Ella recoiled, pulling her hand free from his clasp, scrambling off the bed. “No! I’m sorry, Decimus, but no. Absolutely not!” She snatched her chemise from where it lay on the floor and held it to her bosom, a ridiculous attempt at modesty given the intimacies they’d shared in this room. Her heart beat wildly, frantically.
Decimus scrambled off the bed, too. “Eloïse . . .”
“Why on earth would you wish to marry me?” she snapped, taking refuge in anger.
“Because I love you,” he said simply.
“Well, I don’t want you to! I don’t want any man to!” Ella dragged the chemise on hastily, taking refuge in the thin, wrinkled linen. “I don’t want to marry you! I don’t want another husband!”
“I can see that,” Decimus said quietly. “I beg your pardon. Please accept my apologies.” He made no move to
