Her friend shot her a penetrating glance. “I trust you and Arden will be blessed with children someday, so you can know the same happiness, my dear.”
Roslyn hesitated to reply. With Constance’s fate hanging in the balance, she hadn’t wanted to burden Winifred with the news of her dissolved engagement to Drew. So she merely smiled and squeezed her friend’s hand. “You are indeed an angel, Winifred. Now if only you would cease prying in my affairs, I would be as grateful as Constance.”
Winifred gave a raucous laugh, clearly delighted by the remark, but Roslyn couldn’t share her laughter. Not when her heart was so heavy. At the moment she felt as if she would never know happiness again.
Yet for the next hour until she took her leave of Winifred and the children, Roslyn hid her despondency well. When she returned to Danvers Hall, however, she was required to continue the charade, for she discovered that Earl of Haviland had just called upon her.
Finding him waiting in the entranceway for her, Roslyn forced herself to paste a welcoming smile on her lips as she moved forward to greet him.
“I beg your pardon?” Roslyn said five minutes later, blinking at her noble caller. Surely she wasn’t hearing correctly. Had the earl just proposed marriage to her?
Haviland’s handsome mouth curved in a wry grin. “Did I not express myself correctly, Miss Loring? Perhaps not, since this is my first proposal. But regardless of how I should phrase my offer, I would be highly honored if you would grant me your hand in marriage.”
Managing to stop staring so impolitely, Roslyn returned an uncertain smile. “Your proposal was entirely correct, my lord. I am just astonished you made it. I had no idea you wished to wed me.”
One heavy dark eyebrow rose. “Surely it doesn’t come as a total surprise. You know I have long admired you.”
“But it is a long step between admiration and suddenly contemplating marriage.”
Haviland shrugged his broad shoulders. “It isn’t all that sudden. I never wanted the earldom, but when I inherited the title at my father’s death last year, I assumed all the obligations of the role. In fact, I returned to England with the intention of settling down with a wife and begetting heirs. I thought I should wait until a proper period of mourning had passed, of course, but now that it is over, my grandmother has been after me to find a bride.”
Lowering her gaze to give herself time to think, Roslyn shook her head at the irony of Haviland’s timing. What she wouldn’t have given to have received his offer three weeks ago, before she had come to know Drew so intimately!
“It is still quite unexpected, my lord,” she said lamely, at a loss for words.
“I can see I have caught you off guard,” Haviland observed. “But I hold you in very high esteem, Miss Loring, and think you would make an admirable countess. I would have approached you sooner had you not become engaged to Arden. But now that your betrothal is at an end, I thought I would try my luck.”
Roslyn’s gaze lifted abruptly to meet his. “Where did you hear about our betrothal ending?”
“From Arden himself, last night.”
She felt a strange jolt to her heart. Drew had told Lord Haviland about their parting? But she didn’t want to think about Drew just now. Especially when the earl was standing before her, awaiting her answer. And now that her initial astonishment had subsided, she could give him one.
Swallowing the dryness in her throat, Roslyn clasped her hands before her as she politely replied, “I am very honored by your offer, my lord, but I fear I must decline.”
He hesitated a long moment. “I suppose it would be rude to ask the reason for your refusal. Do you have an objection to me personally?”
“No…of course not.”
“Then why?”
Roslyn found it hard to meet his searching gaze. She couldn’t bring herself to come right out and baldly confess losing her innocence to Drew, but she couldn’t marry Haviland without telling him about it. And even if he was willing to accept an unchaste bride, she didn’t love him-and she was now less willing than ever to settle for a loveless marriage.
Before she could form a reply, though, Haviland went on. “I think we would deal well together, Miss Loring. We could have very comfortable union of convenience.”
“But you see, my lord,” Roslyn finally said, “I have never been a fan of convenient marriages. On the contrary, I always hoped I would make a love match someday.”
Haviland took a step closer to her. His look was surprisingly gentle, almost tender. “We don’t love each other now, true, but there is always the possibility love will grow between us.”
“No. I don’t believe it
“Because your affections are still engaged by Arden?”
Roslyn found herself flushing. “Why would they be? I was the one who broke our engagement.”
“Which seems a very good reason to consider my offer. If you accept, you will have the protection of my name. You know the way of the world as well as I do. A broken engagement to a duke will not be easy for you to overcome.”
Roslyn felt herself warm at Lord Haviland’s generosity. “I am honored, truly, but I cannot marry you.”
“Because you have feelings for Arden,” he pressed.
Mutely, Roslyn glanced down at her clasped fingers, not wanting to answer. For days now she’d struggled to deny the truth to herself. She’d tried desperately to keep her heart safe from Drew, to no avail. She
A wave of despair washed over her as she acknowledged how utterly foolish she’d been. She loved Drew.
Which made agreeing to Haviland’s proposal of marriage impossible. She couldn’t marry one man when she loved another.
Her fingers clenched even more tightly. She couldn’t pinpoint the first moment when her heart had been irrevocably captured. Perhaps it was at Arden Castle, when she’d seen Drew’s devotion to his old governess. Or perhaps it was before that, when he’d shown her the kind of passion most women could only dream of.
Or perhaps even sooner, when he first began instructing her in how to kindle a man’s ardor. At the start of their lessons, she had never dreamed she would be opening her heart to unexpected love with her arousing tutor.
“Yes,” she murmured finally. “I have feelings for him.”
“If so, then why did you end your engagement?”
“Because he could never love me in return.”
Haviland gave her an odd look. “Are you sure about that?”
“Quite sure.”
“Does Arden know how you feel about him?”
“No,” she said despondently.
“Then you should tell him.”
Roslyn shook her head. “There would be no point.”
“Loath as I am to aid a rival,” Haviland said, an edge of amusement lacing his voice, “I suppose I must. I think you’re gravely mistaken about Arden’s feelings for you, Miss Loring. In fact, I would guess that he loves you a good deal.”
She jerked her head up again. “Why would you think so?”
“Because he sent me here to propose to you.”
Her heart wrenched, while her stomach suddenly felt filled with lead. Fighting a sick, hollow sensation, Roslyn could barely form a rasping reply. “He told you to propose to me? I should think that would prove just the opposite- that he does
“No, sweetheart,” Haviland said gently. “Arden was willing to give you up to ensure your happiness. He’s making a noble sacrifice on your behalf. I think that shows exactly how much he loves you.” Haviland’s mouth curved. “In truth, he threatened my life if I failed to make you happy after we were wed. But I can see now that I never stood a chance. Your happiness lies with Arden, not with me.”
