Page 42 of Captivating the Earl (Lords and Ladies in Love 5)

Her head jerked up, and she viewed him with wide eyes. Surely she was not surprised by his statement. As a member of the ton, she was aware of what happened when a young lady was compromised. Either she married the man who took advantage of her, or she ended up disgraced and cast out from Society.

“Most certainly you jest, my lord.”

“Ah. So we are back to ‘my lord.’ And why in blazes do you think I would jest about something like this?”

She shook her head and twisted the fingers in her lap. “Answer me truthfully. Had we not been intimate this morning, would you have offered for me?”

“That’s a ridiculous question.” He waved his hand at her.

“No. It is not. Would we be discussing marriage between us right now had we not availed ourselves of pleasure this morning?”

He didn’t answer, just continued to stare at her. Of course, he would not be offering for her this morning, because she was still under the scrutiny of the Home Office. He was under orders to bring her in for questioning in a very serious matter. Nevertheless, the gentlemanly thing to do was to marry her and save her reputation.

“My dear. We have posed as husband and wife twice and shared a room. Even if we had not been intimate, that alone would suffice to ruin you.”

“So, the answer to my question if you would be offering to marry me at this time if this morning had not happened is—what?”

Hawk ran his fingers through his hair. Why did the girl make things so difficult? “It is the right thing to do.”

“Then the answer to your offer of marriage must be no,” Lizzie whispered.

Bloody hell, dealing with this woman was frustrating. “I can’t give you a proper answer to your question because it is not a proper question. This morning did happen, and the correct thing to do is to marry. So I repeat my question. Will you marry me?”

…

Lizzie turned from Hawk’s intense stare and looked out the window. Marriage. She had assumed it would never happen once her

father’s disgrace had become known. She’d planned to stay in her position as governess to Wycliff’s children for many years.

She drew herself up and faced him. “My lord, while I am flattered by your offer, I am afraid I must refuse.”

He shook his head, and she was unable to tell if he was relieved or not. “You cannot say no. You might be carrying my child.”

“Not very likely. Several friends of mine were married for months before they conceived.” As precarious as her situation was at present, the last thing she needed was a husband. Especially a husband who considered it his ‘duty’ to marry her. Being someone’s “duty” did not sit easily with her.

If things did not go well with the Home Office she would be forced to run once again. Impossible to do when one was under the control of a husband.

“Perhaps it has taken a while with your friends, but it can certainly happen with one encounter.”

“You withdrew,” she snapped, tired of his badgering.

He leaned forward. “That is not a surety.”

“Nevertheless, I decline.” She raised her chin.

Hawk glared at her. “My honor is at stake here.”

They stared each other down until Hawk leaned back against the squab, his jaw tightened. “This discussion is not over.”

Nothing had been settled between them by the time they reached Hawkins Manor the next afternoon. The inn they stayed the night before had had enough open chambers to allow them separate rooms. Although it had been unnecessary, Hawk had explained to the innkeeper that his wife suffered from megrims and preferred her own room.

She had the beginnings of a headache as the coach started up the long winding road that Hawkins said led to his manor. The skies were a dreary gray, which cast a colorless tone over everything, including her disposition. The trees lining the pathway were beautiful, but with grayness shrouding everything, she couldn’t appreciate them.

The closer they got, the harder her heart pounded, and her stomach muscles twisted. She knotted her fingers in her lap and took deep breaths to calm herself. What would Lady Hawkins think of her situation? Of course, she would have heard of Lizzie’s father’s traitorous acts. How would the countess feel about a traitor’s daughter taking up residence in her home?

She glanced at Hawk to see if he was feeling any of the disquiet she was.

“What is wrong?” He had to have been watching her to note the change in her demeanor.