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Authors: Anne O'Brien
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think so.'
'Then will you accept my
offer? Will you give yourself into my keeping, Honoria? Together we will hold
the estates of Brampton and Laxton secure, against
all comers?'
At least he had not made
empty protestations of love. She knew exactly where she stood. A desirable mate
to bring power and wealth to the union of two important families. As an heiress
she had expected no more and no less. And yet it was very tempting. Could she
really take the risk? Her eyes searched the flat planes and firm lines of his
features as the warnings of her mind struggled against the desires of her
heart.
He stood with impatience,
driven by her silence so that he strode around the table, taking her hand in
his and drawing her abruptly to her feet before him. He was instantly aware of
Morrighan lifting her head, the low growl in her throat.
He chose to ignore it. 'Well,
Honoria? Shall we make the bargain?'
Honoria looked at him for a
moment, head angled to one side, expression unreadable. Then, 'Very well. On
one condition, my lord.'
'Of course. If it is within
my power.'
'Will you give me free rein
to improve this...this house?' 7 his terrible
monstrosity!
His brows rose at her
unexpected request and his quick smile released the tension between them.
'Lord Edward refused to
consider any changes,' Honoria explained, 'even those that would bring comfort.
Apart from this room, which he gave me for my own.'
'I see. I have no objection
if you wish to take on such a Herculean task. I admire your fortitude.' Mansell
grimaced at his surroundings. 'The solar shall remain yours, of course. And, as
long as you do not beggar me with French fashions and Italian works of art, I
will give you the free rein you desire. God knows, the place needs some improvements.
So, yes—I will give you free rein, with my blessing. But in return I too have a
request, my lady. No, not a request, but a demand.'
'Which is?' The instant
suspicion on her face almost made him laugh, if the flash of fear in her eyes
had not shocked him with its immediacy.
'If you agree to marry me,
my lady, I will accept on no condition that you wear black!'
'But I am in mourning!' She
smoothed her damp palms over her silk skirts. Why should it matter to him how
she looked, what she wore? He was not marrying her for her beauty!
'You have mourned Lord
Edward long enough, I think. If you marry me, you are a bride again. I will not
have a bride who looks like a crow. And an unhappy one at that!'
Honoria's shoulders
stiffened at this slight to her vanity, however well deserved it might be. No
one, after all, was more aware than she that she did not look her best. But
that did not mean that she must accept criticism from this arrogant man who had
just turned her world upside down. 'As my betrothed I expect that it is your
right to express an opinion!' She raised her chin in challenge to such a right.
'I suppose that I must accept your less-than-flattering observation.'
'But will you obey it?' His
lips twitched at the flash of spirit in her eyes, the challenge in her voice.
There was more to this lady than his first impression.
'I...' She dearly wanted to
refuse him. But... 'I will agree with you on this occasion, my lord. I will not
wear black.'
'So. Will you wed me?'
'Very well, my lord.' She
took a deep breath in a vain attempt to calm her erratically beating heart. 'I
will.'
He looked at her for a long
moment, pale skin, gold-flecked eyes, recalling the emotion that had stretched
taut between them not an hour ago. It had touched him, moved him, disconcerted
him with its intensity. Then he raised her hand to his lips, pressing his
mouth against her soft fingers, holding her hand tightly when she would have
pulled away. He would not allow her to withdraw physically now, whatever
thoughts, whatever doubts, were in her head. They were committed to this
unexpected union. And he was still unsure of his motives— unless it was simply
to support and protect a lady who appeared to
'Then will you accept my
offer? Will you give yourself into my keeping, Honoria? Together we will hold
the estates of Brampton and Laxton secure, against
all comers?'
At least he had not made
empty protestations of love. She knew exactly where she stood. A desirable mate
to bring power and wealth to the union of two important families. As an heiress
she had expected no more and no less. And yet it was very tempting. Could she
really take the risk? Her eyes searched the flat planes and firm lines of his
features as the warnings of her mind struggled against the desires of her
heart.
He stood with impatience,
driven by her silence so that he strode around the table, taking her hand in
his and drawing her abruptly to her feet before him. He was instantly aware of
Morrighan lifting her head, the low growl in her throat.
He chose to ignore it. 'Well,
Honoria? Shall we make the bargain?'
Honoria looked at him for a
moment, head angled to one side, expression unreadable. Then, 'Very well. On
one condition, my lord.'
'Of course. If it is within
my power.'
'Will you give me free rein
to improve this...this house?' 7 his terrible
monstrosity!
His brows rose at her
unexpected request and his quick smile released the tension between them.
'Lord Edward refused to
consider any changes,' Honoria explained, 'even those that would bring comfort.
Apart from this room, which he gave me for my own.'
'I see. I have no objection
if you wish to take on such a Herculean task. I admire your fortitude.' Mansell
grimaced at his surroundings. 'The solar shall remain yours, of course. And, as
long as you do not beggar me with French fashions and Italian works of art, I
will give you the free rein you desire. God knows, the place needs some improvements.
So, yes—I will give you free rein, with my blessing. But in return I too have a
request, my lady. No, not a request, but a demand.'
'Which is?' The instant
suspicion on her face almost made him laugh, if the flash of fear in her eyes
had not shocked him with its immediacy.
'If you agree to marry me,
my lady, I will accept on no condition that you wear black!'
'But I am in mourning!' She
smoothed her damp palms over her silk skirts. Why should it matter to him how
she looked, what she wore? He was not marrying her for her beauty!
'You have mourned Lord
Edward long enough, I think. If you marry me, you are a bride again. I will not
have a bride who looks like a crow. And an unhappy one at that!'
Honoria's shoulders
stiffened at this slight to her vanity, however well deserved it might be. No
one, after all, was more aware than she that she did not look her best. But
that did not mean that she must accept criticism from this arrogant man who had
just turned her world upside down. 'As my betrothed I expect that it is your
right to express an opinion!' She raised her chin in challenge to such a right.
'I suppose that I must accept your less-than-flattering observation.'
'But will you obey it?' His
lips twitched at the flash of spirit in her eyes, the challenge in her voice.
There was more to this lady than his first impression.
'I...' She dearly wanted to
refuse him. But... 'I will agree with you on this occasion, my lord. I will not
wear black.'
'So. Will you wed me?'
'Very well, my lord.' She
took a deep breath in a vain attempt to calm her erratically beating heart. 'I
will.'
He looked at her for a long
moment, pale skin, gold-flecked eyes, recalling the emotion that had stretched
taut between them not an hour ago. It had touched him, moved him, disconcerted
him with its intensity. Then he raised her hand to his lips, pressing his
mouth against her soft fingers, holding her hand tightly when she would have
pulled away. He would not allow her to withdraw physically now, whatever
thoughts, whatever doubts, were in her head. They were committed to this
unexpected union. And he was still unsure of his motives— unless it was simply
to support and protect a lady who appeared to
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