His amusement grew. “You were the one who tried to seduce me just now, remember?”
“But I never meant to go so far.” She shot him a cross look. “You have a deplorable power over me.”
“And you affect me similarly, Beauty. You arouse my lust with a mere touch.”
Roslyn frowned unhappily. “That is precisely the trouble, Drew. Don’t you see?”
“What is the trouble?”
“We feel lust for one another, but nothing deeper. Our hearts are not engaged.”
He fell silent, not wanting to discuss the uncomfortable subject of love with her again. But Roslyn clearly wasn’t of the same mind.
“You are a magnificent lover, Drew-no one could dispute it. You know exactly how to make my body respond. But that is all.”
“That is all?” His eyebrow lifted. “You’re saying you didn’t enjoy what we just did?”
“Of course I enjoyed it. But I want more from marriage than physical pleasure.”
“So you’ve told me.”
“But you didn’t seem to hear me.” She folded her arms over her chest, whether out of defensiveness or mere stubbornness, he wasn’t certain. “Becoming betrothed was unavoidable, Drew, but I won’t marry you unless we love each other. Only if you can truly say you love me, and I can say the same to you.”
He looked at her with hooded eyes. “What happened to your plan to make me enamored of you?”
Her mouth twisted. “I was being naive. I thought I could win a man’s heart if I could kindle his desire, but I realize now that I was wrong. Passion won’t lead to love. Desire won’t make you love me-or make me love you. Nor will these games of seduction we have been playing. I see now how superficial and shallow they are.”
“Perhaps, but that has nothing to do with our betrothal, or our eventual marriage.”
“It has everything to do with it!” Roslyn insisted.
Stopping, she took a calming breath. There was a quiet plea in her voice when she finally spoke again. “You don’t really want to wed me, Drew. You don’t want a true wife. Someone who could be more to you than a broodmare for your heirs…lover, companion, helpmate, confidante, friend. If you want heirs, any number of women will do.”
“I do want to marry you, Roslyn.”
“But I don’t want to marry you. I want love in my marriage, Drew. I need it.”
His mouth tightened. “I think you put far too much credence in love.”
Her voice dropped to a low murmur. “Perhaps, but without it, marriage can too easily lead to heartache. I couldn’t bear it if my husband and I battled all the time. Or if he betrayed our marriage vows the way my father betrayed my mother. Love is the only thing that will ensure a good marriage.”
Drew responded with an impatient, scoffing sound. “You are confusing love with infatuation.”
“No, I am not. Infatuation is merely a powerful physical attraction. True love comes from the heart.” Her tone softened. “Heart love is vastly different from physical love.”
“Heart love?”
She pressed her palm to her breastbone. “It comes from here, Drew. It’s a feeling of warmth, of caring. Of tenderness. Heart love is when you put someone else’s needs above your own. You are eager to be with her, and you miss her when you aren’t. Your life is brighter, more joyous because she is in it. You can’t imagine living without her.” Her gaze searched his. “Have you ever felt that way toward a woman before, Drew?”
He could say without question that he’d never felt any such thing.
When he didn’t respond, Roslyn smiled rather bleakly. “I don’t believe there is any danger of you feeling heart love for me. To engage your heart, you must first feel real emotion, not merely lust and desire.”
“Do you love Haviland?”
For a moment she stared at him, then looked away. “There is no use in my even thinking about Lord Haviland.”
Drew felt that fierce stab of jealousy again. Roslyn’s emotions were engaged for Haviland, he had little doubt. And he’d taken her away from him.