A Most Improper Proposal

by Gail Whitiker

  'Miss Nash, I am wounded that you would speak to me in such a manner,' Sebastian said, feigning injury. 'I came here today in an effort to clear your good name and to make sure you were not taken to task over what happened, and this is the thanks I receive?'

  'Your good intentions are much appreciated, my lord, but I am afraid they arrive somewhat late. I have already been chastised for my wanton behaviour.'

  'Is that what she called it?'

  'That was what she would have called it, had she bothered to put a name to it.'

  Sebastian quickly smothered a smile. 'Dear me. Then what you're saying is that I needn't have been so ingratiating in my address today.'

  'No, but I am sure it sent her off in a sweeter temper than she would have gone otherwise.' Uncertain of what to do next, Desiree walked towards the couch and sat down. 'But pray, what brings you back here this morning? I thought you would have been well on your way to London by now.'

  'I could not go back to London and leave you here, Desiree. Surely you know that.'

  His voice had lost its teasing quality and turned infinitely gentle—and Desiree hardened her heart against it. 'I know nothing of the sort, my lord. Why should I?'

  'Because I was a fool,' Sebastian said as he sat down beside her. 'I owe you an apology, Desiree. I thought long and hard about what you told me yesterday. And I realised, in my heart, that I didn't believe Perry for a moment when he intimated that you and he had been involved.'

  'That is not what you led me to believe yesterday.'

  'No. Because it wasn't until last night that I realised my reaction to Lord Perry was motivated by jealousy rather than anger.'

  Desiree gasped. 'You were...jealous?'

  'Outrageously,' Sebastian admitted. 'Even the thought of him being that close to you disturbed me to such an extent that I lost the ability to see the situation rationally. You mean more to me than it is possible for me to express in words, Desiree, and I am so deeply sorry that I hurt you.'

  His eyes were filled with such tenderness and compassion that Desiree felt tears well in her own. "My lord, I—'

  'No, let me finish. It was never my intention to hurt you, Desiree. After that day in the river, I never imagined that I would see you again. You were like...a beautiful dream; someone I could think about, but never have. And yes, when I got back to London, I did tell someone that I had met you. But what I said to him was not in any way improper or obscene. I did not tell him what you were wearing or suggest that you behaved in a loose or wanton manner. If he drew those conclusions from what I said, then all I can do is apologise for his misinterpretation. But I can assure you that I said nothing of the kind.'

  'You did not say that I was naked?'

  'No. In fact, I did not refer to your physical appearance at all, other than to say that you were an extremely beautiful young woman. And though I am not trying to assign blame for what happened, I think it only right to tell you that Lord Perry is actually the one who betrayed you.'

  Desiree's eyes widened in dismay. 'How do you know?'

  'He told me as much a few days ago. He said he knew that you were partial to swimming in the river, and that when he heard Lord Hutchings's version of the story, he assumed it had to be you. But if it is of any comfort at all, I do not think as many people know that you were my delightful water nymph as he might have led you to believe. I think that was part of his plan for making you agree to become his mistress.'

  Desiree felt the blush creep up into her cheeks. 'I suppose, in all fairness, I should not be so quick to condemn you for telling a friend when I have already admitted to telling one of my own.'

  'Ah yes, the young lady who shared her knowledge of my...reputation with you.'

  Desiree's colour heightened. 'Perhaps. But it is because of what Helen said that I wrote to you in the first place.'

  'And what I know now, that I didn't know then, was that you wrote that letter because of what Lord Perry had done to you,' Sebastian said gently, 'and what it necessitated you doing in return.'

  'Yes. I did not see that I had any choice,' Desiree said, knowing there was little point in prevaricating now. 'Mrs Guarding was very sorry to have to dismiss me but she had no choice either. There was very little likelihood that word of what had happened would not make its way around the school. And if it were to reach the village and beyond, the reputation of the school might have suffered. So, I thought about my choices and realised there was no possibility of respectable employment in the villages, and, in my highly distraught state, I thought about you and...what you had offered that day in the pool.'

  Sebastian looked down into her face and shook his head. 'It must have been terribly difficult for you to write such a letter.'

  'It was. But when I considered all of my options, I truly could not see...any other way out,' Desiree admitted softly. 'I had to leave Steep Abbot, for I knew there would always be a stigma attached to my name. And Helen had told me that you were a good man, so I acted on impulse and sent you the letter.'

  'So in a way, I have Helen to thank for all of this.'

  'In a way.' Desiree glanced up at him and smiled. 'Had she told me you were a brute, I would certainly not have written it.'

  'But you did, and it started us upon a journey that neither of us expected to end here.'

  Desiree sighed. 'No, my lord, certainly I did not.'

  Hesitating, Sebastian took her right hand in his and stared down at it. 'Something else became clear to me last night, Desiree. Something which has been on my mind for some time now. Indeed, since long before I went away to Hertfordshire.' He raised his eyes to hers' and knew in his heart that what he was doing was right. 'I want you to come back to London with me, Desiree. My life has been so empty without you and I need you back in it. I want us to ride together in the park and to dance the night away. I want you in my life, Aphrodite.'

  Desiree's smile abruptly faded. For one heart-stopping moment, she had thought that Sebastian was about to offer her marriage—until he had called her Aphrodite. Then, she'd known. That was the name he had used when they had first met and when she was to have been his mistress. Obviously, that was what he wanted again.

  She slowly withdrew her hand and stood up. 'I am...sorry, Lord Buckworth, I cannot return to London with you.'

  'But...why not?'

  'I have already told you. Nothing would change. Everyone would look at me exactly the same way they do now. The only difference would be that the men would leave me alone knowing that I was your mistress—'

  'My mistress!' Sebastian's face darkened as he also got to his feet. 'Is that what you think this is all about? That I am asking you to come back to London as my mistress?'

  'Well, what else was I to think? You said that...you wanted me in your life, and that we should....ride together in the park and dance the night away. And then you called me Aphrodite.'

  'Yes, and so you are and always shall be,' Sebastian said as he drew her close. 'But I want you beside me as my wife, Desiree, not as my mistress.'

  'Your wife?' she gasped.

  'Of course, you silly girl. I don't intend to have any man look at you in any way but with the respect due you as Viscountess Buckworth. I want them all to admire your beauty—but only from a distance. And I shall challenge any man who is foolish enough to think he can take liberties with you. I want you as my wife and my lady, Desiree Nash.' Sebastian took her chin in his hand and gently tipped it back. 'Please tell me that I have not lost any hope of one day hearing you say that you love me.'

  'Love you? Oh, my dearest Sebastian, now it is you who are being foolish,' Desiree cried. 'For I have been in love with you for such a very long time.'

  With a muffled cry of joy, Sebastian pulled her into his arms. His mouth came down on hers and Desiree knew that she had finally come home. Here, in this man's arms, was where she was meant to be.

  At length, Sebastian raised his head to look down into her sparkling green eyes. 'My sweet Aphrodite. When I think how close I came to
losing you.'

  'It would not have happened. Quos amor verus tenuit, tenebit,' Desiree quoted softly. 'To whom true love has held, it will go on holding.'

  Sebastian smiled and brushed his lips lightly against hers. 'What other things do you intend to teach me, my beautiful bluestocking?'

  'Only this. Amor vincit omnia.'

  This time, there was a sparkle in Sebastian's eyes as his lips closed over hers again. 'How very appropriate,' he murmured huskily. 'Love conquers all. Well, if that is to be the nature of the lesson, my darling Desiree, I think I shall be only too happy to be the pupil!'