Page 76 of To Wed an Heiress
“Love?”
“Don’t you believe in love, Lennox? Do you never see yourself falling in love? Does it cost a fortune? I thought it was allowable for everyone, even paupers.”
“Life is much easier when you don’t have to worry about where your next meal is coming from. Or how to support a wife.”
“That wouldn’t be a problem if you married me.”
“I hadn’t considered marriage,” he finally said. “Not to any appreciable degree.”
“Do I disgust you?” she asked.
“I beg your pardon?”
“Do I disgust you?” she repeated. She pushed her hair back with one hand, the other fluttering at her waist.
“Are you daft?”
Her eyes widened. “I don’t think so. This is a very strange proposition, but it makes a great deal of sense, don’t you agree? I’m an heiress with a problem. You’re an earl needing money. I would think that it would be reasonable to give it some thought. Unless, of course, I disgust you.”
Up until that moment he’d been awash in his own discomfort. With her question, he understood how awkward she was feeling.
“I kissed you. I’m not in the habit of kissing women who disgust me. You interest me. You startle me. You intrigue me. But, no, you do not disgust me.”
She stared down at her knees and nodded.
He approached her until he stood only a foot or so away. Reaching out, he brushed her cheek with his knuckles.
“There are those who would say that you were blessed at birth, Mercy. Not only are you an heiress, but you’re intelligent, witty, and beautiful.”
“But you won’t marry me.”
“I’ll just go get that shirt,” he said, turning toward the door.
“Will you at least think about it, Lennox?”
He honestly didn’t know what to say. He avoided answering her by leaving the room, hoping that by the time he returned she would have regained her sanity.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Mercy had shocked herself by proposing to Lennox, but the more she thought about it, the more appeal it had. After all, she had to marry one day. She wanted to be a wife. She wanted to bear children. Why not here in Scotland? The notion of living at Duddingston Castle was appealing. How lovely it would be to live somewhere with history all around her.
Her money could accomplish any repairs that were needed to the castle as well as providing almost unlimited funds for Lennox to continue his inventions and his airships.
Irene could have maids to aid her in cleaning the castle and someone to go with her to market. They could have a garden right outside the kitchen and keep chickens. Perhaps they could also hire a stablemaster who could double as Connor’s helper when he needed one.
She’d never before considered how much good could come from her money but now it seemed a shame not to use it at Duddingston.
She should have broached the subject with more delicacy. Hinted at it rather than coming out and asking him, but the truth was that she’d surprised herself with the words. As if a hidden nature within her knew what she wanted before she acknowledged it.
Sliding off the mattress, she grabbed the valise, and walked to the other side of the room where a screen was propped in the corner. After dropping the valise on the floor, she extended the screen, slipped behind it, and began to unbutton her bodice. She’d left her shawl somewhere, but it wouldn’t have provided any warmth, being as drenched as the rest of her garments.
Thunder roared overhead as if to remind her how she’d gotten so wet.
She wasn’t as cold as she had been earlier, but she wasn’t comfortable, not with sodden garments clinging to her.
Why had she said anything to him? Lennox was unlike anyone she knew. He was brave, stubborn, independent, almost unbearably handsome as well as being kind and a dozen more attributes. He intrigued her, as well as interested her. Kissing him was almost magic. Perhaps she should have told him all that.
If she’d been engaged to Lennox she wouldn’t have been looking to escape. On the contrary, she would have asked for the ceremony to be moved up. She could even see herself being Lennox’s wife when she could never visualize herself married to Gregory.
