Page 119 of The Truth Serum
He swallowed. His own training had taken years, but he’d been sent into a war. She would most likely have a part to play in society. “You would need to get married. Debutantes are too restricted, and even ladies with their own fortunes need masculine help.”
“I know.”
He paused, then he squeezed her hands. “Does that mean you are reconsidering my marriage proposal?”
She snorted. “I neverstoppedconsidering it.”
That was heartening.
“Henry made me promise not to make any significant decisions until after the summer. He believes there have been too many changes, and I need to understand what it is like being on the shelf before I consider anything else.”
Nate chuckled. “Henry loves taking a great deal of time to decide everything. Even down to the color of his waistcoat.”
“Oh,” she said blithely, “that takes no time at all. He chooses black. Always black because it can be used for every event from a funeral to a wedding.”
Yes, the man had been wearing black this morning. But at least he had managed a white cravat. “Becca—”
“I do not know if you still want me,” she finally blurted out. “My brother is a traitor!”
He sighed. “Of course, I—”
“Don’t say, ‘Of course!’” she snapped. “I came to London an aging debutante. Now I am an independent woman, after a fashion, and Henry is right. I don’t know who I am now, but I know you are in love with a sixteen-year-old me who hasn’t existed for a very long time.”
“That’s not true.” And when she cast him a doubtful look, he lifted his chin. “I still love her, yes, but you are so much better than her.” Then he leaned back in the chair. “Or perhaps you are delaying because you do not know me now. After all my deceptions, that is not surprising.”
She opened her mouth to deny it but stopped at his arch look.
“It is only natural to be unsure of me,” he said.
“Natural or not,” she said, her voice prim, “I have a solution.” Then she flashed him an uncertain smile. “Or at least an experiment.”
His brows rose. “Yes?”
“Would you like to try the truth serum with me?”
It took a moment before he could process what she said. And he was still confused. “What?”
“We’d take it at the same time. We can ask questions of one another and hear the truth in each answer.”
“It’s not dangerous?”
She shook her head. “I don’t think so. But I don’t have much experience with it. It would be a risk.”
One he was very open to taking. Especially since Lord Benedict had expressed interest in the brew as well. “The only way to get more experience is to experiment,” he said.
“I agree.”
“When should we do it?”
She grinned as she looked around the rapidly clearing hall. “No one expects us to do anything after today. Weddings are exhausting affairs.”
“You should rest. We have the whole summer.” Assuming he wasn’t sent off to France on another mission.
“I will rest,” she said firmly. “This afternoon.” Then she leaned close. “Come to the back entrance of my house tonight.”
“Are you sure—”
She pressed a finger to his lips. “I am sure. But you must be certain as well.”
