Page 88 of The Language of Love

“I wondered,” he admitted. “Indeed, I spent most of yesterday evening wondering. But then I realized that I hardly have the moral high ground when it comes to telling the truth, do I?”

Annis decided that was a rhetorical question. “Are—are you furious at me for not telling you yesterday?”

“Being angry about something that has already happened is pointless.”

Still, he did not look happy, and she couldn’t blame him. “May I explain my reasoning—or at least try?”

He inclined his head.

“I assumed you had gone to so much trouble because you didn’t want to be the target of fortune or title hunters.”

“Yes, I was hoping to see people for who they really were. And it seems I have.”

Annis’s face flamed at his cold, assessing look, but she pressed onward. “I was wrong to see you when I was already being courted by Mr. Norburg—I knew that. I considered telling you about him, but I believed that you’d be—”

“Disgusted with you for marrying him for his money?”

It was a brutal way to put it, but no less true. “Yes.”

“I daresay I would have been,” he admitted.

His words caused a lump to form in her throat.

Annis swallowed it down. “And I also worried that if I told you the truth—that I needed money—you would think—” She bit her lip, unable to go on.

“I would think that you were angling for me to help you?”

Annis nodded. “Yes. It just seemed like nothing I said or did would have made things better.” She pulled a face. “Well, other than not agreeing to see you in the first place, of course. But—but I—” Annis couldn’t go on, and he didn’t ask her to.

“I mentioned a few minutes ago that there is absolutely nothing to be gained by regretting the past, and I meant it.” He leaned closer to her, his gaze intensifying, his face hard and stern. “But these will be the last lies we tell each other. Today we begin afresh. Agreed?” He paused, and she nodded. “So, with that in mind, is there anything else you need to tell me?”

Tell him about Leech!

That is in the past and it has nothing to do with what happened yesterday or this past week. I’m sure Henry didn’t intend for me to divulge every shameful secret in my life.

“Annis?” Henry asked.

“No.” She shook her head. “No, there is nothing more.” And there wouldn’t be after Annis replaced the money Leech had stolen. That would be the end of that sordid chapter in her life.

“Very well,” he said. “I will procure a special license this afternoon. I’d hoped to have a small ceremony, but Lady Sedgwick convinced me it would be a poor way to begin our marriage.”

Annis knew Freddie was probably right. “What does she suggest?”

“A proper wedding with lots of guests.”

She grimaced. “Yes, I suspect that is what should happen. When?”

“I had thought of marrying in eight days. Is that acceptable?”

“The sooner the better.”

“Is your family making things uncomfortable for you here?”

She shivered at the hint of menace in his voice. “No, but I doubt my aunt and cousins will be pleased once the truth is out and the invitations cease to arrive.”

To her amazement, he laughed.

“I’m sorry,” he said at her startled look. “I’m not laughing at the situation—well, actually, I suppose I am.”