Page 7 of The Widow Wore Plaid

She nodded. “You.”

Chapter Four

Astonishment lit Kinellan’s face, frank surprise replacing the dark scowl. “What are you talking about, Jane? You are not speaking sense. Why do you think I have asked you to leave?”

“You have not asked me yet, but you are going to.” It hurt too much to look into his beloved face any longer, so she pulled away from his hands and dropped her gaze to study the pretty patterned rug beneath their feet. “Tonight, out in the garden.” She swallowed hard, an agony of unshed tears in her throat. “I heard it in your voice just before we were interrupted.”

“Sweetheart, listen to me.” He gripped her shoulders, ducking his head to try to peer into her face. “I was never going to ask you to leave. If you must believe anything, believe that.” With a sigh, he released her. “It took me nearly a year to get you here. Do you think I would let all that energy and conniving go to waste? I’ve only just begun to persuade you.”

With something akin to hope, she sneaked a look at him. The tender regard she found there brought on more tears. And a ray of hope.

“Jane . . . come.” He put his arm around her and steered her toward the sofa.

Mopping her streaming eyes with the sleeve of her robe, she tried not to think of the muddle she’d made of her life. Despite his words just now, Kinellan must, of course, ask her to leave. If she wouldn’t budge on the marriage question, she would have to leave. He needed a wife and a legitimate heir. Two things he could not obtain if she were still underfoot.

They sat and he took her hands.

At his touch, tears pricked her eyes once more. Why did she choose this very moment to become a watering pot?

“Jane, I love you.”

The warmth and conviction in his voice, the loving look in his eyes completely undid her. Weeping outright for what she’d thought she’d lost, she covered her face with the folds of her robe to stem the tide. Oh, why could she not have brought a handkerchief?

Fortunately, he didn’t attempt to interfere, but waited with the patience of Job until she, with hitching sobs, could get herself in hand again.

“Better now, love?” Smiling kindly, he rubbed her back, his warm touch soothing her body and spirit.

She nodded, even though truthfully, she felt absolutely wretched.

“My love, despite what you thought you heard, I was not and would never voluntarily ask you to leave me.” He squeezed her hands, his smile broadening. “Before my fool cousin interrupted me, I believe I was about to say, I think you should give me another chance to change your mind about marrying me.”

Heart hammering in her chest, Jane stared at him, trying desperately to make sense of his words. Kinellan still wanted to marry her?

A seriousness came over him. His lips formed a thin, straight line, his brow furrowed, and his stare intensified. “I am sorry I cannot change the laws of Scotland and England as they pertain to the property and the estate of marriage. Neither can I amend the lack of rights afforded to married women. In my opinion they were written and passed by weak-minded men who feared strong women would end up ruling the world.” He chuckled. “Sometimes I think the world would be a better place if women were the ones empowered to do so.” He took up her hand again, rubbing it between both of his. “That being said, I have consulted with my solicitor in London as to how I can go about leaving you with as many rights as possible, should you ever agree to marry me.”

Jane’s lips trembled. “Really? You did that for me?”

“My love, if I could allow you to retain every right you now possess regarding your property and children, believe me, I would sign a contract to that effect this moment.” His face filled with love and longing. “Jane, I have no need for your wealth or property. I believe you alone should have the final say about anything regarding your children, although I would be happy to help you with any question if you sought my opinion. Of course, I would wish to have a hand in the raising of any children we would have together.” He raised her hand and kissed it. “And to the best of my ability, and that of my solicitor, I will stipulate any or all of these issues in any settlement you would wish to sign.”

Speechless, Jane could only watch as he smoothed her disheveled hair, then cupped her cheek in his hand.

“I only want the right to call you my wife, my love. To have leave to love you and have you by my side until the end of my days.” He stared into her eyes. “I’ve never known I wanted anything so clearly in my life. I swear to you, on my oath as a gentleman, I will do everything within my power to make your life with me just as you would wish it to be. Would you like that, sweetheart?”

Breath coming fast and sharp, Jane feared to twitch, sneeze, move a single muscle that would deter him from this utterly remarkable proposal. It was a marriage proposal, wasn’t it? “Kinellan, you are asking me to marry you, aren’t you?”

He ran his hand around the back of his neck, his mouth in a rueful pucker. “I know I promised not to, but I wanted to see if perhaps you’d had a change of mind. A change of heart, once your friends arrived. You’d seemed restless these past few weeks, and now that they are here, you can talk with them. They always give you good advice, or at least comfort such as I cannot. So I thought they might be able to give you a different perspective, is all. Each of you has been a widow, but you’ve all had different perspectives and challenges in widowhood. I just wanted to give us another chance.”

“Oh, Kinellan.” Overcome by the sincerity of his words, Jane launched herself into his arms and buried her face in his chest again, the most comforting place she knew. Even if he wasn’t able to do everything he’d just mentioned, the fact that he truly understood the reason for her reluctance to give up her freedom made her love him even more. This man would never be Lord John Tarkington, with all his exacting demands and decrees. Were she to let Kinellan slip through her fingers now, she’d be the worst fool that ever lived. And by God, she was no fool. “Yes.”

He pulled her face away from his chest and peered into it, excitement growing in his eyes. “Can you please repeat that, love? I really couldn’t hear properly and I want to savor this answer.”

She wiped her face on her sleeve yet again—the silk now ruined beyond repair—looked him squarely in the eyes with all the love she possessed, and said, “Yes, Kinellan, I will marry you.”

His smile widened until it threatened to stretch to the moon. Gently, he placed his hands on either side of her head and brought her to within an inch of his face. “You have just made me the happiest man in the world, my love.” He drew her the rest of the way and pressed his lips to hers.

With that soft touch, Jane lost control. He was hers now. Forever. She pressed back frantically, suddenly hungry not for just his lips, but for all of him. Mine. She thrust her tongue into his mouth, eliciting a sensual growl from him that heated her body in an instant.

Without breaking the kiss he gathered her in his arms, stood, and carried her to the bed. Laying her down gently on the soft cream coverlet, he let her legs dangle over the edge.