Chapter 22 #4
“An admirable objective,” Julian said. “Can you direct me down to the library? I wish to speak to the earl.”
“Carenza, sit down. You are making me dizzy,” her mother said. “Your beloved has come. Let him speak to your father, and then he will come to you, and all will be well.”
“Not if Father has one of his stubborn moments.” Carenza continued to pace. “You know how contrary he can be.”
“It is only because he loves you, dearest, and he does need to make sure Julian understands what it means to take on a wife who is not approved of by society.”
Carenza finally sat down. “I suppose there’s no one better qualified to offer that advice than Father.”
“Exactly.”
“I wish Allegra were here,” Carenza said.
“She will be here presently. If you do marry, may I suggest you do so at home? No one will judge you as harshly as they would in London.”
“Please don’t get ahead of yourself,” Carenza pleaded. “He might simply have come down to make sure I’m all right before he moves on with his life.”
Rosaria snapped her fingers. “Pah! He could’ve written you a note for that. He’s here because he has something important to say. Let him say it.”
The butler came in. “Lady Carenza, his lordship is requesting your presence in his library.”
“Thank you.” Carenza stood up.
Her mother laughed. “Don’t look so worried.”
“I am worried. What will I do if he’s still angry with me?”
“Fight it out?” Rosaria shrugged. “Your father and I had some of our best nights together after an argument.”
Carenza left the room, her steps slowing as she approached the library, her breathing uneven. She tapped on the door and went in. Her father rose to his feet and came over to her.
“Mr. Laurent wishes to speak with you.” He patted her shoulder and left, closing the door quietly behind him.
Carenza summoned a smile. “Julian, it is so nice to see you.”
“Is it?”
She studied him carefully. He was always hard to read, and on this occasion, when she really needed to understand his purpose, he was looking distinctly impenetrable.
“It’s always a pleasure.” She paused but he didn’t speak so she went on. “Especially in these particular circumstances.”
“Circumstances that you brought upon yourself despite my best efforts to protect you.”
She raised her chin. Ah, it was to be a fight, then? So be it. “Yes, it was entirely my fault. If you came here for another apology, I am more than willing to offer you one.”
“As you well know, the only person who needs to apologize is me. I lost my temper.”
She nodded. “Quite understandably considering the circumstances.”
A slight frown appeared between his brows. “Will you stop being so damned agreeable?”
“I am merely agreeing that you are right, sir. I thought all men liked that.”
“I’m not bloody Hector.”
“I am well aware of that.” Carenza smiled sweetly as he set his jaw. “Is something amiss? You look as if you wish to lose your temper again.”
He let out a slow breath. “You are the most infuriating woman I have ever met.”
“I think I am offended. Surely Lady Brenton is far worse than me?”
“But I’m not in love with her.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” She curtsied as a strange giddy relief coursed through her. “Have we finished apologizing to each other? If so, I have some embroidery to complete.”
She half turned to the door, but he caught her elbow and spun her around until she was plastered against his chest. She raised her head to look at him and went still.
“Finally,” he said. “I have been waiting for you to stop talking.”
“Why?”
“Because I love you, and I want you, and I can’t imagine my life without you.”
“Oh.”
“Is that all you have to say to me?”
“You just told me to stop talking,” she reminded him. “And to be truthful, I’d much rather be kissing you.”
“They’ll be none of that unless you agree to marry me.”
Was there a tremor in his voice? She looked at him closely and saw herself reflected in his cool-blue gaze.
“You haven’t actually asked me.”
“I asked you weeks ago!” He was back to scowling again, which delighted her enormously.
“We both know that was a joke.”
The arm around her waist tightened. “It damn well was not. I meant every word.”
She cupped his chin so that he had to look at her. “But now I am truly ruined.”
“So what?”
“Julian …”
“If I marry you, Carenza, I can no longer be a rake. So what is the point of being in society if you’re not accepted there but the only person I want in my bed is you?”
“I wanted to protect you,” she whispered.
“I know.” His tone became intimate. “I knew it immediately. My anger was directed entirely at myself.” He cleared his throat. “Will you marry me?”
She stared at him. “Yes.”
“Do you love me?”
“Yes, of course I do.”
“Thank God.” He kissed her hard, and she joyfully reciprocated. “I have a special license in my pocket, your parents are at peace with the idea, and I can see no reason why we can’t be married tomorrow if the vicar is agreeable.”
“What about Allegra? She’s not returned from London yet.”
His frown returned. “Are you saying you won’t marry me if your sister isn’t present?”
Carenza sighed. Some things really weren’t worth arguing about. “I’ll marry you, regardless, but she won’t like it.”
“We’ll wait for her return to have our proper wedding breakfast, will that suffice?” He hesitated. “There is one other thing you should know about me.”
“That you are impossible?” Carenza asked.
“You already know that.” He took her hand. “I’m not a Laurent.”
She stared at him. “Your mother …”
“Had a lover.”
“She’s spent her whole life blaming you for her own indiscretion?” Carenza scowled. “I can’t wait to see her and tell her my opinion of that!”
“I doubt she’ll receive us, my darling.”
“Which is probably for the best, because she would not like the things I would have to say to her!”
He led her toward the door. “Let’s go and tell your family.”
“Wait just one moment.” She put her hand on his chest over his heart. “I have always loved you and felt safe with you. I promise that when we’re married, we’ll be best friends and lovers for the rest of our lives.”
“Good,” he said and kissed her again. “Now come along and speak to your parents.”
For once, Carenza gladly complied.