For all her undoubted intelligence, it took Leonida a long moment to at last comprehend his meaning.
“Mon Dieu,” she breathed, pretending shock at his accusation. “You think…you honestly believe I…”
“That in return for continuing our delicious affair you expect me to make you the next Duchess of Huntley,” he smoothly completed.
Without warning she had launched herself forward, beating her fists against his chest with a shocking anger.
“You bastard.”
Startled, Stefan grasped her wrists and glared down at her flushed face.
What the devil was wrong with the woman now?
Was he not making the ultimate sacrifice? How dare she act as if he had just insulted her?
“If I were a bastard then we would not be in this particular situation,” he growled. “No one could expect Miss Leonida Karkoff to wed a commoner.”
“Your arrogance is beyond belief,” she hissed.
“There is no arrogance in knowing the worth of my position.”
“Perhaps the women in England are blinded by your grand Dukedom, your Grace, but I have spent my entire life surrounded by royalty.” Her eyes glittered like sapphires in the sunlight. “If I desired a title I could have wed two counts, three barons, a French duc, and half dozen princes.”
His jaw clenched. “All of them no doubt as poor as paupers, not to mention old enough to be your father.”
“Ah.” A tight, angry smile curved her lips. “So you are not only a duke, but you are wealthy and handsome, as well. How could I possibly resist?”
“I do not expect you to.”
Her eyes darkened with an emotion that was perilously close to pain as she jerked her arms out of his grasp.
“Are you…” She was forced to halt and clear her throat. “Truly asking me to marry you?”
Was he?
Ridiculously, his mouth was dry and his heart thundered in his chest.
For years he had refused to consider the thought of installing a duchess at Meadowland. Oh, he had briefly flirted with the notion of taking Brianna as his bride. She had, after all, been a part of life for years and she loved the estate as much as he did. More importantly, he had known his parents would surely have approved of such a choice.
Now, however, he could not pretend that his need for Leonida had anything to do with Meadowland. Or the future of the Huntley family.
It was pure, selfish desire.
“I have told you that I will not return to England without you,” he said, his voice rough. “If I must wed you, then so be it.”
An unnerving silence filled the garden as Stefan waited for Leonida to respond. He did not expect her to swoon. Or even to cry out in joy. She possessed too much pride for such overemotional displays.
But he assumed that there would be a measure of satisfaction in her expression. She had what she wanted, after all.
Instead her expression hardened, a glint of grim resolution chasing away the lingering hurt in her eyes.
“‘Then so be it’?” She threw his words back in his face. “What a romantic proposal. I am quite swept off my feet.”
Stefan stiffened in outrage. “If you expect me to get on my knee then you are sadly mistaken. I have no need to beg for my bride.”
Her chin tilted. “I cannot imagine how Edmond managed to win Brianna if he possesses your lack of finer feelings.”