before marrying her in a private ceremony in the north of England only weeks later.
To now have him offer for Arabella, for whatever reason, filled her with edgy excitement more than anything else!
Darius had no idea what Arabella was thinking as she stared at him so intently. He could only hope that she was working out how unsuitable this marriage would be for both of them.
Aware that he would have to marry again one day, if only to provide the necessary heir, Darius also knew that now was not the right time for him to even be thinking of matrimony. Not when he had learnt earlier this evening that the French spy Arabella had just alluded to was once again at large.
His mouth tightened. ‘Might I also suggest, Arabella, that you consider the fact that in marrying me you would be tying yourself to a man you do not love, and who does not love you.’
Those brown eyes narrowed. ‘Is that not what dalliances outside of marriage are for?’
A red tide of anger passed in front of Darius’s eyes at the thought of Arabella taking a lover outside of their marriage.
Damn it, there was not going to be a marriage between them! Not if Darius could prevent it.
‘Your brothers have all married for love,’ he pointed out.
Her expression softened. ‘So they have.’ Her mouth firmed. ‘They have obviously all been more fortunate than I.’
‘You are but nineteen, Arabella—’
‘Almost twenty,’ she reminded him swiftly. ‘Although I fail to see what my age has to do with any thing.’
‘It has to do with the fact that you may yet meet a man for whom you can feel love,’ Darius bit out.
Her mouth quirked. ‘Take care, Your Grace, you are allowing your own reluctance to take me as your wife more than obvious!’
Was he? If that were the case, then Darius was a better actor than he had ever given himself credit for being! In truth, he had only repeated his offer for Arabella at all because Hawk St Claire’s haughty disdain had infuriated him.
But what man in his right mind, given the opportunity, would not want to take the beautiful and accomplished, the self-willed and haughty,the emotional and wildly passionate Arabella St Claire as his wife? To spend his days crossing verbal swords with her and his nights revelling in all the wild passion of which Darius now knew she was capable?
No man, in his right mind or otherwise, would even consider passing up the opportunity of marrying such a woman as the magnificent Lady Arabella St Claire!
Unless he was Darius Wynter. A man with whom it had already been proved it was dangerous for any woman to become involved. Especially now …
‘Probably because I am reluctant,’ he drawled scornfully.
‘What a pity.’ Arabella eyed him mockingly. ‘When I am seriously thinking of accepting your offer!’
Darius’s jaw tightened. ‘Only because you are a contrary little baggage!’
She gave a trill of laughter. ‘Do not expect that to change if I should decide to marry you.’
He scowled his displeasure. ‘Arabella—’
‘I believe we have talked on this subject long enough for one evening, Your Grace.’ She affected a bored yawn as she crossed to the door. ‘As I have said, I will inform you as to my decision in the morning.’
Darius could only stand and stare after Arabella in intense frustration as she left the room.
Would she have the audacity to inform him on the morrow that she had decided to accept his marriage proposal?
He realised with a heavy sigh that he was in for a long, sleepless night….
Chapter Three
‘I really wish you would reconsider your decision.’ Jane, Duchess of Stourbridge, Arabella’s sister-in-law, paced agitatedly up and down the nursery as Arabella sat in a chair in the bay window, attempting to soothe the young and teething Alexander, Marquis of Mulberry, as he moved fretfully on her shoulder. ‘You may be assured that I have informed Hawk most strongly how wrong he is to allow you to align yourself to a man such as Darius Wynter!’
Arabella had confirmed to Hawk her intention of accepting Darius’s offer as they had sat at the breakfast table together earlier this morning. An announcement her eldest brother had listened to in disapproving silence before proceeding to repeat all the reasons he considered the match unsuitable.
She almost never argued with Hawk, and had not enjoyed arguing with him this morning, either. But neither would her pride—that arrogant St Claire pride—allow her to back down in the face of his icy disapproval.
In truth, once she’d learnt of Darius’s offer, there had really been very little doubt as to her accepting it….
‘I assure you that Hawk has left me in no doubt as to his doubts concerning the marriage, dear Jane.’ Arabella shot the older woman a rueful smile. ‘But the decision ultimately lies with me, does it not?’
‘Well … Yes! But—’ Jane gave a shake of her red curls. ‘Can it be that you are in love with Carlyne,Arabella?’
‘Certainly not! ‘ Her expression was one of incredulous indignation.
‘Then why think of marrying him? ‘ Jane frowned her consternation.
Arabella gave a dismissive shrug. ‘I have to marry someone, Jane, so why not the Duke of Carlyne?’
‘Admittedly he is wickedly handsome.’
‘My dear Jane!’ She arched teasing brows. ‘Are you supposed to notice such things when you are so happily married to Hawk?’
‘This is not a teasing matter, Arabella.’ Jane’s expression was reproving. ‘And being happily married, to Hawk or otherwise, does not render a woman blind to the fact that Darius Wynter is dev il ishly handsome.’
‘He is rather,’ Arabella acknowledged thoughtfully, a smile of satisfaction playing about her lips as she considered his golden hair, deep blue eyes, his wickedly sensual mouth and his hard and muscled body.
Jane eyed her uncertainly. ‘Even if the two of you have … have anticipated the wedding vows, it does not mean you have to marry the man.’
Arabella smiled wickedly. ‘My dear Jane, I believe the Duke and I had barely begun to “anticipate the wedding vows” when Hawk and Lord Redwood interrupted us yesterday evening!’
‘In that case why consider tying yourself to him for a lifetime? ‘
Indeed. It was a question Arabella had already asked herself many times. Yesterday evening. During the long, sleepless night she had endured. And again this morning, before she’d informed Hawk of her decision.
She had finally come to the conclusion that there was no single answer to that question.
