Page 102 of Outrageous

The question surprised her. “Er—” An image of Godric kneeling between her thighs, his lips slick and—

A throat cleared, and Eva’s head whipped up. The marquess appeared. Eva squinted. Could that be embarrassment in his eyes?

No, impossible.

“Yes, he has treated me well,” she said.

“And do you wish to marry him?”

Eva gaped. “I’ve been with him for days, I—I understand that I must do the proper thing, that there is no other choice.”

“There are always other choices.” Her father’s voice was dry. “And this choice is yours, Eva, not Visel’s and not mine. If you do not wish to marry him, you shall leave here with me.”

“But . . . I don’t understand.”

“Answer the question, Eva. Do you wish to leave here as Visel’s wife? If so—” He reached into his pocket and handed her a neatly folded paper.

Eva unfolded it and stared. It was a special license with both her and Godric’s names on it.

“If you do not want him, you will leave with me and the matter will be forgotten.” His expression was cool and dispassionate.

At first Eva thought the snapping sound she heard happened in the room, but then she realized it was only inside her own head. Something had broken—some bond or barrier—and years’ worth of anger came forth in a torrent.

Eva jumped to her feet. “Don’t,” she said in a voice that was so like his—so quiet and cold—that she momentarily shocked herself. “Don’t talk to me like that—like I’m nothing more than a problem to be solved and then filed away.”

If anything, his eyes became colder. “And how should I talk to you? Should I congratulate you for bringing me tearing across the country on such a matter?”

“No,” she whipped back. “Of course not. But you don’t have to treat me like a recalcitrant child.”

He gave a laugh that was utterly mirthless. “A child? You kidnapped a man. Not only that, but you did so with the assistance of a servant, a commoner who could be transported if Visel saw fit to bring charges against him for such a crime.”

The truth of his words was like a club and she shuddered at the danger she’d exposed her very best friend to. “I did it for Gabriel,” she retorted, barely able to force the words out. “I just wanted to help him, Papa. I didn’t—”

God. What if they’d been caught? What if Godric hadn’t been who he was, but a petty individual disposed to punish those weaker than himself? What if James had gone to jail?

Eva squeezed her eyes shut, but the tears flowed anyway.

And then the impossible happened: strong arms closed around her, the unprecedented action robbing her of all the strength she’d husbanded for this confrontation. She gave in to her emotions and sagged against her father’s lean, spare body, her own shaking with the force of her weeping. The events of the past weeks and months were a jumble in her mind—those of the last few days even more confusing. But somehow he managed to keep it all at bay, by holding her tight with one arm and stroking her hair with his free hand.

“Shhh, Eva,” he murmured, his breath hot on her scalp. “I’m sorry,” he said, his voice strained. “You are right, Daughter. I should speak to you as a woman, not a girl.”

His apology—and the admission that followed—was so surprising that her convulsive sobs stopped as abruptly as they’d started.

Her father had apologized to her.

She felt his body shake and realized he was chuckling—the Marquess of Exley was actually laughing. Eva was glad he was holding her upright or she might have fainted from the shock of it.

“If I’d known those words would quiet you so quickly, I might have used them years ago.” The gentle amusement in his voice made her heart expand with all the love she felt for him; all the love he didn’t want from her.

His hand continued its soothing stroking, his low voice rumbling through her. “I wish your stepmamma were here, Eva. She’d know what to say. Mia always knows what to say.” He sighed. “I’ve not been much of a father to you, I know.” She made a demurring noise. “No, don’t deny it,” he said, his voice heavy with regret as he released her, holding her at arm’s length until they could meet each other’s eyes. Eva could only gaze in wonder. When had her father ever worn this expression before? Self-doubt, shame, and a host of other emotions mingled on his usually expressionless visage.

He released her and she wanted to pull him back, but he left her only long enough to bring his chair closer to hers. “Sit,” he said, taking her hand when she did so, his fingers warm and strong. “It doesn’t matter what happened between you and Visel these past few days, or who knows about it.” She knew what he meant: consummation. “I will not let you go to a man who will not value and respect you.” He hesitated, his pale face flushed, and he gave a smile that almost looked shy. “I love you too much to do that, Eva.” She blinked and he laughed. “She will be insufferable.” At her confused look he said, “Mia has told me for years that I should tell my children how I feel.” An expression of pain spasmed across his face. “I would give my life for you, Eva, and I want only happiness for you.”

Eva’s eyes began to tighten and his lips curved into a smile that actually showed a flash of slightly crooked teeth. Had she ever seen her father’s teeth before?

“Please don’t cry again, Eva; it turns me into a puling coward.”

Eva gave a watery laugh at his ridiculous claim.