“Then what is?”
“Actually…I am here to accept your proposal of marriage.”
The silence that met her declaration was profound. Several heartbeats passed before Marcus’s eyes narrowed. “Did you find yourself with child, Arabella?”
Her own eyes widening, she felt a flush heat her cheeks. “No, I am not with child. My…courses came last week. But according to Fanny, the likelihood of my conceiving is small, since you and I were only together a few nights.”
Marcus’s expression remained infuriatingly enigmatic. “Sometimes it takes but once for a man’s seed to take root. And that would explain your willingness to accept my offer now when you refused so adamantly barely a week ago.”
“Well, that is not why I changed my mind about marrying you.” Arabella eyed him with misgiving. “I thought you would be pleased by my surrender.”
“It depends wholly on the reason.” Marcus crossed his arms over his chest, his stance the picture of resistance. “I told you, Arabella, I am not interested in a marriage of convenience.”
“Neither am I. I want a love match, just as you do.”
“Is that so?”
Feeling suddenly vulnerable, she clasped her hands together. “Yes. You were r
ight, Marcus. I was acting out of fear. I was afraid to have my heart broken again, so afraid that I wouldn’t risk loving you. But in the end I couldn’t help myself.”
Some emotion flickered in his blue eyes but she couldn’t read it. “So you are saying you love me.”
“Yes…I love you.”
He gave her a skeptical look while his arms remained firmly crossed. “Why should I believe you? Perhaps you’ve mistaken your feelings.”
Arabella shook her head, torn between exasperation and fear. Apparently Marcus wouldn’t readily forgive her for rejecting him so soundly, but it frightened her to think he didn’t care at all about her change of heart. “No, I have not mistaken my feelings. I love you, Marcus.”
“You will have to convince me.”
The words were a challenge and sounded more like the Marcus of old.
She offered him a nervous smile. “What must I do to convince you? I am willing to grovel, if you wish me to.”
When a glimmer of amusement finally lit his blue eyes, Arabella sucked in a sharp breath of hope.
“I think perhaps some amount of groveling is in order,” Marcus remarked. “After all the torment you put me through, you deserve to suffer a little.”
“I have suffered,” Arabella replied emphatically. “I felt utterly wretched from the moment you left. I missed you unbearably.” When he showed no further sign of yielding, she realized she would have to make him believe that she truly loved him. Her voice lowered to an imploring murmur when she continued. “Marcus, once you were gone, there was this great void in my life…in my heart.” Her fist closed over her breastbone. “I felt empty without you. I can’t bear to live like that the rest of my life. I don’t want to live without you. It is love I feel for you, Marcus,” she insisted, repeating the same words he had said to her a week ago.
When he didn’t reply, Arabella searched his face. “You said you feel the same way. You said you love me.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “That was last week. Perhaps I’ve lost interest by now.”
She swallowed. “Perhaps you have. But I want to be your wife, even if you don’t love me.”
It seemed, however, that he still wouldn’t relent. “I’m afraid that isn’t good enough.”
“What…do you mean?”
“I want your trust, Arabella, as well as your love.”
“I do trust you, Marcus.”
“Enough to believe me when I say I will remain faithful to you to the end of our days?” His eyes held hers intently as he waited for her answer.
“Yes.” She regarded him solemnly, understanding what he was asking. “You are not my father.”