange.
They might have continued the kiss for far longer than they did but for the sound of disgust emanating from a female passerby.
“She said yes!” Daniel called out, hoping to excuse his behavior with the matron.
“You’re a cabbage-headed fool,” came the response.
Daniel scoffed as Isabella giggled in delight. When she finally sobered, she said, “Let’s have dinner at a pub. You can tell me all about your life since you moved here, and then you can take me to my rooms.”
He nodded. “And after that?”
She grinned again. “I’m going to discover if you feel affection for me.”
Momentarily shocked by the comment, Daniel barked a laugh. “Oh, I do love a challenge,” he murmured. He stood and offered a hand, and the two took their leave of the park.
CHAPTER 8
A LUSTY AFFECTION
Afew hours later
As Isabella lounged against the iron headboard of her bed, a pillow protecting her bare back from the rails and one knee bent to act as a work surface, she made the last few stitches necessary to repair the side seam of Daniel’s waistcoat.
Knotting the thread, she carefully clipped it with the tiny scissors she had retrieved from the nightstand and then shook out the garment.
