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How had her life become so complicated?

The door creaked open behind her, and she whirled around to see Adam slink inside. His gaze was heavy and his hair disheveled—even more disheveled than before—as though he’d repeatedly ran his fingers through it.

“Oh, good, you’re dressed,” he said with a nod. “We have to go.”

“Yes, I…” She looked around the room. “I just need to put on the beard.”

Adam nodded silently and went ahead to put on his clothes. There were no touches and no kisses anymore. Adam barely even looked her way.

Everything had changed, and all because of the stupid marriage proposal, Beatrice was certain.

Was this what it would be like to be married to him?

Beatrice closed her eyes. She didn’t want to think about it.

They walked out of the club in silence and neither of them broke it until they settled across from each other in the carriage.

“So,” Beatrice started, trying to sound upbeat. “What did the viscount want?”

Adam shrugged. “To control everyone’s lives, as always.”

“You don’t have to listen to what he has to say,” Beatrice said carefully.

“I know.” Finally, a little smile appeared on his lips. “Considering that most of the time he is wrong, despite his utter belief in the contrary, perhaps I shouldn’t.”

Beatrice swallowed and tried to smile. She wasn’t certain she succeeded.

“Beatrice.” He looked directly at her for the first time since his conversation with the viscount.

“Yes?”

“There’s something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about the entire day. Something I’ve been thinking about for a while now.”

“Oh?” Beatrice couldn’t manage the curious inflection.

“When we set out on this journey, I promised to help you accomplish this list for you before you got married. But… there is something I think you haven’t considered.” He tugged at his cravat. “Well, maybe you have, but we haven’t talked about this, although I think we should have.” He was rambling. He never rambled, that was her job. “I can help you with more than just a list, you know.”

Beatrice’s breath caught. “Oh?” It seemed to be the only reaction she was capable of at the moment.

“Yes, I can… I can stop all this nonsense and save you from your terrible husband-to-be.”

“Save me?” Beatrice stifled a grimace. This was going to be a disaster.

“Yes.” He reached his arms toward her, and Beatrice reluctantly placed her hands in his. “You don’t have to marry Lansdowne, you know. You can marry me.”

For a moment, the entire world stopped spinning. There was no sound of gentle rain tapping against the roof of the carriage, no sounds of horse hooves or the carriage wheels. Even the rocking of the carriage seemed to still. He had proposed. He had actually proposed.

It wasn’t her dream proposal, however. And as much as she had been thinking about this exact situation since they left the club, she still had no idea how she felt about it.

“You can’t be serious,” she breathed.

“I am.” And he looked darned serious, indeed.

She pulled her hands out of his hold. “But what of your goals, your dreams to travel and see the world? To discover your passions. To find your purpose.”

“I can do all those things with a wife.” He sat back and spread his arms. “It doesn’t signify. I can get us a special license, and we shall be wed next week. Before I leave.”

Beatrice stilled. “And what shall I be doing while you’re gone?”