"Yes. But now I know I was mistaken, and you've smartened up considerably since we've been married." She swallowed deeply. It was best to get it over with. "Now, returning to the matter of my proposal, I would like to take a trip to England."
Marcus shot out of the chair. "England? Why the hell would you want to go back there?"
Anna knew he would not be pleased. "Because I would like to use the money I saved from Labelles and invest it. I would like to open a refuge for women who find themselves alone and with no prospects. I could provide an education. Give them a room until they find employment."
Marcus stared at her, his expression blank, his eyes vacant.
She hoped he would understand. During the few months they had spent together, he had spoken fondly of his mother. But the guilt he had for leaving her to fend for herself still ate away at him.
"If there had been such a place when I came to London, perhaps I would not have met Victor."
"The irony is, had you not met Victor you would never have met me."
He was right, of course. That one horrendous situation had led her straight to Marcus' door.
"I thought you loved it here?" he added. A look of doubt and fear marred his countenance.
"I do, and I would never want to leave permanently. I thought of employing someone to manage the refuge for me. I could interview for the position."
Marcus strode around the desk, pulled her into an embrace and kissed her softly on the mouth. "How can I refuse your request? Had there been such a place for women like my mother then perhaps things would have been different."
Thank heavens.
Anna placed her hand on his chest. Despite his calm tone, his heart was beating hard against her palm. "I know you have so much you want to do here, but Andre and Selene will manage things while you're away."
"You do want me to come with you then?"
He sounded like a little boy lost, and she stood on the tips of her toes to return his tender kiss. "I never want to be without you. Besides, Andre has been looking for an opportunity to prove himself worthy. He is so grateful to us for giving Selene a second chance, and now they plan to marry he could use the extra income."
"It seems you have thought of everything. You do realise my return will be met with a mixed response. Once people discover we are wed, I expect the gossips will claim it to be a great scandal."
Anna smirked. "The
illegitimate son of an earl marrying the madam of a bawdy house, why should there be any scandal?"
"You may find it amusing, but people can be cruel."
She had experienced the worst kind of cruelty. Nothing else would ever compare. "Marcus, I don't care what people say about us. We know the truth."
He exhaled deeply. "Very well. Thankfully, you have made my task much easier."
Anna stepped back and frowned. "What task?"
"I, too, was about to propose a short trip to England. Tristan has asked us to visit him in Bedfordshire and I feared you would say no."
"Why didn't you say so before?"
Marcus nodded to the desk. "I've only just opened it. Apparently, he's had a hell of a time of it these last two months and begs for us to come."
"Well," she said with a satisfied sigh. "That's all settled then."
"Not quite. I believe there is the matter of my original proposal to address."
By the lascivious look on his face, Anna did not need to ask what he meant. "You'll have to remind me. With all this talk of England, my mind is a little hazy."
Marcus pulled her into an embrace. He kissed her until her body tingled, delved deep into her mouth until her head felt fuzzy and she was forced to clutch at his shoulders for fear of falling. "Do you remember now? Is your mind any clearer?"
Anna tried to catch her breath. She felt the loss of his hard body as he left her to lock the door. "What … what are you doing?"