Angel in Scarlet (Bound and Determined #4)(68)

She didn’t think so.

The way forward might not be clear, but she knew she could not go back.

Will you marry me? Why did the words haunt her?

When she’d come up with her plan and gone to Madame Rouge’s, it had all seemed so carefully controlled. She’d said she was willing to do anything, but it had actually been a rather small set of anything. Colton could do almost anything with her body, but her spirit, her soul, her feelings, were supposed to stay separate.

And yet they’d all been gathered into a knot and left in a tangle.

Will you marry me?

Her mother squeezed her arm, drawing her attention. “You do not look as if you wish to go and laugh and gossip. Your face is all pinched up like a prune.”

“Sorry, perhaps I am still not recovered from last night’s headache.” Will you marry me? Did she dare take that risk? The young girl she had been would have jumped without a second thought, trusted that what she felt would be enough for both of them, trusted that Colton was not as cold as he appeared.

But that young girl had grown up and learned that one should be careful.

—

Angela had not answered him. She’d told him she needed time to think. Colton paused at the entrance to the ballroom, letting his lips curl in amusement. He should have been angered or upset, irritated at the very least. Instead he found it…refreshing. He liked that she didn’t simply give in to him, that her spark remained lit.

Although it did present difficulties. Thorton.

What was Colton going to do? Given time, Angela might refuse his offer of marriage. She clearly still bore a grudge from his previous failure to ask for her hand, for his cold dismissal. Was she still so peeved that she would actually refuse? And what more could he do to persuade her?

It was hard to tell, but, then, he’d never understood this game that she was playing. He’d enjoyed—oh, he’d definitely enjoyed—it, but he had not understood what drove her to him. He’d thought maybe she cared for him, that she might even believe she loved him, but if she did, she would have agreed to marriage as soon as the words left his lips.

Perhaps he should have told her of Thorton’s threat. No, he had no desire for her to feel trapped into this marriage. No marriage could start well that began unwillingly.

And he was not unwilling.

That thought filled him.

He might not want to examine his motivation too closely, but he was looking forward to making his angel his own.

Now he just needed to find an appropriate method of persuasion.

Stepping through the door, he scanned the room. The stately traditional dance had brought some older feet—a dozen couples—to the floor. She was not among them.

Searching for the emerald of her dress, he looked again. Where was she? Ah, there, against the far wall, her dress blending with a large array of potted ferns. Her head tilted back and he saw laughter escape her lips. Something had captured her attention and filled her with amusement. He turned to her companion: her mother. That was good. He was not in the mood to deal with any of her young admirers—or her older ones. He looked for Thorton—and found him talking to Lady Perse.

Now, that was not good.

What was the man saying? Colton still had no understanding of what the man was about. Why did he care so deeply about Angela? Could he be some type of relation? Did he have some affection for the girl? It seemed unlikely and he had not mentioned it. Colton would have understood if Thorton had instantly run off and told what he had seen. There were certain people who could not help the gossip that leaked from their lips, who lived only to be the first to share some great secret. Thorton was not that type of man.

So why?

Why was he so determined?

Even as Colton wondered, Thorton turned and saw him. A look of strong dislike darkened his face and then was tamed. That was fine. Colton did not care for him either. Thorton took a step forward, then stopped. He looked straight at Colton and the question was clear.

Colton gave the slightest of shrugs. What other answer was there?

Thorton’s face again darkened. His head jerked toward the veranda door Colton had just entered.

No. Colton shook his head in response.

Thorton’s face grew darker still.

It would not do to have the man angry enough to leak his secrets without thought. Colton considered and nodded toward the hall that led to the billiards room. If it was occupied they would find another space—and he could get a good swallow or two of brandy on the way. Lady Perse was always a most hospitable hostess when it came to keeping the decanters full.

—

“The two of you must marry.”

“I asked.”

“That is not good enough.”

“Do you want me to bundle her up and take her to the vicar?”

“I don’t see why not. Only marriage can fix this situation.”

And why did Thorton care so much? It was a question he was beginning to accept would not be answered. “I will not force her.”

“You seemed quite ready to force her before—or why the ropes?”

Because I like the way they look and she was curious. Somehow he did not think that Thorton would accept that as an answer. “I have never forced a woman and I never would.”

“So if Miss Ripon was truly willing, which I have a hard time believing of any lady, then why does she now refuse you?” Thorton paced across the room.