The Earl of Davenport: Wicked Regency Romance (Wicked Earls' Club #7)(25)

Now it was her time to stare as she turned, her eyes widening in surprise as he stalked toward her. “You are one of the strongest people I have ever met,” he continued, his anger on her behalf overriding his earlier stilted awkwardness.

She straightened at his comment, her expression clouded with confusion. He could hardly blame her, yet he clung to this new anger with everything he had. Anger he knew. Pride, on her behalf if not his own, was a comfort after the raw and agonizing new emotions of the past twenty-four hours.

He gripped her shoulders. “Anne Cleveland, you are a strong, competent young woman with the upbringing of a fine lady, whether your mother was married to your father or not.”

She blinked at him in surprise. He supposed he did sound rather heated.

“Do not dare let anyone ever take advantage of your kindness,” he said. “Were I to break my promise of marriage after last night.” He gritted his teeth in anger at the thought that she would have allowed it. Leaning forward, his forehead grazed hers as he bit out his next words. “You would have had every right to drive a dagger through my heart if I’d tried to do something so reprehensible.”

He watched as she sifted through his words, understanding bringing with it a glimmer of hope and something else… something so precious he vowed then and there to treasure it always. To do whatever it took to foster and heighten that inexplicably sweet emotion he saw when she looked at him.

His gaze was drawn to her lips as her tongued flicked out to wet her lips. “So, you... you have not changed your mind about marrying me?” Her voice was so soft and hesitant he let out a groan in response.

“What did I do to deserve you?” he murmured.

Confusion lit her eyes as she drew back in surprise.

He cupped her jaw in his hands, using his thumbs to stroke the soft skin of her cheeks. “Don’t answer that. I already know the answer. I have done nothing to deserve you. But I aim to earn your affection the way I ought.”

Her brows drew together in question and his heart lightened to see a spark of amusement once more in her eyes. “I do not understand your meaning,” she said, giving her head a small shake though he still held her.

“I am not canceling the wedding,” he said. “But I want to do this right. I’m suggesting that we return to London and announce the banns the way I should have.”

She blinked up at him, surprise clear on her face and the tiniest hint of fear. That fear nearly killed him.

“Now, I’m not saying I’m willing to wait forever,” he said, his voice gruff with emotion. “In fact, I’d like to wait as little as possible while still avoiding a scandal.”

The fear eased and she leaned into his touch, her smile growing, making his heart squeeze in turn. “Are you saying the great Devil of Davenport wants a traditional wedding?”

He gave a grunt in return. He couldn’t believe it himself. But one look at that smile and the pride that shone in her eyes… hell if he wouldn’t move heaven and earth to have her look at him like that every day for the rest of his life.

But she didn’t need him to move heaven and earth. All he had to do was give up his quest to be the most wicked of them all.

All he had to do was the most terrifying thing he could imagine. He had to try to live up to someone else’s expectations. And this woman expected the most of him. She expected a gentleman and a good man.

But more importantly, she deserved nothing less.

“I’m sorry.” His hoarse words made her eyes widen but he hurried on before he lost his nerve. “I am sorry that my reasons for asking you to marry me were not noble and that I’ve spent so long building a reputation for the Earl of Davenport that is so unworthy of his countess.”

She let out a little huff of laughter even as her eyes filled with tears.

He moved his thumb once more to brush aside a tear that spilled over and leaned in to rest his forehead against hers. “I have done little to deserve you, but that all changes now. From now on, I will do everything in my power to ensure that no one speaks ill of you or your family. If anyone dares to speak ill of you, I’ll—”

She cut him off with a little kiss. “Shh,” she hushed when she pulled back to face him. “I care little for what people say. And neither do you, that’s one of the things I love about you.”

He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer so her body was fitted to his. His heart was galloping away from him as her words echoed in his ears. One of the things she loved about him. Loved. Did that mean… But no, he would not pressure her to say the words, not if she wasn’t ready.

This was new to both of them. He couldn’t expect her to love him when even his own parents had not been able. And not after he’d made it his business to drive people away. It was too much to ask. It would take time and—

“I love you, Frederick.” Her soft words slayed him. They cut through his thoughts and left him speechless. He opened his mouth but nothing came out. He wanted to believe her. More than anything in the world, he realized, he wanted to believe that those words were true. That he was hers, that she was his. Never in his life had he so wanted to belong as he did right now.

But that hope warred with terror—a gripping fear that she would realize how wrong she was. That she would wake up one morning in the very near future and realize she had married a man destined to ruin everything he touched. He was frightened beyond belief that he would unintentionally hurt her like he’d destroyed his parents.