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CHAPTER FOUR

Sunlight filtered into Nev's chamber as he lay in his bed.

He'd left Angelica's side only when the first tendrils of dawn slipped beneath the heavy curtains, kissing her slightly parted lips before he left.

Now, as he rested there while his valet organized his clothes for the day, Nev thought of the decisions before him.

He'd lain with Angelica—a gently-bred maiden.

He had spent inside her, possibly making her pregnant with his child.

Never in his life had he been this reckless, yet he felt no trepidation whatsoever.

In fact, he felt elated, because he knew one fact for certain—he would marry Angelica Hutton.

If he had to court her, or charm her, or beg her—he would do it.

Because never before had he felt so complete as when he lay by her side.

He wasn't sure when his heart had been given to her.

Perhaps the moment he laid eyes on her. Perhaps when he saw her drawings.

She saw him so clearly—his every expression and desire captured expertly by her hand in each etching.

He had never felt more exposed than when he stood naked before her, yet he had also felt safe—as if, by laying himself bare, he'd found a peace he'd never known before.

Nev rose from bed with a smile and began dressing for the day.

He would win Angelica's heart—he knew it.

He was a tenacious man, and Angelica was worth every effort.

Today, he would begin by endearing himself to Lady Hutton.

He would prove himself a suitable suitor for her daughter, even if he wasn't the most affluent.

He would be respectful, considerate, and charming.

He would ask for permission to court Angelica officially. He would?—

A strong knock on his bedchamber door startled Nev out of his reverie. As his valet was just preparing his shaving kit, Nev approached the door himself and opened it. On the other side stood Lord Hartfield, his expression stormy.

"Hartfield," Nev said in greeting.

"Drent," he replied—and before Nev had a chance to register what had happened, Hartfield punched him in the chin.

The jab was swift and brutal, sending Nev's head snapping back from the force of the blow.

"Bloody Hell!" he cried out, but Hartfield looked unfazed.

"You scoundrel. You couldn’t contain your cock for one week?" Hartfield fumed. "I have a hysterical Lady Hutton in my drawing room demanding I call you out! And I bloody well should, considering the maiden you debauched was under my roof and under my protection." His expression turned pained.

"Why would you do such a thing, Drent? I never thought you would stoop so low as to compromise a lady. Angelica Hutton is an innocent young woman, and you used her for your own pleasure. Damn you!"

Nev tried to think through the fog of his pain. Had Angelica turned to her mother and told her about their tryst? No—that made no sense. Why would she compromise herself?

"How did you know?" He asked Hartfield, who looked at him with shocked disbelief.

"How did—" Hartfield's handsome face turned murderous as he no doubt searched for more choice words to hurl at Nev. Instead, he shoved a piece of paper against Nev's chest.

Nev took it and paled. It was one of Angelica's drawings—of him, completely naked, his face unmistakable in her masterful strokes.

"Miss Hutton's mother came into her daughter's room this morning to find her girl in a state of undress with a notebook opened on this image—along with many others."

Nev swallowed bile as he realized the severity of their situation.

"So, Hartfield… are you indeed about to call me out?" he asked, his voice shaking.

"No, you fool. Not unless you refuse to do what is honorable. Marry the girl, and all will be well."

Nev looked at his friend, who still looked at him with hurt and disappointment, and his mind reeled. But despite his precarious situation, he was much more worried about Angelica. How mortified she must be! He had to go to her.

He finished dressing in a hurry, his frazzled valet fumbling with the fastenings of his coat. Then he rushed from the room, Hartfield on his heels.

Even before he reached the drawing room, he could hear the cries coming from within.

When he stepped in, the scene was nothing short of dramatic—Lady Hartfield was trying to comfort a wide-eyed, howling Lady Hutton, while Angelica stood beside her, pale but resolute.

He saw Angelica's drawings strewn across the floor, and his heart ached to see her work so demeaned.

As he entered the room, Angelica's eyes turned to him with hope. Despite the horror of their situation, she managed a smile his way, warming his aching heart. But Lady Hutton was not so forthcoming—she burst into tears, her face twisted with rage.

"You rake! How dare you! My own daughter!" She screeched.

"Please, Lady Hutton, do be calm. We will sort this affair," soothed Lady Hartfield.

"No, we are ruined! This scoundrel will never marry Angelica, and we will be shunned forever! Her reputation in tatters—our future destroyed."

Lady Hutton turned her withering gaze to Angelica.

"You foolish girl! How could you be so wanton? You’ve ruined us!"

A streak of rage surged through Nev at the sight of Angelica shrinking beneath her mother's cruel words.

"Now, see here! I will have no disrespect shown to Miss Hutton," he said sharply, his voice heated.

Lady Hutton looked shocked that he dared speak at all. Lady Hartfield regarded him with an unfathomable expression but said nothing. Hartfield stood rooted to the ground, his face registering his surprise. Then he stepped forward and used his lordly voice, which always inspired obedience.

"Lady Hutton, let us give Mr. Drent and your daughter a moment of privacy. I'm sure we'll discover they are both more reasonable than we might expect." He shot Nev a warning look as he ushered his wife and Lady Hutton out of the room, the latter protesting feebly.

Then the door closed, and he was once again alone with Angelica.

Nev rushed to her side and took her hands in his.

"Darling, how do you fare? You are so pale—won't you sit?" He led her to a settee and sat beside her. She looked up at him, her expression calm yet sorrowful.

"I'm so sorry, Nev. I forgot to put away the drawings. My mother saw them when she walked into my chamber this morning and ran straight to Lord Hartfield with them. And now we are stranded in this predicament, unable to escape."

Nev felt his heart stutter. She felt trapped by the prospect of marriage? He had never intended to ensnare her—he wanted her love, not her duty.

"You… do not wish to marry?" he asked, and Angelica's face grew even more tragic.

"No, not like this. I never intended to trap you. Last night was…" But she would say no more.

Nev drew a deep breath to calm his aching chest.

"You could never trap me, my angel. For I am already yours, body and soul. But I would never force a marriage upon you, not for my honor or my life. I will face Hartfield's bullet gladly," he said, rising from the settee.

Angelica's hand shot up and grabbed his arm. "What do you mean when you say you are mine?" She said softly, her eyes brimming with tears.

Nev sat back down and placed his hand on her smooth cheek. She was so lovely and so sad that it broke his heart.

"I love you, Angelica. I may not be experienced in love, but I know my heart. And I will not clip your wings by chaining you to me unwillingly. I would rather die than force you into marrying me."

Tears streamed down Angelica's face, and Nev leaned in to kiss them. To his surprise, she turned to meet his lips. Her mouth found his, kissing him tenderly. Nev reached for her, holding her close to him. If he was to be without her, let their final kiss sustain him.

Angelica moved her lips away from his, and Nev felt their loss acutely. But her next words undid him?—

"I am inexperienced in matters of love, as well. Yet if this isn't love, I don't know what is. I feel whole with you, Nev. I want to be your wife with all my heart. I didn't want to entrap you into marriage, either. But if you are willing…" She smiled shyly, and Nev's heart sang.

"You will marry me? Freely and happily?" he whispered, his mind reeling.

"Freely and happily," Angelica replied.

"Thank God!" Nev exclaimed, pulling her to into a tight embrace. His mouth crashed onto hers, their tongues entwining in a passionate, loving kiss. Around them, Angelica's drawings littered the floor, their lines both a blessing and a vow.