—Mrs. Oliver’s Rules for Young Ladies
“Will you excuse us for a moment, Mother, Mr. Pilkington?” Sandrine grabbed Dane’s hand and marched him out of the parlor, down the hall and into a sitting room.
She didn’t look happy. Why didn’t she look happy?
“Dane, what on earth was that?”
He tugged against her hand, still seeing red. “Let me go back, Sandrine. I’m going to rearrange that vicar’s face with my fists.”
“Dane. Why did you say that?”
“He was insulting you. He was saying he couldn’t lower himself to marry you. No one speaks to you like that!”
“And so you dove in and rescued me. Even though I had the situation under control.”
“I couldn’t stand by and listen to that loathsome excuse for a man insult you!”
“Did you stop to think before you decided my fate?”
“I wasn’t thinking at all. I was reacting. And I’d do it again. Just to see his mouth flop open.”
“Did you ever think that I might not want this?”
“Wait.” He laid his hands lightly on her shoulders. “Are you saying that you don’t wish to marry me?”
She sniffed. “I’m saying that I don’t wish to learn of my engagement before there’s even been a proposal.”
“Point taken.” He gathered her small hands into his. “Miss Sandrine Oliver, would you do me—”
“And I don’t want a proposal given not from love but from a desire to protect me from scorn.”
She was being stubborn. They had no other choice. Now that the deed was done, all Dane could think about was their wedding night. He’d obtain a special license. He could have her in his bed within a week. “Well, too bad. We’re already engaged.”
“Go in there and tell them that you were mistaken.”
“I won’t.”
“Why not? Dane, you’ve told me that you’ll never marry. I’m not going to be the woman who you’ll resent the rest of your life for forcing you into a union you never desired.”
“I won’t go back in there and tell them it was a mistake because it wasn’t. It might be the first time I’ve done something right in my entire blighted life.”
“Dane, you’re not thinking clearly. We had a long night.”
“We certainly did. And by any polite standards, the night we shared would be reason enough alone for me to announce our engagement.”
“Without consulting me first.”
“That’s the thanks I get for making an honest woman of you?”
“Now you want me to thank you for deciding my fate without consulting me?”
“Sandrine, you’re being stubborn. You know this is our only option. I would have proposed anyway.”
“And yet, you didn’t. And anyway, I wasn’t angling for a proposal. I won’t marry a man who doesn’t love me. And I told you before that I don’t need rescuing. I’m finally beginning to live my life on my own terms, and I don’t need you to swoop in and try to rearrange everything to soothe your pride.”
“I thought at least you’d want to marry me so that you could continue your campaign to save Squalton Manor.”
“You announced our engagement because you care about me and my reputation. I thank you for it. But I release you from any obligation.”