Page 14 of The Earl and His Lady

When he spoke, his voice dropped an octave lower and his eyes shone earnestly. “I do. I think you ought to marry me.”

For the space of two heart beats, Virginia only stared at him, uncomprehending. Then a laugh squeezed its way from her lungs and she dropped his arm. “Marry you?”

He nodded firmly. “I am unmarried, with title and influence. My name will protect your sons and they will not be taken from you.”

Virginia’s heart pounded heavily against her ribs. She stood, gaping at him like a fish, and he kept talking as though it was not at all extraordinary to propose marriage after less than a day’s acquaintance.

“I have thought it all through, my lady, and I feel I must make a few things clear at once. If we marry by special license, we need not wait for the mourning period to end or have banns read where your brother-in-law will learn of it.” He spoke rapidly, perhaps sensing her rising disbelief. “It will be a marriage in name only, until the full mourning period has passed. I respect your right to grieve a husband who was a good man. I lost my wife—” Here his words took on a choked quality, but he cleared his throat and continued.

“I lost my wife years ago, and I understand the importance of grieving. I do hope, someday, to have an heir of my own, but that can be addressed at a later time.”

Virginia’s cheeks warmed but she felt herself nod.

Am I actually considering this madness? She could hardly believe it.

“My lord,” she said, forcing the words out before he could say another word. “What are you suggesting? How can you be certain? You have only known me since yesterday.”

Lord Calvert spread his arms as he spoke, gesturing with his hands. “And? Many a marriage has been founded on less and been successful.”

“Many a marriage has been founded on more and been a disaster,” she quipped, folding her arms across her chest. But she had not closed her mind to the idea. She knew Lord Calvert by reputation and her cousin’s glowing praise of him. “I would want a legal contract in place,” she said. Dear Lord, what was she doing? “Assurances that you would not touch my sons’ inheritance or my marriage portion.”

For how demanding she sounded, he only looked solemn.

“Easily managed.” He stepped forward, close enough that she could see the blue in his eyes again. “And more. I swear to you, on my honor, to treat you with kindness and respect. I also swear I will do all in my power to care for your sons as if they were my own. You and they will want for nothing. Your concerns will become mine, their successes a priority. I do not enter into this agreement lightly.”

“Only hastily,” she said, tilting her head to the side as she regarded him. Virginia’s heart had slowed as she listened to his earnest words. Could she trust him? He had a reputation of being fair and decisive. He’d done what he could to ensure her own cousin’s happiness. She knew he had influence and power, even in London. And hadn’t she just been thinking that Charles would’ve liked him?

Charles had often told her it was more important to look to the actions of a man than his words. Hadn’t the earl already given her some evidence of the sort of man he was in his treatment of her children?

Lord Calvert mirrored her, tilting his head and studying her with his blue-gray gaze. “Would you like time to think on it?”

It would be sensible to ask for time, to discuss the matter with others, to consult Mr. Olivier in Bath. But the fact remained that no one could make decisions for her anymore. As a widow, all responsibility fell to her to care for her family and her future. Though a more cautious mind would step back from the proposal, would scoff at the absurdity of it, Virginia’s instinctive reply was the one she must make.

Taking a deep breath, assuring herself that her heart was safely tucked away behind the fortress of her making, Virginia gave her answer.

“I do not think more time will change my mind. If you are certain, I am as well. Yes. I will marry you, Lord Calvert.”

His eyes brightened and he bowed, keeping his gaze on her face. “I am honored to have your trust, my lady.”

Virginia waited for a feeling of dismay, for regret to settle in her stomach, but instead it was as though a weight had gone from her. When he extended his hand again, she took it, the warmth of his grasp comforting.

“Please,” she said, watching his expression as she spoke. “Allow me to tell my family and my sons.”

“Of course, my lady. Would you like me present?”

Virginia shook her head. “I am not afraid. I only wish to handle their questions and concerns on my own. And I must contact Mr. Olivier. He is a barrister in Bath and has been helping with my case.”

“I will see to the special license.” His eyes flicked away and he shifted his weight from one foot to the other, and then looked down at the ground. “There will be at least one line of inquiry put to me, since you have not completed the year’s mourning period.”

It took Virginia a moment to realize he was uncomfortable, perhaps even embarrassed. “What might that be, my lord?” she asked, puzzled. The man could say all he had to her with a straight face, and now his ears turned pink?

“Is there any way,” he began, speaking slowly and mostly to the ground, “that you could be with your late husband’s child?” His ears were redder than pink by the time he finished his question.

Virginia felt warmth explode in her cheeks. To discuss such intimate details with a near stranger—! She told herself not to be ridiculous. They were both mature, had both been married. Swallowing the discomfort, she started to shake her head. But he was still looking down.

“I am not with child,” she answered, her voice soft. “My husband has been gone three months. And in his last months of life, he did not have the health to engage in activity which might’ve made me so.” She released his hand and turned, going back down the walk, her arms wrapped around her waist. It was a strange thing to discuss, of course, but the loneliness in her heart, the longing for what had been lost, caused her heart to ache.

How she missed Charles. Missed being held by him.