The Heiress - Lynsay Sands [39]
“Yes, we could leave—” Richard began and then glanced at him sharply. “You and Suzette?”
Daniel concentrated on his fingernails for a moment, unwilling to meet his gaze. This was the grand plan he’d come up with while lying abed, tossing and turning last night. He wanted Suzette, but wasn’t foolish enough just to take her and then possibly regret it. He needed time with her to get to know her better. If he didn’t tell her today that he would marry her, Daniel had no doubt Suzette would not give him another second of her time. She’d simply return to her search for a husband and perhaps even run off to Gretna Green with Garrison or one of the other men she’d met last night.
Daniel was positive the only way to ensure he got at least some time with her was if he agreed to the marriage and then delayed it. She had two weeks, and he was hoping he could put her off for a couple of days and then head for Gretna Green at a desultory pace that would assure them several more days to get to know each other before he had to make up his mind. Of course, once at Gretna he’d have to decide for certain one way or the other. If he thought they would deal well together, his answer would be yes. If not, he would let her down easily and offer to pay the debt himself to prevent her marrying the first likely male she came across.
The only problem Daniel could see with this plan was that he would have to keep his hands to himself. From now on he would have to spend as much time with her as he could, but in the company of others to preserve his honor and her virginity. He didn’t just want the woman, he already liked her, and had no desire to harm her person or reputation in any way. Daniel was not a debaucher of young innocents. Last night had been an aberration. For some reason the woman made all his better intentions fly out the window when she was close and he would have to watch out for that over the next couple of weeks.
Richard shifted impatiently in his seat and Daniel glanced to him. Realizing the man was still waiting for some sort of answer, he cleared his throat, and said, “Er . . . yes.”
“You’re marrying Suzette?” Richard asked slowly and carefully, apparently having trouble believing it.
“I haven’t quite made up my mind,” Daniel admitted, now picking imaginary lint off his trousers to avoid meeting his gaze, and then admitted on a sigh, “Though I am leaning that way.”
When Richard’s eyes narrowed suspiciously, Daniel knew exactly where his thoughts had gone. They’d headed directly where Richard’s desires had led him last night. No doubt the man was thinking that he and Christiana had done the deed last night, so perhaps Daniel and Suzette had too. The suspicion annoyed him and he snapped, “I haven’t tumbled her.” To be fair, he followed up with the admission, “But it was damned close, and only you know who’s presence prevented it in the end.”
Richard appeared surprised at this revelation, not to mention a little confused, and pointed out, “You know who was in the carriage.”
“Yes, well, so were Suzette and I at the end,” Daniel admitted with disgust, recalling the moment he’d realized Suzette was clasping George’s dead hand which she’d thought was his own.
“You had Suzette in the carriage with you and you know who?” Richard asked with dismay. “Did she know you know who was there?”
“Can we not think of another name for him?” Daniel asked with irritation. “This is getting annoying.”
“Answer the damned question,” Richard insisted.
“Well, of course she didn’t know,” he said finally. “Hell, I didn’t know until I got in. In fact, it was my attempt to distract her from his presence that led to the ‘damned close’ bit.” He sighed and added, “So it’s ironic that it was also his presence that brought an end to it.”
Richard ran an agitated hand through his hair and asked, “If you haven’t bedded her, why consider marrying her? It’s rather sudden, isn’t it? You hardly know the chit.”
Daniel stiffened at the perceived criticism, and snapped, “I know her as well as