Making up her mind, she took a deep breath. She would answer “yes” to his marriage offer.
At least conditionally.
A betrothal would keep him safe from the likes of Julia Dalton and Phoebe Armitage for the moment. More crucially, it would give her time to see if she could change his mind about love…perhaps even the chance to make him love her.
Regaining a measure of her strength from her new resolve, Kate reached up and slid her arms around his neck. “I think you are right,” she murmured, holding his surprised gaze.
She could tell she had caught Deverill off guard; she had shocked herself a little as well.
“How so?” he replied cautiously.
“I believe I will accept your proposal of marriage after all.”
Savoring his stunned silence, Kate bit back a smile. It felt good to turn the tables on Deverill for once, to put him on the defensive. He was eyeing her skeptically, as if he couldn’t credit her sudden change of heart.
She lifted a quizzical eyebrow. “Yesterday you said you might want to marry me. Are you already reneging on your offer?”
“No.”
“Well then, I will agree to a temporary engagement.”
He frowned. “Why temporary?”
“You said you wanted protection from the machinations of Lady Dalton and Miss Armitage. A formal arrangement will shield you from them and any other fortune hunters hounding you.”
“You are suggesting we enter into a sham betrothal?”
“No, the betrothal will be entirely real. Whether the wedding ever takes place is the question. During our time in France, we can come to know each other better. Just consider, Deverill. After being in close proximity for days or even weeks, we might be ready to murder each other. With a temporary understanding, we can easily call off the betrothal when we return to England.”
Deverill shook his head in disbelief, although that distinctive look of amusement returned to his eyes. “I won’t change my mind about wanting to wed you,” he assured her.
“But I may. We have very different priorities. We need to see if there is any hope of us developing a deeper attachment. If you are still of the same mind then as now, there is no point in continuing a betrothal.”
Sobering, Deverill curled his mouth. “So we are back to the matter of love.”
“Did you expect otherwise?” When he was silent, Kate searched his face and found only skepticism written there. Determinedly, she made her dozenth effort to explain her deeply held beliefs. “You have made carnal desire the basis of our relationship, Deverill. I want much more in a marriage. Feelings and emotions are more important than any carnal attraction.”
“For you, perhaps.”
“That is precisely my point. The very notion of love is merely a game to you. You want to win for the sake of winning, regardless of your personal feelings. Indeed, you use passion as a weapon to render me witless, so you can get your way, whatever that might be. Do you deny it?”
His expression grew enigmatic. “I have been clear about wanting to free you from your inhibitions.”
“Ah yes. You want to liberate me from prudishness and blind adherence to conventions. Well, you will have to cease your campaign. I am not willing to jeopardize my reputation for a few moments of illicit passion, even if you are.”
As if debating his own thoughts, Deverill looked off into the distance, then softly chuckled to himself. “Do you realize how many women would leap at the chance to wed me?”
Kate smiled reluctantly. “I do. But those are my terms. I understand why they may be too onerous for you.”
“I suppose,” he said slowly, “there is another advantage to a betrothal. It will lend a measure of propriety to our journey. And we could be alone in the same room without raising eyebrows.”
“Yes,” Kate agreed, “but we must both behave with more circumspection from now on. As it is, we are courting scandal every time we are together. Our betrothal cannot be only about seduction. You may not care if we are caught in a compromising position, but I do.”
Glancing back, he aimed his focus intently on her. “If you were compromised, you would have no choice but to marry me.”
“I will always have a choice,” Kate retorted. “You could never coerce me into marriage. And you should know by now that I don’t respond well to threats.”
Meeting her gaze steadily, he seemed to realize she was not bluffing, for he smiled imperceptibly and nodded. “I do know. Very well, I agree to your terms.”