“I’m so terrified to have asked you. I’m worried my heart might burst out of my chest.”
“As I mentioned, men wed all the time. You’ll survive. I promise.”
“I hope so. If I die from it, I’ll blame you.”
“I shall make your transition from bachelor to husband as easy as I can. I wouldn’t want to be a widow so soon after I snagged you for my own.”
He was totally overwhelmed, as if he wasn’t sure he should have proceeded, but she wasn’t about to let him renege. Not when he’d finally offered exactly what she’d craved from him.
As to herself, she was disappointed that no words of love had been voiced. Shouldn’t they have been?
She was madly in love with him, and he probably loved her too. Shouldn’t a couple contemplating marriage proclaim their heightened fondness? Love wasn’t usually a factor in matrimonial decisions, but when it was present, wasn’t that a sign of a positive outcome? Shouldn’t it be celebrated?
She couldn’t fathom how to talk about it though, and when he hadn’t talked about it, she didn’t see how she could either.
Well, they would have many decades together, and their current emotions would blossom as they went forward. He would eventually love her. She was convinced of it.
“When will we do it?” she asked. “Where will we do it? Do you attend a church here in the city?”
“No, I’m a dedicated heathen.”
She tsked with exasperation. “We’ll have to work on that situation. I’m very devout, so I’ll expect you to accompany me to services and to act as if you’re enjoying yourself.”
“For you, I will attempt anything, even church services.”
“It may be tricky to figure out where to hold the ceremony. We can’t return to the country and beg my vicar to call the banns. I doubt he would. Not when my betrothal to Gregory hasn’t been officially terminated, and I would hate to quarrel with my uncle about it.”
He smirked. “You naughty girl. Will you notify him after you’ve become my bride?”
“Yes, definitely. I won’t give him a chance to stop me.”
“I’m not keen to have the banns called. It would mean we’d have to delay a whole month, and you might come to your senses and change your mind.”
“I won’t ever change my mind,” she firmly stated.
“We could apply for a Special License, but there’s likely not a single bishop in the land who would provide me with one.”
“We could elope.”
“Caroline Grey! In the time we’ve been apart, you’ve altered into someone I don’t recognize. Elope! What a scandalous proposition! I’m astounded that you would suggest it.”
“You’re not the only one who’s concerned about minds being changed. I’m not about to let you think about this. If anyone will get cold feet, it’s you. Not me. I’m perfectly content to be your wife, but you will be fretting and quailing and devising reasons to postpone. I intend to attach a leg shackle, and I want it to be so tight that you can never pry it off.”
He sighed with gladness. “An elopement it is, Miss Grey.”
“I’ve always yearned to visit Scotland. I guess this will be my opportunity.” She cradled his cheek in her palm. “It will be all right, Caleb. I swear.”
“I know, and I’m very excited.”
“What will Sybil’s opinion be? And how about your brother?”
“Sybil will be thrilled about it, but she’ll be angry that we’re running off to accomplish it away from home. She’s the type who’d have liked to make a big fuss.”
“We can have her host a reception after we’re back.”
“She’d like that, and as to my brother, this news will probably kill him.”
“He’ll be upset to have you wed me?”
“Not you precisely. Just that I’m marrying anybody. He and I thought we’d always be bachelors. He’ll be stunned, but he likes you. He’ll be happy for me.”
“I’ll be Mrs. Caleb Ralston,” she said. “What do you think of that?”
“I think it sounds quite grand.”
Caleb clasped Caro’s hand and kissed the center of it. Then he rolled her onto her back again, and he rolled too so he was stretched out atop her.
He couldn’t believe he’d proposed, but after he’d spent the night in her bed, it was the only logical conclusion.
When he’d left Grey’s Corner, he should have brought her to London with him, but he’d left her there to fend for herself. Why had he? She’d instantly been imperiled by her male relatives, which he could have predicted.
From the minute he’d ridden away, he’d been worried about her. Now she’d walked back into his life, and he wasn’t about to ever let her walk out again.
A pertinent benefit to their marrying concerned Gregory and her uncle and their contemplating drastic actions toward her. Once Caleb was her husband, she would belong to him, and he would be in charge of her. They wouldn’t be able to harm her in the future.
He needed to commence a detailed investigation of them. Why would her uncle be so determined about the union? It was very strange, and Caleb would figure out his motive. He was already on the road to ruining Gregory, and he would dig deeper than he normally would to unravel the secret that was driving both men.
At the moment though, he wasn’t about to waste energy pondering them. He had more agreeable topics to consider. Namely that he was snuggled under the blankets with her. He’d proposed, she’d accepted, and they would be wed before the week was over. Why not rush their wedding night just a bit? Why restrain himself?
He had no great qualms about carnal conduct outside of marriage. He wasn’t religiously inclined, and he didn’t view sexual play to be wrong. Life was short, and a fellow should enjoy himself as much as possible.
He began kissing her again, and she enthusiastically joined in. She was a lush, passionate creature, and he was certain she would grow to relish
