own.’
‘And my heart has suffered for it every day since! I am here to speak with your daughter because of just how highly I regard her. If you would be so kind as to inform her I am here, I would be grateful.’
Her father’s forehead wrinkled. ‘With wealth and privilege comes sacrifice. However, certain things should never be sacrificed.’
‘And if I agreed with you, how would you feel?’
‘I suppose we will know after you speak with my daughter. Katrina is out on the terrace.’ He stood and rang for a servant. ‘I would ask you to make your visit brief. We wouldn’t want the neighbours to talk,’ he said with a pointed look.
Julian pressed his lips firmly together to hold in his sigh of relief. Every nerve in his body hummed as he accompanied the Vandenbergs’ butler onto the terrace while the man delivered Katrina a cup of tea. She sat with her back to them on a long wooden bench with her watercolours in her hand. She appeared intent on an oak tree that was growing just on the other side of the balustrade.
‘Thank you for the tea, Wilkins,’ she called out, keeping her gaze on her subject.
Julian took the Wedgwood cup from Wilkins and silently dismissed the man. He placed the tea beside Katrina. She continued to look at the tree as she reached for the cup. He cleared his throat and she looked at him.
The tea in her hand sloshed from the cup into the saucer. ‘How long have you been standing there?’
‘Not very long.’ He nodded towards the paper on her small easel. ‘I wasn’t aware that you paint.’
‘I find it calms me.’
She calmed him. He felt worlds better, simply being in her presence.
‘May I?’ he asked, gesturing to the space on the bench beside her.
She hesitated, but shifted closer to the end, making room for him. Once he was seated she returned her attention to the tree.
‘The weather is fine today,’ he said.
* * *
Katrina kept her eyes on the tree while she continued to outline the branches with her brush. It was easier to focus on the tree than to look at Julian. ‘I doubt you’re calling to discuss the state of the clouds.’
From the corner of her eye she saw him rest his elbows on his knees and look down at his clasped hands. ‘This is true. It could be raining. I would hardly notice.’
It had been raining in her heart for over a week, thanks to him. She placed the brush into her glass of water and faced him. If they finished their conversation quickly, it might not hurt as much when he left.
‘Is there something you’ve come to tell me?’
His attention dropped to the bandages around her wrists, which were peeking out from the long sleeves of her pale blue muslin dress, and his brow wrinkled. ‘Last night you assured me you were well.’
The sound of his tender concern tugged at her. ‘I tried to pull my hands out of the ropes. These are simply abrasions. By tomorrow the bandages will not be necessary.’
‘Did you suffer other injuries? Tell me truthfully.’ He looked into her eyes.
‘No, just my hands.’ She lowered her voice even more. ‘Did you read the papers this morning?’
Relief had washed over her when she had read about Lady Wentworth. She knew it was uncharitable to feel that way, but she couldn’t help it.
‘I have. It is now truly over.’
Silence stretched between them and then he let out an audible breath. ‘There is something I need to tell you.’
Her palms began to sweat at the seriousness of his tone. Had word of her kidnapping begun to spread?
‘I’m listening.’
‘It is difficult for me to know where to begin.’ He appeared to choose his words carefully. ‘I am sorry for everything that happened last night. Had I known Lady Wentworth was capable of doing such a thing, I would have somehow stopped her before you were ever put in danger.’
‘There is nothing you could have done to stop her unless you had remained in her company every hour of every day.’
‘Still, I accept full responsibility.’
She shook her head slowly. ‘It is not necessary. I do not blame you for it.’
He smelled of leather and...Julian. Did every man have a unique scent? He certainly did. She hoped she would soon forget it.
‘If that is all, Your Grace, you may leave. Rest assured I do not blame you for what has occurred.’
She reached over to pick up her paintbrush and her eyes widened when he took her hand. Warmth spread up her arm.
‘There is something else you should know.’ His voice faded in the hushed stillness of the terrace.
‘Go on.’
He swallowed hard, and his green eyes searched hers. ‘I’ve come to realise something of late. It should have occurred to me earlier, however, I have had no experience with it until now.’
The intensity in his gaze held her, making it impossible to look away.
‘I love you with every fibre of my being. I have from the first moment I saw you.’
A lump settled in Katrina’s throat. His words were just pretty sentiment. He didn’t mean them.
She was ready to pull her hand from his when he knelt before her.
The world stopped.
‘Katrina, I never want to live another day without you and I pray that in your heart you love me, even just a little. All I want to do is cherish you and call you my wife—if you will have me.’
She blinked. ‘Did you just ask me to marry you?’
‘I did.’
She shifted uncomfortably under his piercing gaze. ‘I know you are a man of honour, and that you think offering for my hand is the proper thing to do because of what occurred last night, but there is no need. I’ll return to America and you can live the life you are destined to lead, uncomplicated by our association.’
Katrina was amazed she said all that without her voice cracking.
‘Did you not hear what I said? I do not want to marry you out of a sense of obligation. I want to marry you because I love you.’
His lovely green eyes looked at her earnestly.
‘I will not marry a man who will cast me aside after we are wed.’
‘Do you truly believe I will?’
‘You suffered derision because of a carriage ride and
