Page 37 of Charming the Accidental Suitor
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Albright had no idea what to say.
No idea what todo.
He had the most urgent sense that he had to do something. Say something. But all he could manage was a gruff, “After you,” when Marlin’s driver brought the carriage around. He helped her in, and while he supposed he ought to wait for Marlin, it seemed far more urgent that he take Felicity as far away from this wretched alley as possible, and quickly.
He felt certain Marlin would agree, and once he’d returned Felicity to her home, he’d send the carriage back for Marlin and the others.
“You can say it, you know.” Felicity sat across from him with her hands folded in her lap. Her expression was difficult to make out in the dark shadows of this carriage, but her chin was notched up in that way he’d become so familiar with, and her eyes held a glint of challenge.
“Say what?” He was honestly curious. And some part of him might have even welcomed a cue on what he was meant to say. He was filled to bursting with emotions, but for the life of him he couldn’t pick one to convey. It was maddening.
“You’re angry,” she said.
He nodded. Yes. He was angry she’d put herself in danger, and irrationally hurt that she hadn’t come to him directly with this scheme, but most of all…
“I am relieved,” he said.
She regarded him in silence.
“I am relieved that you are unharmed.” His voice was mild, his features placid, but inside he was a blasted mess.
Relieved? That did not begin to cover it. Watching Everson hold a weapon to her had made his whole world come to a halt. His very life had rested on what happened next.
He scrubbed a hand over his face. It had been that same powerless feeling he’d felt with his wife, but worse. So much worse. Because then there’d been nothing he could do. But today he’d been in a position to do something and hadn’t been able to. Not for too long, at least.
And worst of all, he could have stopped this from the start if he’d just listened to her the other night. He dropped his hand. “Marry me.”
Her brows arched, and her lips parted. But she said nothing.
He leaned forward, his elbows on his knees as he repeated himself. “Marry me.”
Not the most eloquent of proposals but the moment the words were out there, that urgent desperate sensation settled. For the first time in years he felt…at peace. Content.
No, more than content. He felt the flickering flames of happiness he hadn’t felt in years—a happiness he hadn’t expected to feel again.
“No.”
He blinked, straightening in his seat at the abrupt rejection. He blinked again, trying to see her more clearly, but her face was half covered in shadows. The jostling of the carriage and the click clack of horse hooves filled the silence.
“I…pardon?” he said.
She let out a huff of amusement, but the sound held a hint of bitterness that made his stomach sour. “No,” she said again. With a slight bend of her neck, she added, “Though I thank you for the charitable offer.”
Charitable. He opened his mouth and…nothing came out.
Charitable?
He was proposing marriage, not offering her a donation.
“I appreciate the offer,” she continued, apparently sensing his distress. “But I’m afraid that is out of the question.”
“But…” He cleared his throat and tried again. “Felicity…”
“Albright.” She mimicked his serious tone and he frowned.
“Less than twenty minutes ago you proposed marriage toEverson.”
