“So ye decided to find a fool?”
“Nay,” he stood and approached her, grasping her hands in his, thankful that she did not pull away. “The garden party when we first met? That was the first party I had gone to. I abhor attending such affairs. But I went in the hopes of findingsomeone that I would find interesting. Someone that I could possibly see spending my future with.”
She sniffled, her shoulders rising and falling before shifting her gaze to the window once again.
“Willamina.”
Her eyes returned to his.
“E’eryone that I had met that day didna hold my interest. They were either too meek and timid, or too boring, or too passive. Until I met ye. And in my mind, I saw our future.”
“And an end to your potential problem.”
“Aye, that too, but it was ye. Ye and your personality. Your independence that drew me to ye.”
She ducked her head, but not before he saw her wavering smile.
“When I saw that your cousin was forcing ye to wed, and ye stated ye had no such want, I thought we could solve each other’s problems, and mayhap enjoy each other’s company in the process.”
“Ye didna e’en ken me or naught about me.”
He chuckled. “Ye showed me more fire in that short interaction we had in the maze than the lot of lasses that had been pushed on me all day put together.” He squeezed her hands, and his heart jumped when her fingers squeezed back.
“At first, aye, ’twas a business deal. Made in both of our favors. But the longer we spent together, it became less about business and more about ye.”
“I told ye I dinna need a husband.” She whispered.
“I know.”
“Will your title be enough? I canna give ye the relationship ye desire. The one ye deserve.” Her eyes bore into his as if she were trying to make him see.
“My title be damned. Would I like to keep it? Aye. But ye ken what I want to keep more?”
She slowly shook her head, her lower lip quivering slightly.
“Ye. I want to keep ye more.”
She closed her eyes and he brought his hand up to sweep her hair behind her ear. “I canna stop thinking about the kiss we shared. I ken ye felt it, too.”
She turned into his hand, placing a kiss on his palm. “I have my own sullied past,” she whispered.
“I dinna care.” He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her to him.
“’Tis ugly. Ye got a glimpse at the theater. But believe me when I say that I am no’ nor have I e’er been a fraud.”
“It doesna matter. Whate’er it is, we shall work through it. And I promise no’ to keep any more secrets from ye, Mina. Just tell me ye will marry me still.”
*
Mina. He hadcalled her by the nickname he’d given her earlier and it went straight to her heart. As they stood there, near the window, so close their fronts rested against each other, her breath coming in short gasps, she looked into his ice-blue eyes.
He had told her the truth, but had not demanded she do the same. She had not been untruthful about anything that she had told him, but she had left many aspects out.
However, this could be her salvation. Did it really matter that he was doing it to keep his title?
Nay. Not when she had agreed to the union to keep her own assets.
They were practically doing the same thing.
