Seduction in Mind

'You stay out of this,' Sam ordered, scowling at Harry.

'Sam, be nice to him.'

'I love her, so go home,' Sam said to Harry, and turned back to Alex. 'Is that nice enough?'

'You do?'

'Very much.'

'Really?'

'Really.'

'Alexandra!' Her mother beckoned her with a smile, a very smug smile that she bestowed in turn on each and every one at the tea table.

'Why are my parents-'

'I invited them… actually, I invited your father, but your mother came too; we're getting along very well.'

Alex stared at him as though he'd suddenly sprouted a second head.

His brows flickered in sportive response. 'Really, we are. Do you want to meet my parents? I wouldn't necessarily wish them on anyone, but since they're here and you're here'-he shrugged-'maybe we should get it over with.'

'I'd rather hide.'

'You have to meet them eventually.'

'No I don't.'

'You do if you're to be my wife.'

'Obviously, this craziness has infected you.'

He shook his head, glanced around at all the gawking faces, said, 'If you'll excuse us a minute.' Then he turned to Harry because Alex wished him to be nice and said politely, 'We'll be right back.' Tightening his grip on Alex's hand, he pulled her out into the corridor. 'I was hoping to make this more romantic, but under the circumstances'- he nodded in the direction of the drawing room-'I'm afraid any romance is out of the question. Will you marry me? I have already asked your parents' permission.' He grinned. 'Please, just say yes and put me out of my misery.'

She smiled. 'I came over to apologize to you. To thank you for saving me from-whoever Ben was.'

'I don't want an apology. I want you to answer my question. I've never really asked anyone to marry me before; I haven't slept all night for thinking of this.'

'Do you actually know what you're doing? You don't have to marry me to sleep with me because I missed you dreadfully last night and I decided my pride could be sacrificed to pleasure.'

'You do like pleasure.'

'Your kind of pleasure.'

'Good. Now, I'm going to need some kind of commitment here, because I'm not the kind of man who deals with amour in a casual way.'

She snorted.

'Not anymore anyway.'

'Allow me to be skeptical.'

'I swear, my word on it. Last night was the longest night of my life. You have to marry me.'

'What about those little pink and white misses in your drawing room?'

'They're interested only in my bank account.'

'They don't know what they're missing.'

He grinned. 'And you do.'

'Which is my dilemma. I'm not sure I want to give it up.'

'Good.' His mouth twitched into a smile. 'I'm waiting.'

With a man like Ranelagh, every rational impulse urged her to say no. 'Yes,' she heard herself say.

'That's the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me,' he breathed. 'And I promise to say yes to you anytime you want.'

Such delectable motivation was impossible to ignore. Whatever remaining caution she possessed fell away. 'Do you think they might leave soon?'

'I can assure you they will,' Sam said firmly. 'Come, darling, let's make our announcement. And then I'll tell them we have to make our wedding arrangements and we need privacy.'

'I don't want a big wedding.' Someone else seemed to be speaking for her, each new statement more astonishing than the last.

'I have the archbishop waiting down the hall. Is that small enough?'

Suddenly her head was clear, and her gaze turned challenging. 'You were pretty sure of yourself.'

'Just hopeful. If you didn't say yes immediately, I was going to seduce you into saying yes.'

'Do you think that would have worked?'

'Well,' he said calmly, repressing his grin, 'based on past experience…'

'Don't be smug.'

'Never. I apologize. Please, can we get these people to leave? We can argue the nuances later. Please…'

He looked so contrite, it was impossible to refuse. Then he kissed her gently and said thank you with such unutterable sweetness that she was lost.

Chapter Thirty-one

Once Sam made his marriage plans plain to his parents, they did what was required of them and acquiesced- with politesse if not grace.

Clarissa, Hedy, and Harry each took their conge with varying degrees of civility, or in Hedy's case with no civility at all. 'Don't you care about Clara Bowdoin and her coming child?' she inquired spitefully. 'Poor Clara will be heartbroken if you marry.'

'Miss Alworth is leaving, Owens,' Sam said grimly. 'See her out.'

Everyone pretended not to hear Hedy's continuing vituperation as she was pushed out of the room by Sam's butler. Clarissa and Harry abruptly took their leave, the two handsome blond youngsters deep in conversation as they left.

'Now then,' Sam said into the awkward silence.

'Sam, perhaps we should wait,' Alex suggested. 'How can it matter if-'

'No.'

She shot him a fractious glance. 'Pardon me?'

'I meant, please… I'd rather not wait if you don't mind, darling.' Ignoring their audience, he smiled for her alone. He pulled her aside, and said in the merest breath of sound, 'I'm thirty-three, I love you, and I don't want to wait.'

'What will people say?'

'Since when did you begin to care what people said?'

'Since I found myself in the middle of this scandalous occasion.'

'What's scandalous? Your parents are here; my parents are'-he grinned-'unfortunately, also here. It's broad daylight in my drawing room and I'm offering you my heart, my name, my title, my life.'

'I don't know,' she equivocated. 'Everything's so sudden. We met only a short while ago.'

'You mean, we finally met. And need I remind you, I've never offered a woman what I just offered you, so consider not only the signal honor I've afforded you, but my consequence,' he said with a grin. 'Furthermore, if you're concerned about scandal, think how it will look if I pick you up, carry you down the hall to the archbishop, and force you to marry me.'

'I'm well aware of your consequence, my lord, in any number of areas,' she added with a half smile. 'And you wouldn't dare force me.'

'Knowing you'-his lashes drifted downward in suggestion-'I'm not so sure I'd have to, but if I did, I rather think your mother might help me.'

Alex took momentary pause. 'That in itself is terrifying, over and above any concern with scandal.'

'This won't be scandalous in the least, darling. Our sudden marriage will be considered the most captivating of