“So what exactly are you proposing? That he drag you and your sister—and her new husband—through another scandal while you nobly hold down the fort until Warren returns?”
“No. I have another plan.” He strode over to look out the balcony door. “You and I should marry right away. Tomorrow morning, first thing. I’ve already obtained a special license, so I’ll come to take you riding in the morning and we’ll go straight to the church. Your mother allowed us to go in the phaeton with only my tiger before, so that will work. We needn’t even involve her in the wedding, since you’re of age and don’t need her permission. I’ve already spoken to my parish priest—”
“Wait, wait, stop it!” She jumped up from the bed. “Marry? How does that keep Durand from revealing your family secrets?”
He faced her, the shadows throwing the sharp planes of his face into harsh relief. “Once we marry and he loses any chance to gain you, he’s lost his weapon. Divorce is nearly impossible to obtain, even for a man of my stature, so he can’t make you his bride. That would leave no reason for him to spill my family secrets, other than a fit of pique, since it won’t achieve his original aim. Even Durand isn’t stupid enough to risk his own career in diplomacy to spread slander about an English earl just to vent his temper.”
Lord. What a plan. “I’m not so sure about that. As long as we don’t know why he’s—”
“I’m not just rushing into this, if that’s what you think.”
“I think you’re quite mad.”
He reached into the pocket of his frock coat and pulled out a folded sheaf of papers. “I had my solicitor draw up a marriage settlement this morning.” Setting it on the bed, he added, “I think you’ll find it more than generous, but take some time to look it over tonight. If it doesn’t meet with your approval, we can go to his office first thing so you can dictate any changes before we head to the church.”
While she was flattered that he trusted her with legal documents—most men wouldn’t believe a woman could even read them properly—this was all moving rather quickly. “Edwin—”
“If you want to involve your mother, I understand—but she’s not very good at keeping secrets, and Durand absolutely cannot know of it until it’s done.”
“I don’t care if Mama is involved, but—”
“Our marriage needn’t be a typical one, you know.” His throat moved convulsively. “If you prefer to live separately, we can do that once we’re sure that Durand is no longer an issue.”
“Which would make it a trifle hard for you to sire an heir, and I don’t—”
“Obviously, I’d prefer that we bear children and raise them together as husband and wife, but if that doesn’t suit you—”
“Curse it, Edwin, enough!” She seized his hands. “What doesn’t suit me is your giving up your entire life to protect me.”
His eyes widened. “I’m not. You know I’ve wanted a wife for a long time.”
“But I’m sure you would prefer to choose one for yourself. Not be bullied into it by some madman.”
“He didn’t bully me into marrying you. He attempted to bully me into not marrying you. I’m the one who came up with the idea of marrying right away. I did it with my eyes open, so you needn’t worry about that.” Lifting her hands to his lips, he kissed each one with that slow care that never failed to make her blood run hot. Then he added, in a guttural murmur, “And you must admit that we’re attracted to each other.”
Given the furious beat of her heart just now, she could hardly deny that. But it made no difference. “That’s not the point. There are things about me that you don’t know, things that you wouldn’t like, things that—”
“I am not leaving you to that bastard!” When she started, Edwin modulated his tone. “I will not stand by and do nothing while he tries to ruin your life. And if we’re married, he won’t act—I’m certain of it.”
“You’re calling his bluff. I see that. But what if it isn’t a bluff?”
“Then you’ll be forced to suffer the scandal along with us, but I honestly don’t think it will come to that. And at least I’ll still be protecting you from his attempt to have you. We can face him together as man and wife.”
Man and wife. Her heart twisted in her chest. When Edwin was being noble, she wanted to scoop him up and kiss him forever. But he wouldn’t stay noble. Not once he learned about her past. “It’s not fair to you,” she said. “Making you risk scandal for your entire family to protect me. I can’t ask you to do that.”
“You’re not asking. I’m offering. It isn’t the same.” He searched her face. “We can have a decent life together, you know. Muddle our way through things. And if we’re unhappy, we can have separate homes. Margrave Manor is already next to my estate. You could go there, raise our children there. As long as I’m always part of their lives, I would be content.”
“Content? You deserve better than that, Edwin.”