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Authors: Kate Harper
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memory. The Marquis had the ability to make her forget herself, forget who she was, all with a touch of his lips. If he kissed her again, Sophie very much feared she’d kiss him right back again and that would be the end of her. ‘I’m glad to hear it.’
‘No,’ he was frowning, tapping one long finger against his chin, eyes resting on her in a way that made her feel distinctly nervous. He seemed to make up his mind about a course of action for suddenly he was all business. ‘You must write to your aunt today. Apologize to her – and to your nitwit cousin, of course – and tell her that you are sorry for any deception, but that you could not resist me any longer -’
‘Excuse me?’
‘ – but that we gave in to our mutual – and very secret - desires and have eloped.’
Sophie gaped at him incredulously. ‘ Eloped ?’
‘Indeed. It is the only thing that will suffice, I’m afraid.’
‘But she will never believe such a thing!’
Roxburghe raised an eyebrow. ‘I fail to see why not.’
‘Because… because it is not true. We cannot hope to fabricate such an absurd story. What am I meant to have done on the way to Gretna Green? Taken fright and run away?’
His lordship appeared puzzled. ‘Why would you do anything of the kind?’’
‘Because we will not be married! Not only that, but I would be doubly ruined if anybody believed such a story. Once, for eloping without my father’s permission and twice, because I was mad enough to not get married.’ Sophie shook her head at him in disgust, ‘What a ridiculous notion. Is that the best you can do?’
He grinned. ‘Do you know, Sophie, it has been quite a long time since any schoolroom miss has not given me my due deference.’
‘I am not a schoolroom miss,’ she pointed out, ‘I will be two and twenty in three months time.’
‘Dear me,’ he looked sympathetic, ‘Quite the spinster then.’
She flashed him a dark look. ‘On the contrary. I do not despair of making a suitable match back in Cumberland.’
‘Men are not so picky there?’
Sophie’s soft mouth tightened. ‘You are a very unpleasant man.’
Roxburghe chuckled. ‘I am teasing you. But you won’t have to worry about country suitors any longer which is just as well as I’m quite sure they would find your hoydenish ways very trying. And the scandal will pass, I assure you. Nobody is likely to turn their nose up for long to my wife.’
She frowned at him, all at sea again. It was difficult to follow the man. One moment he seemed playful, the next serious. ‘Please stop. If you cannot offer up a better solution or leave off funning then just arrange to return me to my home. I am sure Mama and Papa will be disappointed, but when I explain, they will understand.’ Hopefully, they would understand. It was difficult to say how that particular conversation would go.
‘You seem to be laboring under a misapprehension. I am not joking, Sophie. The only way to fix this wretched coil is for us to marry. I understand your parents may not be best pleased, but I’ll square it with them later. They cannot object to the match, after all.’
Sophie sat in her chair and stared at Roxburghe. ‘I do believe I hit you far too hard last night. You’re clearly suffering from a brain fever.’
Roxburghe’s dark eyes glinted. ‘I never thought that my first proposal of marriage to a woman would be received with such… enthusiasm. You overwhelm me Miss. Hartwell!’
‘You’re being absurd, my lord. You cannot possibly wish to marry me.’
‘Really?’ He leaned back in his chair a little and tilted his head, expression quizzical. ‘You, of course, would know best. Pray tell me why I do not wish to marry you?’
‘Because… well because… Oh really, it must be obvious! You’re only trying to save me from a unfortunate situation which, I have to say, is very obliging of you even if it is unexpected.’ Sophie was flustered. And astonished. She could not believe he was
‘No,’ he was frowning, tapping one long finger against his chin, eyes resting on her in a way that made her feel distinctly nervous. He seemed to make up his mind about a course of action for suddenly he was all business. ‘You must write to your aunt today. Apologize to her – and to your nitwit cousin, of course – and tell her that you are sorry for any deception, but that you could not resist me any longer -’
‘Excuse me?’
‘ – but that we gave in to our mutual – and very secret - desires and have eloped.’
Sophie gaped at him incredulously. ‘ Eloped ?’
‘Indeed. It is the only thing that will suffice, I’m afraid.’
‘But she will never believe such a thing!’
Roxburghe raised an eyebrow. ‘I fail to see why not.’
‘Because… because it is not true. We cannot hope to fabricate such an absurd story. What am I meant to have done on the way to Gretna Green? Taken fright and run away?’
His lordship appeared puzzled. ‘Why would you do anything of the kind?’’
‘Because we will not be married! Not only that, but I would be doubly ruined if anybody believed such a story. Once, for eloping without my father’s permission and twice, because I was mad enough to not get married.’ Sophie shook her head at him in disgust, ‘What a ridiculous notion. Is that the best you can do?’
He grinned. ‘Do you know, Sophie, it has been quite a long time since any schoolroom miss has not given me my due deference.’
‘I am not a schoolroom miss,’ she pointed out, ‘I will be two and twenty in three months time.’
‘Dear me,’ he looked sympathetic, ‘Quite the spinster then.’
She flashed him a dark look. ‘On the contrary. I do not despair of making a suitable match back in Cumberland.’
‘Men are not so picky there?’
Sophie’s soft mouth tightened. ‘You are a very unpleasant man.’
Roxburghe chuckled. ‘I am teasing you. But you won’t have to worry about country suitors any longer which is just as well as I’m quite sure they would find your hoydenish ways very trying. And the scandal will pass, I assure you. Nobody is likely to turn their nose up for long to my wife.’
She frowned at him, all at sea again. It was difficult to follow the man. One moment he seemed playful, the next serious. ‘Please stop. If you cannot offer up a better solution or leave off funning then just arrange to return me to my home. I am sure Mama and Papa will be disappointed, but when I explain, they will understand.’ Hopefully, they would understand. It was difficult to say how that particular conversation would go.
‘You seem to be laboring under a misapprehension. I am not joking, Sophie. The only way to fix this wretched coil is for us to marry. I understand your parents may not be best pleased, but I’ll square it with them later. They cannot object to the match, after all.’
Sophie sat in her chair and stared at Roxburghe. ‘I do believe I hit you far too hard last night. You’re clearly suffering from a brain fever.’
Roxburghe’s dark eyes glinted. ‘I never thought that my first proposal of marriage to a woman would be received with such… enthusiasm. You overwhelm me Miss. Hartwell!’
‘You’re being absurd, my lord. You cannot possibly wish to marry me.’
‘Really?’ He leaned back in his chair a little and tilted his head, expression quizzical. ‘You, of course, would know best. Pray tell me why I do not wish to marry you?’
‘Because… well because… Oh really, it must be obvious! You’re only trying to save me from a unfortunate situation which, I have to say, is very obliging of you even if it is unexpected.’ Sophie was flustered. And astonished. She could not believe he was
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