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“Here, let me.” He stepped even closer and started wiping mud off her chest.

A strange feeling originated in the pit of her stomach at the contact. Then he touched her breast… Unintentionally, obviously.

Or was it so unintentional? He thought her loose, so perhaps he was testing how far she’d let him go with his ministrations.

Isabel brushed off his hand. “I am perfectly capable—”

“Hold still.” The marquess folded his dirty handkerchief away and took out a clean one.

He put it to her cheek and gently wiped the mud away. He cradled her other cheek in his hand as he did so, his face just inches away. The warmth of his fingers sent shivers up and down her spine.

Isabel’s breaths accelerated, her nipples hardened, and now chafed against her corset. She was getting a bit too warm. She swallowed, and the marquess’s gaze followed the ripple in her throat.

What was happening?

Vane paused and looked into her eyes. His gaze was heated, and Isabel had a feeling she’d burn if she continued looking into his dark irises. All too soon, he stepped away, and Isabel had to brace her knees and lean against the tree lest she fell.

Isabel blinked and shook her head to collect her scattered thoughts. She started putting her clothing to rights, as she wasn’t ready to meet his gaze again.

“I’ve found your dog,” she repeated. “You said we’d talk after. It’s after. Let’s talk.”

“A public park is not the best place to discuss the scandal we’re involved in. Perhaps we should adjourn back to my townhouse.”

Isabel dug in her heels. “No. You keep prolonging the inevitable. I just want to know whether you’ll marry me or not.”

The marquess wrinkled his nose. “To be completely honest, I am not very enthusiastic about the prospect.”

Isabel scoffed. “And you think I am? I am horrified by the idea that I might join your family of rude people and gigantic, unmannered dogs!”

“If you find my company so unpleasant and that of my dog, then why chase me and the dog around the park? Perhaps you should consider other prospects.”

“I have no other prospects!” Isabel cried and squeezed her eyes shut.

She was willing to endure a lot for her family. She swallowed her pride and dignity by even conversing with this man. Her already unsavory reputation was getting dragged through the mud every second she argued with him outdoors. If she didn’t marry him, it would be unsalvageable.

But if she did… Well, she’d certainly die.

“Last time we spoke, you said you’d rather eat maggots than marry me. What has changed?” the marquess asked. “Maggots were not to your liking?”

“If it were just about me and my wants, I’d never look your way, you arrogant cur.”

“And if it were just about me and my wants, I’d never exchange a word with you, you ill-mannered old shrew.”

Isabel gasped.

She wanted to kick him in the shins and leave him to suffer. But they were still outdoors. And although the hour was not fashionable, there were still people about. So she took off her glove and threw it in his face.

The marquess blinked as if startled and caught the glove against his cheek. “Is this an invitation to a duel? That would be vastly preferable to marrying you.”

“Take it as an expression of my disgust. Even the thought of being married to you, seeing your face every morning across the breakfast table, repulses me beyond your imagination.”

“If we did marry, you wouldn’t have to worry about that. I’d lock you up in my northernmost estate and make certain you’d eat nothing but maggots.”

“Then you’d have to live without heirs. Not that I look forward to sharing a marital bed with you. Maggots would be a better—Oh!”

The marquess seized her by the waist and crushed her body to his.

Isabel’s breath left her body as her hands instantly went to hold onto his wide shoulders. Her waist burned where he held her even through the layers of his gloves and her clothing. Her entire body trembled in either anticipation or trepidation.