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“Do you think I should hold my tongue because I wasn’t born with a title, My Lord?” she asked him.

“No,” he said. “I’m merely surprised that you chose not to.”

“Well, I’m surprised that you’re sitting there as if you have nothing to say to me, when we both know the reason you came was so that you and I could learn more about each other. What did you want to know?”

He hesitated, then nodded. “Yes,” he said. “I suppose it’s best we get down to business. And I’m sure you’d appreciate that too, Mr. Dawson.” He threw a sideways glance toward Astrid’s father, who seemed to shrink under his gaze.

Astrid’s words died in her mouth. Was he threatening her father? He had just said that she would never have anything to fear from him…but he’d said nothing about her father. Was it possible, even now, that Lord Middleborough would change his mind and would choose to send Tobias Dawson to prison for stealing?

Get down to business. As if the only thing they were doing here was conducting negotiations. Making a deal for Astrid’s life, for her future.

And really, wasn’t that the case?

My life for my father’s. That was the deal. That was the agreement. He would go free, and she would sign herself over to Lord Middleborough. Except that she wouldn’t be the one doing the signing. Her father was signing her life away in order to reclaim his own.

He had committed a crime. She had done nothing.

For just a moment, she allowed the anger to flare up inside her again.

Then she suppressed the feeling. Her father, if this went the wrong way, would spend his life behind bars. She would spend her life in the manor of a wealthy Earl. The two things could not be compared.

Besides, she was his daughter. She owed him everything. Of course, she would be the one to make the sacrifice, no matter what the stakes.

“What did you come here to learn about me, My Lord?” she asked the Earl now. “I know there was something you wanted to know. Something that would make a difference to you, one way or the other. What was it?”

He shook his head slowly. “You continue to astound me, Astrid Dawson,” he said. “You’re so forward. Do you even want to marry me?”

Astrid felt as if her throat was closing.

No.

I wasn’t going to do this. I wasn’t going to be temperamental. I wasn’t going to scare him off. I told myself over and over that I was going to be charming, easy to get along with, a pleasure to talk to. I meant to delight him.

I failed.

He’s going to withdraw his interest. He’s going to punish my father, and I’ll have failed my family.

Both men were looking at her, waiting for her to say something. And Astrid remembered there had been a question.

“Yes,” she said faintly. “Yes, My Lord, I want to marry you. Of course, I do. I beg your forgiveness. I’m only a commoner, and not well educated in cordialities. But I learn quickly, My Lord. Forgive my impulsiveness. It’s a big day for me, and I confess I’m nervous. Please do not let me bring disgrace upon my father.”

With bated breath, she waited for his answer.

Chapter 12

He was captivated by her. Stunned.

She wasn’t frightened of him at all. That much was obvious. He felt ridiculous, now, for ever having worried about it. She had shown no fear at all from the moment he had walked in the door, and only now could he see any hesitation on her face.

She was worried she had offended him.

But even when she had explicitly asked him whether she ought to be afraid of him, she hadn’t meant it. There had been no hesitation in her.

She was bold.

He liked that.

Or perhaps it’s just that I liked her already,he thought.Perhaps it’s just that I’ve admired her for so long. Maybe anything she did would have seemed charming. Maybe if another young woman had acted the way she has today, I would have been offended.