How was she supposed to tell him she hadn’t made up her mind yet? That she wasn’t certain she wanted him. Well, that was a lie. Of course she wanted him. What sane woman wouldn’t want this man? But she didn’t know if she wanted to tie her fate to his.
His hand tightened on hers. “I’m exhausted, and that must account for my idiocy. This hesitation is regarding the wedding night, I assume.”
“The wedding night?” If he was trying to soothe her, bringing up the wedding night was not helpful. The prospect of going to bed with a man she barely knew was not exactly comforting. She was certain her pulse jumped.
“My first wife was a virgin, of course. I know how to be gentle,” he said. Genevieve had always thought of herself as a person who valued directness, but she had not been prepared for such a frank statement. Perhaps that was why she spoke without thinking.
“I’m not a virgin.” She clapped her free hand over her mouth, but it was too late now. And then she realized perhaps she had just saved herself from having to decide. Perhaps now he wouldn’t want to marry her.
But he didn’t release her hand, and his only reaction was to raise a brow. “That simplifies the matter. I have a few questions.”
Really!Who did this man think he was? “I have questions too,” she said, giving him a challenging look.
“Fair enough.”
She stared at him. She had been certain that statement would put him off.
“Ladies first.”
If he thoughtshewould begin the conversation about his previous private relations, he was more than exhausted—he was delusional. “I think you are forgetting something, my lord.”
“What’s that?”
“I haven’t yet agreed to marry you.”
“Haven’t you?
“No. And my answer is…no.” She couldn’t believe she’d said no. She didn’t know why she said it. Any woman would be an idiot to refuse a marriage proposal from the handsome, wealthy son of a duke.
But then, he hadn’t really proposed, had he?
“Are you certain?”
She looked away.
“Not certain, I see. I thought we discussed this.”
“No, you kissed me and then I became confused, and you left for London.”
“Forgive me if I argue, but you still seem confused. Shall I kiss you again?”
She held out a hand. “No. No more seduction.”
“I’m happy to marry you and then seduce you, but you’re making that difficult. Might I ask why you are refusing my offer?” His reasonable tone of voice was beginning to irk her.
“I have several reasons.” She pulled her hand out of his.
“Go ahead. I’m listening.” He leaned one hip against the desk and crossed his arms.
She paced away. “First of all, I’m a woman of thirty. I value my independence. I am not at all certain I want to become the property of any man.”
“I cannot change the law or the fact that wives are seen as their husband’s property. I don’t see a wife as property. For the most part, the intent of the law is to deal with financial matters. Everything you own becomes mine when we marry. You own very little and give up very little in the way of monetary concessions.”
“I don’t need a lecture, my lord.”
“Then let me come to the point. Forgive me, but I don’t think you have any idea what independence truly means. How long have you been a governess?”
“I have fourteen years of experience.”
