“And am I allowed to insist upon a similar pledge of fidelity?”
His smile was without humor. “Of course not.”
“Surely that would only be fair?”
Without warning he strolled forward, his hand cupping her chin in a touch that scalded her sensitive skin.
“I do not intend to be fair, my dear,” he murmured, the silver gaze studying her pale face with an alarming intensity. “I am in the position to dictate the rules of our marriage, not you.”
“And your rules include the right to parade about town with your mistresses while I am expected to remain at home and play the role of the dutiful wife?”
She shivered as the heat of his body easily penetrated her thin gown. Dear heavens, she had so often dreamed of this man holding her in his arms as they danced across a ballroom, but harmless fantasies did not prepare a poor maiden for the reality of his overpowering presence.
“What do you think?” he growled.
She lowered her lashes, unwilling to give him the satisfaction of knowing how painful she found the thought of him with another woman.
“I think you will do whatever possible to humiliate me.”
He lowered his head until she felt the brush of his warm breath on her cheek.
“Would you prefer that I remain at home with you, pretending to be a devoted husband?”
She hastily pulled from his touch, as horrified as she was baffled by the quivering sensations that fluttered through her at the brush of his hard body against her.
“I would never ask the impossible,” she muttered, “but it would be a pleasant change…”
“Pleasant change?” he prompted, as her too-revealing words stumbled to a halt.
She wrapped her arms around her waist, as if they could protect her.
“A pleasant change not to be the source of amusement when I enter a ballroom,” she forced herself to continue.
He studied her broodingly. “Is that why you insist on becoming my bride?” he demanded. “Do you believe your position as the Countess of Ashcombe will offer you approval among society?”
She made a smothered sound of frustration. “I have told you, I have no desire to marry anyone, let alone a gentleman who holds me in such obvious contempt.”
A muscle in his jaw knotted. “Do you blame me?”
Guilt pierced her at his reminder that he was as much a victim to this hideous fate as she.
Perhaps even more so.
What had he done beyond attempting to protect his family? Now he was trapped with a woman whom he would never, ever have chosen as his bride.
“No,” she breathed. “No, I do not hold you to blame.”
He appeared caught off guard by her soft agreement, then his face tightened with annoyance.
“You will see that your father receives the papers?”
“Not until I finish reading the terms of my imprisonment,” she muttered with a grimace.
He frowned. “What did you say?”
“I think I should at least comprehend what is expected of me as a wife,” she said with a shrug. “Otherwise I am likely to be even more of a disappointment.”
The silver eyes narrowed. “You will not be a disappointment, my dear.”