She gave an exasperated sigh at Rayne’s intractability. “I am finding it extremely tiresome, my lord, your treating me like a fragile female because of your outsized sense of chivalry. You cannot help playing the hero, but I do not require coddling.”
“No, I suppose you don’t.” Thankfully, his gaze had lightened with a slight glimmer of amusement. “But how am I to restore my sense of manhood after allowing an interfering wench to intervene in an affair of honor?”
“I doubt your manhood is grievously wounded,” Madeline said dryly.
“Oh, but it is. And it is up to you to make amends.”
Her wariness suddenly returned full force, considering the way he was looking at her. “What do you mean?”
“I want an answer to my marriage proposal.”
“This is hardly the time to discuss your proposal,” she replied, taking a step backward.
“I don’t see it that way, darling. This is the perfect time to resume our negotiations, especially since you owe me for calling off the duel.”
Rayne’s silky tone put all her nerves on edge, as did the fact that he was slowly advancing on her. Madeline retreated until he had backed her against the trunk of an elm. Her heart began thudding as he stood there gazing down at her.
“It should be abundantly clear by now,” he admonished, “that Ackerby’s pursuit of you is a compelling reason for you to wed me. He wouldn’t dare touch you if you were my countess.”
“He won’t dare touch me now after you threatened to shoot him.”
Raising his hand, Rayne put a finger under her chin, trapping her gaze and making her mouth go dry. “You can’t be certain of that. I intend to give you the protection of my name and title, Madeline.”
“I don’t want your protection,” she said unevenly. “And I know you don’t truly want to wed me.”
“You know nothing of the kind. If anything, this incident only confirmed my instincts about you. You’re intrepid and brave and a force to be reckoned with. And you are the woman I want for the mother of my heir.”
Madeline felt her heart turn over as his blue eyes delved into hers. She recalled Rayne questioning her earlier about her desire for children, his intense expression as he’d waited for her answer, as if her reply were extremely important to him. And perhaps it was. He wanted children more than he wanted a wife.
She had little doubt that Rayne would be a good father to their children. Indeed, he would likely love them far more readily than he would love her. Which was the chief trouble. He wanted her for a broodmare and she wanted love—
He cut off that dismaying thought with a simple comment. “When I was in London on Monday, I procured a special license for us to marry.”
Startled, Madeline stared up at him. “That is outrageously presumptuous of you.”
“Not at all. I told you, I don’t mean to take no for an answer.”
An obvious understatement, Madeline thought with exasperated worry as he moved even closer. Rayne was the most relentless man she had ever known, even more so than Ackerby. But at least Rayne’s intentions were honorable.
Her thoughts were so preoccupied that she almost missed his next declaration. “… the ceremony can take place this afternoon.”
“This afternoon! You must be joking.”
“You know me better than that by now.”
Madeline’s chin jutted out defiantly. “Simply because you have decided you will wed me, I must comply?”
The corner of his mouth twisted in a hint of a smile. “No. You will comply because marriage to me is the best future for you. On Monday I also spoke with my solicitors and ordered them to arrange a sizable marriage settlement for you.”
His admission gave her pause, since she was reminded of the practical reasons for accepting Rayne’s offer. As his wife she would have significant financial security. And she could possibly use his marriage settlement to help her brother get out of the predicament he was in—
No, it was absurd to consider marrying Rayne for his money. She was not a fortune hunter.
On the other hand, Rayne’s protection might be very welcome. Her quandary just now—Ackerby holding her brother’s theft over her head—had driven home again to Madeline just how powerless she was against someone of the baron’s wealth and stature. She wouldn’t be nearly so helpless in standing up to him if she were a countess. Admittedly, Ackerby frightened her, not for her sake but for Gerard’s.
The prospect of a solitary future frightened her nearly as much, Madeline conceded. She dreaded the dreariness of life lived in chaste spinsterhood. She didn’t want to wind up a sad old woman, regretting the emptiness and loneliness of her existence. She wanted the joy of having children, a family, a beloved husband….
While she stood debating, Rayne’s hand shifted to cradle her jaw. Her gaze fixed on his mouth as his thumb stroked her lower lip. Then before she could gather her scattered thoughts enough to prevent him, Rayne bent his head to kiss her.