Page 93 of Tempting the Earl

“Ainsworth?” he prodded gently.

Perhaps it’d be easier to say what she needed to if she didn’t turn to look at him.

“I, ah...” she began, then paused to lick her dry lips. “I wanted to clarify some of what I said in my bedroom before dinner.”

There was a long pause before his answer. “I’d like to revisit that conversation, as well.”

“You would?” she asked with feigned nonchalance as she strolled across the room to the window. She was stalling.

Coward.

“Yes,” he replied. His voice was farther away now. He hadn’t followed her. “As soon as I left you, I regretted the things I didn’t say.”

“Oh?” She partially turned to look at him.

“I didn’t want to force my wishes on you then and I still don’t. You’ve worked so hard to build a home and a life that’s clearly very rewarding and I know how much you value the freedom and independence you’ve cultivated. I’d never want you to give that up.” He took an audible breath. “But I should have said...I should have told you...that I’d like you to stay. In London. Here, at my home. With me. And Caillie, obviously. However, if you truly wish to leave, I shall absolutely respect that choice, but you must realize you could never lose Caillie. She’s your daughter and always will be. I’d never keep her from you. If nothing else, you must know that I understand how important you are to each other.”

He was rambling. His words practically tumbling over themselves. It might have been amusing to witness the ever-composed lord being reduced to such a state if not for the fact that Ainsworth still wasn’t quite sure what he was trying to say. She turned to face him. And as her eyes met his, something light and fluttery seemed to become trapped in her chest, making it difficult to breathe. She pressed a hand to her sternum, forcing a deep inhale as she met his gaze. “You’d like me to stay?”

He took another deep breath. Then seemed to gather himself as his posture straightened and his focus locked on her.

“More than that, actually,” he stated firmly as he started toward her. “I’d like you to marry me.”

She stared at him in shocked disbelief. “Marry you?” An uncontrollable laugh slipped free, but the sound quickly died as she realized he wasn’t laughing with her. He hadn’t even cracked a smile of amusement at the joke.

Her humor fled in an instant.

He was serious. Of course he was. The Earl of Wright would never jest about something like this. Her heart froze.

“I cannae do that.”

His brow furrowed and he made as if to grasp his hands behind his back. But then he didn’t. He started toward her instead. “Why not?”

She glanced helplessly about his elegant bedroom. “I dinnae belong here.”

“Most of the time, I’m certain I don’t either,” he replied gently. “The only time I feel truly at home is when I’m with you.”

Her heart fluttered. “I make you feel at home?”

Reaching her, he brushed his thumb very lightly along the curve of her cheek. “That and so much more. You are the family I’ve always dreamed of having but never truly believed existed.”

“But you dinnae love me.” Her voice was involuntarily breathless. And terrified.

He visibly stiffened and the furrow deepened into a frown as his hand dropped heavily to his side. “How could you think I don’t love you?”

She blinked at his very real astonishment. Setting her hands on her hips, she arched her brows. “Perhaps because you’ve never indicated such.”

“Haven’t I?”

The man seemed genuinely perturbed by the suggestion. Ainsworth might have laughed at his confusion if this issue weren’t so desperately important.

She tilted her head. “I believe I’d remember if you’d ever told me you loved me.”

“I may not have used those exact words, but considering how we spent the last two nights and earlier this evening, I thought it would have been obvious.”

Ainsworth smirked. “Love isn’t exactly a requirement for what we did.”

His expression went quite dark for a moment before he cleared his throat. “Are you saying you don’t love me?”

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