Page 86

“You will have to get used to it. We will essentially be living together.”

It annoyed her that he was so casual about it all. “I do not think so, Your Grace.”

“We will be eating together for every meal.”

“Why?”

He glanced around the room. “What do you mean, why?”

“I do not see why we need to be in each other’s pockets.”

“I may get lonely.”

“Oh, please. This from the man who would spend days in his office by himself.”

He shrugged. “You have changed me.”

“Really? In what way?”

“You have made me crave your company.”

“Your Grace,” she began.

“Edward.” He came closer, and she took a step back. It did not deter him. He almost prowled toward her.

Her heart jumped about in her chest as if screaming for relief from its bony cage. “Your Grace. As you cannot be anything more than that. Kissing you is what has got me into this state in the first place.”

“So, you blame me as well,” he said, stopping in front of her.

“Of course not. We were both unwise.”

“Unwise.” He tapped his forefinger on his chin as if contemplating the word. “Interesting word to use.”

She lifted her chin a little. “Foolish then. Stupid even.”

“However unwise we were, I do not regret it.”

“Says the man whose reputation is not on the line.”

“Do you think that moving to a hotel is doing you any favors? Will they not wonder why you have left the safe haven of Warrington House? Why I also moved here?”

“Perhaps I wanted to show independence and to prove that I can use my finances wisely.”

“I doubt a magistrate will find that paying for a hotel is a frugal use of your funds.”

Rose threw her hands in the air. “Then I am doomed.”

“Let us make a deal. I will give you three days here and at the end of that time, once all the chaos of today is forgotten, you quietly move back to Warrington House.”

“I will not. How can I? I am sure your mother does not want me there now.”

“Mother wants me to marry you. I told her it would just make you miserable. And I would not do that to you.”

Rose looked up at him. Was that what he truly believed? She saw the cold conviction in his eyes. And any foolish hope that may have been hiding away in her heart disappeared.

“Shall we see what transpires in the three days and return to this conversation then?”

“I doubt anything will change in three days, but if it will send you back to your room, I will agree.”