“You do not hate me, then? Now that you know?”
He shoved down the laughter building in his belly and rising up his throat. “I’m afraid I like you more than ever. You can’t get rid of me that easily, Lady Maggie.” He leaned closer and whispered his next words against her neck. “If you wanted to get rid of me, you should not have kissed me in front of everyone.”
She turned so her lips brushed his ear. “I wanted everyone to know that I … that I chose you.”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. So mercurial. You spend days telling me no only to tell everyone you’re going to say yes before you actually do. Life with you will be no easy matter, I see.” He kissed her neck and her intake of breath hissed right next to his ear.
She pushed away. “I’m sorry I did not discuss it with you first. I should have. Now you cannot marry for money and I cannot either. You cannot start a business and I cannot save my family. This, I think, is true ruination. What will we do?”
Tobias shook the lust out of his head, trying to catch up to the conversation and the reason for the sudden space between their bodies. He frowned. “Ruination? Marrying for money? Why would I do that?” Then all of her words clicked together. She still thought him poor.
The time to tell her the truth had arrived. “Maggie, you gave me a secret, and our little game demands I give you one of my own in return.” He took in a deep breath, held her gaze, and let the words fly. “I am independently wealthy of my father and have been for years.”
She stared at him.
“Mags? Did you hear?” He waved his hand in front of her face.
“I …” She woke up blinking, head shaking. “How?”
“I traveled to Paris as soon as the war was over. I met with a designer there named Jean-Baptise Huet and studied copperplate printing on cotton at a factory.”
“But you hate cotton.”
“Yes. But my hatred had not yet reached a boiling point. Should I regale you on the evils of the cotton-making process or act out my all-consuming rage for you or—”
“Just tell me how you came to make your own living.”
“Ah, yes. Of course. To the point as always, Lady Mags.” Tobias toyed with the frayed edge of her banyan sleeve. “He put my design into production, promising me a percentage of the funds should anything come of it.”
“And it did well?”
“It is currently one of the most popular prints to come out of the factory. They commissioned more designs, and in short, I am no longer reliant on dear Papa or dearest Grandpapa for food, lodging, and fine wine.” He couldn’t keep the note of pride from his voice. “I can’t afford to fix all of your problems, but I can take care of you and pay a bill or two now and then for your parents.”
“I … I just … what am I to say to this, Tobias? I thought I was marrying an impoverished artist.”
“I can understand your shock. But I am a man of many words and can help you out of your current speechless predicament. You might respond by saying, ‘How wonderful, Tobias!’ Or perhaps, ‘You are a marvel, my intelligent and talented fiancé!’ Either will do. Would you like more options?”
Maggie put a hand to her temple. “It’s a lot to take in at once, I’m afraid.”
“More to process than admissions of blackmail?”
“Ha!” Her shoulders loosened and she turned her laughing eyes his way. “You have a point, I suppose. I was going to offer my notebook to you as an engagement present, suggest we turn to blackmail together. I had a feeling you’d be much better at it than me. But I see that plan is unnecessary. Thank heavens.”
“I cannot argue with that.” Tobias picked up the forgotten notebook. “Tell me, where do you hide the evidence? You keep the notebook on you at most times. I’ve seen that and wondered about it, but what about the proof?”
“Evidence?”
“Yes, you know, the stuff you’d use to keep your victims under your control. The letter you threaten to send to the papers proving the existence of another heir in a madhouse. That sort of thing.”
She bit her bottom lip as her eyes rolled into her head.
“You don’t have any?”
She hit the bed once more like a fallen log. “I never even considered needing such a thing. I thought knowing and having seen was enough to impress them with my power, I suppose.” She groaned.
Tobias laid down beside her and stroked his knuckles down her cheek. “Don’t worry. You won’t have to blackmail anyone. Ever.”
She rolled toward him and pressed her face into his chest. “Thank the heavens.” She looked up at him from her place cuddled against him. “Don’t tell anyone?”
