“I don’t care about that.”
“Neither do I. And my father may not give it to me anyway if I don’t marry a peer.”
“That’s another thing.”
“I don’t care. Dowry be damned. I still have my income. It’s mine. He can’t take it away from me. The trust is very specific on that.”
“How much is your income, Rose?”
She smiled, stroking his stubbled cheek. “Two thousand pounds per year.”
“Good God.”
“So you see, I can pay Evan, and I can help you take care of those you love, and nothing would make me happier.”
“I still don’t feel right—”
“Cam, you’re being foolish. Do you know how many peers are in dire straits, with their estates dwindled down to nothingness due to poor management and excess spending? Do you think any one of them would have a problem taking my money? They certainly would not. Why do you think so many peers marry American heiresses? To replenish their coffers. So why do you have such a problem with it?”
“I don’t know. Foolish pride, I guess. I want to do everything for you, give you everything. I don’t want to take from you.”
“Then you deprive me of the joy of giving to you,” Rose said. “I never cared that you had nothing. I love you. I would have lived in a shack with you. I would have cooked your meals and cleaned your house and scrubbed your back when you came in from a hard day’s work. Don’t you see?” Rose began to weep. “All I wanted was to be with the man I love.”
She left the chair and knelt beside him on the floor. “I love you, Cam. There will never be another for me. I want your name. I want our child to have your name.”
“Oh, sweetheart.”
Cameron lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her passionately, their teeth clashing, their tongues plunging, until they were both gasping for air.
“Marry me, Rose. Please marry me.”
“Yes,” Rose said. “I will.”
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Cameron touched his lips to hers, and then stood with Rose in his arms and whirled her around the ballroom. “I can’t believe it,” he said. “I can’t believe you’re mine again!”
“I always was, Cam.”
He kissed her lips, her nose, her cheeks, ran his tongue down her neck to her shoulder and nipped it lightly. “We’ll have to marry quickly, due to your condition. I’ll take you to Gretna Green tomorrow.”
Rose laughed lightly. “It is tomorrow, Cam.”
“Then we’ll leave today. Now. I’ll borrow a carriage from the duke.”
“No, no,” Rose said. “We can’t. My aunt is getting married today. I need to be here. And you have a job, Mr. Price. You have responsibilities. You need to be at the theatre in the evening.”
“Damn. We need to marry quickly. We can’t wait for the banns to be read.”
“We’ll get a special license.”
“I wouldn’t have the first clue how to do that.”
“Daniel will know. We’ll ask him.”
“But what of the cost?”
“Who cares?” Rose laughed. “We both have money, you silly. We can take care of it. Together.”