He’d hit a nerve. “I gave up on pride when I became your mistress.”
It was his turn to laugh. “Rubbish. You’re the most stiff-necked woman I know. You’d make the Queen of the Amazons look humble.”
He caught another glimpse of the vulnerability that she struggled to hide. “Why are you doing this? You’re a clever man. You know marriage is impossible. You knew that when you asked me to be your mistress.”
“I’ve had time to think.”
Her lips turned down. “You’ve had time to feel responsible for my ruin.”
Leath stalked toward the decanter on the sideboard. He could do with a drink. He passed Eleanor a glass, firelight striking ruby lights from the claret.
“This cruel world we live in is particularly cruel to bastards,” he said evenly. “If you don’t believe me, ask Sedgemoor, Hillbrook, and Sir Richard. All suffered because of the circumstances of their birth.”
She frowned. “They seem happy.”
“They’ve been lucky enough to find the right women.” He spoke from the depths of his heart. “As have I.”
She stepped back so abruptly that she spilled wine over her hand. “You devil.”
He seized the glass before she ruined the lovely gown. “Careful.”
She stared at him uncompromisingly. “My lord,” she said austerely, “you’ve done me the great honor of asking me to be your wife. I regret that I must decline.”
His hand clenched on the two glasses. “Eleanor.”
She regarded him, did she but know it, as haughtily as a princess. “You have my answer, Lord Leath.”
No sweet whisper of James now. “I won’t leave it at that.”
“I wish you would.”
“I want you for my marchioness, Eleanor.” He placed the untouched wine on a side table. “And I’m a stubborn man.”
She sighed. “You say I deserve better than a place as your mistress? Well, you deserve better than to let a passing affair dictate the course of your life.”
“You’re not a passing affair,” he retorted, stung.
The sadness in her smile made him want to shout denial to the rafters. “Yes, I am. Because when you make your grand, politically advantageous marriage, as I sincerely hope you do, our affair will be over.”
“What bloody drivel is this?”
“It’s not drivel,” she snapped.
He seized her arms. “Shall I try and convince you to accept me?”
Anger flared in her face. And reluctant excitement. “You imagine you can seduce me into saying yes?”
“We’d both enjoy it if I tried,” he suggested, although already she shook her head.
“You won’t taint what we share with ulterior motives.”
He wasn’t so sure of his scruples. “I’ll ask you to marry me again, Eleanor.”
“I’ll say no again, my lord.” She stepped away. “You’ll waste your time.”
“It’s my time,” he said calmly. He could afford to be patient. She might change her mind. After all, she’d said no when he’d asked her to be his mistress, hadn’t she?
Yes, he could wait. He had a strong suspicion that once she found hersel