“Because.” She shrugged, remaining exactly where she was. “Your reasons don’t matter. There will be no marriage between us.”
Noah realized his mouth was hanging ajar and so he snapped the damn thing shut. If he wasn’t mistaken, she’d just rejected him. “Are you saying no to my proposal?”
She shook her head. “No. That’s not what I’m saying.”
Relief made his shoulders limp. He straightened them back up. “Good. Because—”
“Saying no would imply there was a proposal. There wasn’t.”
He drew in a breath, the realization settling over him. Of course. She was irritated that he and Bash had made these plans without her. Their schemes had been why he’d held off telling her about them to begin with. “Then I’ll begin again. Avery—”
She held up her hand. “Don’t bother. I didn’t mean that I wanted you to pose the question. Regardless of how you broach the topic, my answer will be the same.”
Noah pushed forward again, his knees bumping into hers, making her jump back. Was she frightened? It was the last thing he intended. He eased back once again. “But why?”
She looked at him then. While her brown eyes were still large with an air of vulnerability, they also looked…angry. Tension pulled at the corners, her brows drawn down in accusation.
“Why?” he repeated, not sure what else to say.
“I don’t wish to discuss it,” she replied, her arms crossing.
Damn. She had a way of turning the tables and using his own words against him. “I’m a titled lord. You’re the daughter of a baron. You should want to make a match—”
“I’m not doing things in my life just because I should,” she bit back as she broke her angry stare and looked out the window.
“You’ll be ruined.”
She shook her head. “I don’t care.”
He blinked, remembering how she wanted to go without the veil. Christ. “You mean that? You don’t care if you’re ruined?”
She looked at him again. “Why did you agree to marry a woman you’d never met? You’re an earl. You can have your pick.”
Her gaze swung back to his and they held an accusation as though she knew his reply already. As though she’d realized the man he’d become after Lily’s death. Morally bankrupt. “That would require participating in society, which I don’t fancy.”
Her brows lifted. “A single garden party and you could be engaged. That is too much?”
“You’re remarkably good at finding my weak points, you know that don’t you?”
This time she winced and her arms, which had been crossed in anger, now seemed to embrace her body. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…”
If she’d been able to sniff out his soft spots, he hadn’t a clue what he’d just said to upset her so.
This time, he rose, crossing the carriage and taking a seat next to her. He wrapped his arms about her too and to his complete amazement, she settled in his embrace, her head falling on his chest as she held onto his waist.
“There is no need to apologize. I am admiring your ability to figure out what I am trying to hide.”
She shook her head against his chest. “But my father…” And her voice caught a bit.
“What about him?” Noah asked as he dropped his cheek to the top of her head. Her lovely floral scent wafted about him as she settled her body close to his.
“When he wasn’t demanding, he was manipulating.”
He chuckled then. Was she worried she was like her father? “Avery.” And then he kissed the top of her head. He wasn’t sure why he did it. They’d known each other for less than a day and she’d just rejected his proposal, but her hurt mattered to him and he wanted to comfort her. The fact that her hair was like silk under his lips, that had nothing to do with it. “You have not attempted a single bit of manipulation. In fact, you’ve been so straightforward, I am almost disconcerted by your candor. If one of us has been less than honest…”
“Tell me then, why did you agree to a match with me?” She lifted her head then, her gaze meeting his.
He let out a heavy sigh. Was it wrong that even now he wished to kiss her? “I don’t have the best reputation.”
“Because of the gaming hell?”
At least she knew about that. But of course, she did. Isabella had surely told her all about the Den of Sins. “Partially.” He drew in a deep breath. “I’m a known rake.”
“Oh?” She sat up a bit. “I’ve run off with a rake?”
Why did she sound happy? He crinkled his brow. “Yes. Why?”
She gave him a ghost of a smile. “That makes my ruination far easier.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” She was still pressed against him. Still looking up at him. Noah still wished to kiss her. “I didn’t take you out of London to ruin you.”
“No,” she answered. “You removed me for my safety. Mission accomplished.”
The little tart. “You seem to misunderstand. I saved you under the condition that I would marry you.”
“Will it hurt your reputation as a rake that you actually go around saving innocent women? Because I can assure you that most people will just assume you pulled me away to have your way with me.”
He nearly choked. Because she was still snuggled against his side and having his way sounded rather delightful. “No. That’s not the problem.”
“What is?” A single brow dropped down and she looked delightfully ridiculous.
“I took you from London because I was supposed to get a wife out of the bargain.”
She waved her hand. “Perhaps you should have told me all this at Bash’s instead of being so evasive. I could have saved you the trouble.”
“And left you to those men?” he cried. Then he realized what he’d just said. Because that sounded like he really cared. Like he was worried for her safety. And he didn’t; he wasn’t.
Not at all.
He didn’t care about any female. And certainly not about Avery after only knowing her for the less than a
