She tried to swallow past the dryness in her throat. “I think perhaps you have.”
Realizing how her voice quavered with uncertainty, Madeline steeled herself to pose the crucial question that had haunted her since receiving his grandmother’s shattering proposition. “Did you mean it? You don’t want an annulment?”
“Not only do I not want an annulment,” Rayne declared, “I would hunt you down to the ends of the earth if you tried to leave me.”
His un-loverlike vow might be based purely on male possessiveness, Madeline thought, dazed, but at least it gave her reason to hope that Rayne wanted to keep her as his wife.
On the other hand, his shocking declaration of love had been made in the heat of anger at his elderly relative. Could she possibly let herself believe that he truly meant it?
Oddly, the look in Rayne’s eyes was a mixture of regret and worry as he regarded her with a searching gaze. “I understand my grandmother offered you fifty thousand pounds to annul our marriage, Madeline.”
“Yes,” she said, still hoarse.
“I was terrified you would accept.”
Rayne was terrified? Not a tenth as terrified as she had been, she would wager.
Madeline shook her head adamantly. “I don’t want your grandmother’s money, Rayne.”
“Why then did you tell her you would consider her offer?”
“Because I thought she was making it on your behalf—that you wanted me to agree to an annulment.”
A muscle flexed in his jaw. “No, I knew nothing about it. If I had, I would have done my damnedest to spare you her vitriol. I am so very sorry, sweetheart. Her intrusion was outrageous and unforgivable.”
Squeezing her eyes shut briefly, Madeline gave a deep shudder of relief. “I thought an annulment would be in your best interests,” she whispered. “Lady Haviland believes you deserve a wife who can move in your social circles and enhance your standing in the ton.”
Rayne’s expression remained solemn. “I don’t care what she believes. You know I don’t give a damn about the ton. Besides, you are perfectly qualified to move in any circles you choose—mine, hers, the Crown’s, anywhere.”
Madeline inhaled a shaky breath. Hope filled her chest along with a faint, burgeoning feeling of joy. Did she dare give in to it?
Aloud, she added haltingly, “The difference in our social stations was not the only reason I thought an annulment might be best for you. Lady Haviland also told me you wouldn’t inherit a penny of her fortune if I remained wedded to you.”
His gaze narrowed. “So you were trying to protect my inheritance?”
“Well … yes.”
Rayne looked as if he was striving for patience. “In the first place, I have my own fortune and don’t need my grandmother’s.”
“You do?”
“Yes. I am a very wealthy man. Didn’t you realize it?”
“No,” Madeline said weakly. “Your sisters were extremely worried that their sons would be cut off from your grandmother’s largesse. And Freddie said she was holding her fortune over your head to force you to take a suitable wife.”
“That isn’t the case at all. Thanks to several wise investments in the East India Company, I am nearly as well off as my grandmother, so you needn’t sacrifice our marriage for my sake.”
“Oh,” she murmured.
“Have you nothing else to say?”
In truth, she did, but she had difficulty gathering her courage, fearing Rayne’s response. Finally, though, Madeline forced the words out. “Did … did you mean it? You truly love me?”
His features softened. “Absolutely, I meant it. I truly love you, sweet Madeline.”
A sharp, fierce joy hit her. She felt shaky, trembling inside.
At her speechlessness, Rayne moved closer. Reaching up, he curved his palm gently against her cheek, taking care to avoid the bruised skin there, and bent his head as if intending to kiss her….