Not once had he allowed himself to consciously consider asking for her hand. Not even during those eleven wretched days when every thought of her had tormented him. Not even when she had bestowed her most sincere smile upon him when he returned from Yarmouth Hall. Not even when he had eagerly accepted her dinner invitation that first night back in Bath.Nevertheless, the moment he found himself alone with her he had blurted out the proposal.As surprising as was his proposal, her prompt acceptance surprised him even greater. Of course, she did not care for him as a woman cares for a man. She had just confessed that her reason for wanting to marry was to gain financial security. He cautioned himself to take her acceptance for what it was, not to read anything more into it than she was willing to concede.Of course, he wished to read more into it. His separation from Carlotta had underscored how deeply he valued her. How deeply he loved her. Though he had come to the conclusion he could not live without her, he had no intention of begging for her hand.Until he was alone with her, and his words had betrayed what was within his heart.When she had uttered those words that made him the happiest of men, he fought his immediate urge to gather her into his arms and kiss her senseless.
