Page 22 of Baron in Check
“I know.”
“Hermy, just hear me out. I’ve been a coward for five years. I should have come after you, faced your brother, and owned my transgression.”
“Agreed.”
He sighed. “It’s just that I was too young and inexperienced.”
“And now you’re more experienced?”
He cocked his head and narrowed his eyes. “I grew up, too.”
“As did I.”
“What experience did you gain exactly?” If Hermy didn’t know better, she’d think that Greg sounded jealous.
“Life experience. How to run an estate.” She blew her cheeks wondering where to even begin.
“Hm!” That seemed to appease Greg. “So, as adults, perhaps we could decide together to share our future?”
“We already decided.”
He growled. “You’re not making this easy for me.”
“I don’t know what ‘this’ is because we already got engaged. A few times actually. Do you remember when you made me a ring of grass and kissed me?”
“Yes, I remember. We were sixteen. It was dumb and anticlimactic, and I didn’t have a chance to tell you everything.”
Hermy stilled but her heart didn’t. It beat with such vigor that she hoped Greg wouldn’t hear it. “You don’t have to marry me as an act of charity.”
“I’m not.”
“It’s chivalrous, truly. You don’t need to live up to a promise you made as a boy. I appreciate the gesture, but I’m the fallen girl.”
“Then let me catch you.”
“Well, you made me fall.”
He stepped back.
Stupid move, Hermy. He welcomed you back and you hurt his feelings.
“What I’m trying to say is you can dissolve the marriage after you stepped into the title and marry a woman you love.”
Greg gave her a deadpan look.
“It’s a good bargain for you, if you’re still willing. You get to be the Earl and I get to be free.”
“You don’t want to be the countess?”
“I would be the countess in my own right if my brother hadn’t decreed that I cannot inherit the estate lest I marry.”
Greg rubbed his eyes and groaned. “We’ve been over that.”
“Well, I’m not going to let you gamble away your future because of me, so I have a proposition.”
“So have I.”
“I accepted yours, it’s your turn now.”
