Her blush deepened even by candlelight. “But won’t that make him think everything between us is … physical? Thatinstead of making logical decisions, my heart is being swayed by …”
When her voice trailed away, he grinned. “By my expert kisses?”
“Oh please,” she said with skepticism.
“Passion is a better reason to marry than something as cold-blooded as money or social status—or power.”
“The first two are already proven wrong where we’re concerned. I have nothing but a small manor to bring to this supposed marriage.” She lowered her voice on “supposed.” “But power? What do you mean?”
“There are men who want to control everything around them,” he said quietly, thinking of his father. “And a wife should be controlled most of all, because she’s an extension of him.”
Mrs. Blake pressed her lips together and held herself still for a moment. “You are talking about your parents?”
“Not really. My mother did as she pleased—but she was very careful to be discreet. My father treated everyone as if they were under his power. Another thing you and I have in common. What about your parents?”
“You may be surprised, but I think they loved each other. My mother tempered my father’s worst impulses. He was always embarrassed by me, but she made things better. When she died seven years ago … he was not the same man. Then again, none of us were the same. She was my champion, who treated me like a normal girl.”
“Was Miss Collins jealous of her attention to you?”
“I … maybe she was, and I just never realized.”
They were still sitting close together on the sofa, their knees brushing. And then Mrs. Blake slid back.
“My lord?—”
“Call me Robert,” he suddenly said. “No one has done so in years, and I have a sudden yearning to hear my Christian name.”
“Very well … Robert.”
That was dragged out of her so reluctantly, he almost laughed.
“You may call me Audrey.”
“Audrey,” he repeated. “If I say it’s a lovely name, will you blush again? You do it so prettily.”
She did blush again, but her words were no-nonsense. “No one can see us now, Lord—Robert, so please do not flirt. It is … distracting.”
“I’m to play a part, Audrey. It is difficult to put the fiancé aside and then remember to be him again.”
“I may be playing your fiancée, but I expect you to treat me as I want to be treated. Last night I asked you to allow me to handle breaking the news of our engagement to my brother and sister. But you didn’t.”
“I was trying to be of help,” he said, bemused.
“I’m not a doll you need to protect. I knew the situation might be bad, and I was prepared to handle it. Next time, please respect my wishes.”
Had he just assumed he knew what was best for her? That wasn’t gentlemanly of him, and he didn’t like the trait. “I will do my best to agree with your wishes from now on.”
“You sound sincere, and I appreciate that. Just remember—I can hear when you’re not. People think they’re better at lying than they really are.”
“How interesting. I will keep it in mind.”
She rose to her feet. “We leave just after dawn, do we not?”
“It would be best, considering that a carriage with two extra horses tied behind will have to drive at a slow pace. It will take us near two full days.”
“Oh, I had not realized,” she murmured, her forehead wrinkled with doubt.
“You can’t be nervous to be alone with your fiancé,” he teased.
