Page 59 of A Match Made On Duchess Square

She put a hand to her lips. “I don’t know.”

“Yes, you do.”

He was not going to let her slip back into her turtle shell and hide from the truth. Love was not meant to be safe. Love played havoc with your heart and laid it bare.

“Gwen, I am no coxcomb. But I know when a woman is attracted to me. Hot for me. You are showing all the signs.”

“I do not even know what that means,” she said with a pained laugh. “I was merely curious because I have never been kissed with such passion before.”

“Not even by your betrothed?”

He saw nothing but anguish in her eyes. “I do not even remember his kisses, they happened so long ago. There were never many of them…or ever like these. I mean, he did kiss me. I did not understand where such kisses were meant to lead back then.”

Because Andrew did not stir her passion. Was she just starting to understand this now?

This made James ever more determined to win her heart.

“Do you love me, Gwen?” Because she was clinging to him again and appeared quite comfortable in his arms.

She began to cry again. “It isn’t fair.”

He continued to hold her in his embrace, allowing her to be the one to pull away. Only, she was not pulling away and seemed to have no inclination to do so.

His heart was hers, if only she would accept it.

He sighed. “My offer stands. I wish to marry you. Think about it, will you? Give me your answer whenever you feel ready. All I ask is that you be honest with yourself. Stop hiding in the past. You may believe it is safest, but it is not. Reach for your happiness. I’ll be there beside you every step of the way.”

She rested her head against his chest. “Thank you, James.”

Was this not a hopeful sign? Yes, it was merely a thank you. But was it not her attempt to take that tentative first step?

“Are you very angry with me?” she asked with a shaky breath.

He gave her a tender kiss on the cheek. “I’m not angry with you at all. Why would you think that?”

Her breath brushed softly against his throat as she glanced up at him. “Because I am such a coward, a frightened spinster stuck in her old ways. But I liked your kisses so very much. And I like the way you are holding me in your arms. Do you wish for honesty?”

He nodded. “You know I do.”

“Well, here is how I feel about you…” She paused, swallowed hard because this admission had to be difficult for her, and then continued. “I cannot look at you without the butterflies in my stomach fluttering. I’ve given them quite a workout since meeting you. Their wings are very strong by now.”

He chuckled and gave her a kiss on the forehead. “You ought to trust your butterflies.”

She nodded against his chest. “I do trust them. This is why my heart is so turned upside down. I need to consider your proposal seriously. But this is too important a decision for me to make all at once. I cannot give you my answer just yet because I honestly do not know what it will be. I’m afraid of making the wrong choice. Can you understand?”

He nodded.

“But I will have it all sorted out by the end of your house party.”

“Gwen,” he said, groaning her name, “what is the point of holding this party? I’ve made my choice. I’ve chosen you.”

“But I haven’t made mine,” she insisted.

“All right.” He silently counted to ten in order to calm himself and not show any tension, because she was already looking for any reason to run away.

In truth, this was progress. He would have been shocked had she leaped into his arms and accepted him immediately. Others who only cared for his wealth and title would have accepted him with glee and never cared if he loved them, or if they loved him.

Gwendolyn was too honest for that. She did not care about the trappings of his wealth or becoming his marchioness. If she ever declared her love for him, he would know that she meant it, that she loved him to the depths of her soul.