Page 75 of The Truth About Lord Stoneville

She shrugged. “To be honest, I expected Freddy to let the cat out of the bag before you did. I just wasn’t sure whether he’d say we were engaged or werepretendingto be engaged. At least he didn’t say anything to make your grandmother guess that it was a sham.”

He gave a bitter laugh. “That hardly matters now. She wanted us betrothed. She, too, has been pretending, pretending to disapprove of you while hoping for this outcome.”

“Or maybe she’s just willing to settle for what she can get.”

“Either way, you tried to warn me.” He returned to the bed. “I’m sorry I didn’t listen. After you left the ball, I tracked down as many of the press as I could.” He explained what he’d told them, then dragged his fingers through his hair. “My story seemed to pass muster, but the press loves printing gossip, and gossip about a marriage is their favorite kind.”

“I’m sure you tried to prevent that. For all we know, Nathan may not even be where he can see a London paper. As long as word doesn’t reach him, it’s fine.”

It was always her precious Nathan who concerned her, her damned “genteel and proper” fiancé. “I hope worddoesreach him.”

Her clear gaze met his steadily. “Do you?”

“Yes. Despite doing my best to make sure it doesn’t, Ihope that bloody arse reads it and realizes what he’s thrown away. Hedeservesto lose you.”

Her expression wary, she slid from the bed and reached for her wrapper. “And what about me? Don’t I deserve a good husband?”

He tugged the wrapper from her fingers, then tossed it to the floor. “Hyatt couldn’t possibly make you a good husband.”

“So I’m to live alone, then?”

“No.” Snagging her about the waist, he drew her close. “You’re going to marryme.”

The minute he spoke, he realized it was exactly what he wanted. Her as his. Forever. Even if that scared the hell out of him.

Apparently it scared her a little, too, for she was staring at him with shock. “Why would I do that?” she whispered. “Why wouldyou?”

“It’s the only way I can have you, isn’t it?” He knew his words weren’t the flowery effusions that most women expected in a marriage proposal. But Maria wasn’t most women. Maria understood him.

She dropped her gaze. “That’s hardly a good reason to marry.”

“It’s good enough for me,” he said, bending his head to kiss her.

With a shuddering sigh, she pulled free. “A week ago I was only suitable to be your mistress, and now I’m suitable to be your wife?”

“Suitability had nothing to do with it.”

“I’m beneath you.”

“I don’t give a damn who your parents were or where you’re from. I never did.” When she remained silent, he pressed his case. “I want you. I wanted you then, and I want you now. Isn’t that the reason any man marries?”

Her expression was hard to read. “Men marry for the same reason women marry. Because they fall in love.”

“Love is just a fancy word for lust.” It had always been his philosophy, and he’d be damned if he’d lie about that to her. Wasn’t it enough that she had him practically begging to be allowed to share her bed?

“I don’t believe that,” she said stoutly.

“So you’re in love with Hyatt?”

She flinched. “That’s different.”

“How? You were willing to marryhimfor practical reasons. Why not me?”

A shaky laugh escaped her. “In what way is it practical for us to marry?”

“It’s been three months since you last had news about your indifferent fiancé. So you can either keep hoping he will remember that he’s betrothed in time to save you from destitution, or you can marry me. I’m here, and he’s not. I want you for yourself. For him, it’s all about the money.”

Her eyes glittered. “If you’re marrying me because your grandmother won’t relent, because it’s the only way to ensure that your family inherits her fortune, then it’s all about the money for you, too, isn’t it?”