“For now.”
She continued to study him, then slowly nodded. “Yes. If you are foolish enough to marry me with what you know about my mother and are willing to not push me on the other thing, then I will . . .”
“Marry me?”
“Marry you.”
He immediately grabbed the train ticket out of her hand and tore it into pieces. “You will not be needing this.”
“What will I do now? I’ve given up my flat, even though I still have a couple of weeks left on my rent.”
Carter pulled her in for a kiss that quieted her. They could work out all the logistics and other problems she could imagine, but right now he wanted to kiss his betrothed.
She sat rigid at first, then
as he continued the assault on her mouth, she softened until she was plastered against him and moaning as he slipped into her mouth and tangled with her tongue. He placed his hand on her lower back and pulled her flush against his middle.
He pulled away and scattered kisses over her throat and jawline. “So soft.” He pushed his fingers into her hair, knocking her hat off and causing numerous hairpins to go flying.
The woman who claimed she did not want to consummate their marriage was anything but reluctant and shy. She placed her hands on his cheeks and pulled him back to her lips.
The carriage slowed down due to traffic and she pulled back. “Wait!” She was panting and her cheeks were flushed. He saw the passion in her eyes and was quite satisfied with their arrangement. It would not take him long to seduce her into his bed.
“This is not proper. If someone were to look into the carriage I would be ruined.” She bent to retrieve her hat and placed it on her head. He didn’t have the heart to tell her that with the mess her hair was, the hat was not going to make a bit of difference in her appearance.
“You are correct. This is not the place for a betrothal celebration. Let me instruct my driver to proceed to Lord Berkshire’s house. I am sure Lady Berkshire will be more than happy to house you until our wedding.”
Lottie merely nodded and he tapped on the ceiling. The driver slid open the small door and looked down. “Yes, sir.”
“Please proceed to Lord Berkshire’s home.”
“Very good, sir.” The little opening slid closed and the driver picked up the pace, no longer under the previous instructions to wander the town aimlessly until Carter gave him other orders.
Lottie shifted off his lap, but he refused to let her move to the other side and instead anchored her against him.
She looked up at him, her lovely lips swollen from his kiss. “I don’t want a wedding.”
He grinned. She had agreed to marry him but didn’t want to have sexual relations and didn’t want a wedding. He was beginning to realize his soon-to-be wife could be adorably confusing at times. “Excuse me? Perhaps you mean no public wedding, my love?”
“Yes. No public wedding. Just us and witnesses.”
“That is fine with me, but I must warn you I have no intention of waiting for banns to be called. I will have Berkshire apply to the Archbishop of Canterbury for a special license for us.”
“What is that?”
“It will allow us to marry without the three weeks of calling banns. We can also be married anywhere, not necessarily in a church.”
She closed her eyes and smiled. “That’s perfect.”
Carter took her hands in his. “Do you wish to discuss your mother with me?”
She immediately pulled away and crossed her arms over her middle. “No.” She chewed on her lip for a minute, then said, “But I think since you are taking a chance on public denigration you have the right to know. Although, you must understand that I knew nothing of my mother’s . . . occupation, until last year.”
As much as he wanted to pull her back into his arms, he allowed her the free space that she evidently needed.
“Mama was a wonderful mother all my life. I spent my very early years with a lovely family in the country, the Stevens. They were an older couple with one grown son, and they all shamelessly doted on me. Mama said they were friends of hers and she wanted me to enjoy the country air. Since she needed to be in London, she preferred to have me live with them.
“She visited me quite often, bringing me presents and taking me out for what we called ‘adventures.’ That involved picnics, flower picking, even taking over Mrs. Stevens kitchen to bake bread, make jam from fruit we picked, and preparing one of Mama’s favorites—pickled vegetables.”