My fiancée left me because she realized what you haven’t.I’m unlovable.
“No.That’s my only secret.Well, that and Ralph, but you know that one already.”
She nodded.“I do.”Turned away from him, her cheek glowed bright pink even in the shadowy darkness of the carriage.He planned to make Eugene pay for that.There wasn’t much he considered himself good at, but breaking noses was one of his few skills, and Eugene would understand that one before this was all done.“If Charlotte was incorrect, then there is no reason for us not to proceed.”
Something in her tone made him die a little inside.She sounded so…cold.He’d lost her already, hadn’t he?The heat from her kisses last night had already dissipated and, once again, it was his fault.
He reached out a hand to touch hers.She pulled away, shrinking away from him.
He’d done it already.He’d lost any affection for him before they’d even wed.His teeth clenched together.He should have been more honest.She’d been open with him, until now and it had made him feel… He drew in a deep breath as he considered the emotions, the connection, he’d developed with her.“Priscilla.”
She shook her head.“Once you have the license, send word to my mother and we’ll wed.”
He gave a tentative nod.“All right.”
“I just want to make one more addendum clear.My mother, she needs to come stay with us until I can secure her own lodging.”
“Of course,” he said.“It wasn’t even a question.”
Her shoulders slumped then, a tear sliding down her cheek.He knew she was angry with him.Hell, he didn’t blame her.
But as his arm slid down from the back of the bench to her shoulders, he pulled her closer, settling her against his chest.
She melted into him.
Dipping his head down, he rested his cheek on top of her head.“Say the word and we’ll leave now.You, me, your mother.We’ll go to Scotland.”
Her head tilted up, looking at him.“You’d do that?”
“To keep you safe?”He cupped her cheek, staring down into the warm brown of her eyes.“I’d do anything.”
Her eyes widened as her lips softly parted.“Thank you.”
He slowly lowered his mouth to hers, her soft, yielding lips clinging to his as he kissed her.He had to find a way to open himself to this woman.
He couldn’t lose her now that he had her here in his arms.
Her hand came to his chest, but rather than push him away, her fingers slid just under the lapels of his coat, her fingertips digging into the hard muscle under his shirt.
The kiss lingered, lengthened, and in that moment, he knew there was still a chance to win her affection.
As soon as he could, he’d share the intimate details of his past.He’d like to tell her now but he should get her inside and get himself to the archbishop.
He’d get that license and make certain Eugene could never touch her again.
CHAPTERELEVEN
Priscilla woketo the spring sun shining in through her windows.After she’d returned home, she had, in fact, gone to bed, exhausted from the emotional day.
With the sun, and sleep, she rose from bed feeling more…hopeful.
Wyatt had not stolen anything.And he’d had good reasons for keeping his activities secret.Intellectually, all his choices made sense.And marriage with him was far superior to staying here.Still.
There was some part of her that still ached.Their bargain was a temporary match that suited their individual needs.Nothing more.
She didn’t want to consider her feelings too deeply, they were emotions she’d been attempting to deny she even had.
She knew she shouldn’t allow them.The promises she’d made to herself at her father’s death were where she needed to focus her attention.Still, there was some part of her that wished to lose herself in Wyatt’s embrace.Let his strong arms cradle her through the pain of the last year.Was that wrong?
