Page 28 of Buon Natale, My Wicked Rogue
Angela’s safety and perhaps even her life was in danger. Amesbury’s family had no intention of honoring her relationshipwith her natural father. And they might well be prepared to take extraordinary measures to get her out of their lives.
It was disturbing to discover that he was, or he had been, still too inexperienced to realize the depth of evil that he found Angela entangled in. However, now that he knew, his next steps were to protect her as best he could.
He would cover her with the protection of his title and his name, his position as heir to the Duke of Holsworthy. The marriage must happen quickly. He’d have to go to London and attain a special license.
But how can you plan the wedding ceremony itself without it being a shabby affair? They would go to Lady Wyndam. She would be able to arrange the event quickly.
Chapter Ten
“Angela, did you have any particular aversion to becoming married again?”
With her fork in midair, she startled at the question. Evan asked this casually, as though he had asked if she had an aversion to going for a walk after their meal. She put her fork on the plate and studied him.
The earlier sternness of his drawn-together brows and the rigid set of his jaw had made him appear under some strain. He had returned from Brighton sooner than she had expected, and since his return, he’d been distant and uncharacteristically out of sorts. Now, he appeared calmer, though he still seemed determined from the set of his jaw and the look in his eyes.
“I don’t know. I hadn’t even considered it.”Liar, you’ve fantasized enough about it with him.
She tried to focus on eating her slice of apple pie, but she found it hard to swallow past the lump that suddenly seemed to have lodged itself in her throat. “I miss pumpkin pie.”
At her announcement, he frowned. “Angela, pay attention. I am trying to speak with you about a serious matter.”
His snappishness had not eased. She gave an inward sigh. “Evan, I just want to enjoy the holiday. I don’t want to think about marrying some other man.”
He gaped at her. “Who said anything about you marrying another man?”
“You asked me if I was averse to marrying another man.”
“I meant that you should marry me.” His determined stare burned into her, and she could not look away.
Her heart sank to her stomach, and she put her forkful of apple pie down on her plate with a clatter that sounded jarring in the silence. Her throat began to burn. “Please, Evan, do not tease me like this.”
“Tease you?” He sounded astonished.
“Please don’t. Jacob used to tease me with the most terrible things. And this is... Oh, how can you be so cruel?”
Feeling as though she might become ill, she stood and pushed her chair back. She threw a glance at him, but tears had already blurred his image.
Alone in the empty corridor, she struggled to regain control over her wildly flaring emotions.
“Angela.” His voice was soft, tender.
She had not heard him approach over the pounding of her heart in her ears. Now, humiliation burned through her to have been caught like this, choking back tears. Why couldn’t he have left her alone, at least until she could think through her feelings?“Vattene.”
He came closer. “No, I can’t go away.”
“You are cruel!”
“Is it cruel to ask you to marry me? You are afraid?”
“Yes, I am afraid. I am afraid of wanting things I can never have.”
“You mean like marriage to me?”
“Yes, exactly. You know that you cannot marry me. A commoner. A bastard.”
“Don’t!”
She flinched and stepped back from him.
