Page 31 of A Lady of Conscience

“There was a dance at the Assembly Rooms. And, later in the week, a concert. And then—last evening—another dinner party. Thus far, the people have all been the same as attended the Carletons’ ball.”

“Not all the same,” James said.

Color crept into her face as she glanced at him from beneath her lashes—the softest hint of pink. It was the same delicate shade as her cashmere pelisse. “No. Not all the same.” There was an endless pause. “Why did you come back?”

“Because of something you said to me,” he answered her.

Her gaze jerked to his. “I?”

“That morning when you refused my proposal, as I was leaving you, you said you wished your answer could have been otherwise.”

Hannah stared at him.

James hesitated. She’d already refused him once. Had already told him that she wanted a husband with qualities he didn’t possess. But the final words she’d spoken that day had been echoing in his head since he’d recollected them last night. It was those fateful words that had ultimately brought him to this very moment, here with the young lady who had uttered them so fatefully.

“Did you mean it?” he asked her.

* * *

Hannah held Evangeline and Tippo close to her as the curricle rolled over the cobblestones. She was grateful to have them with her. Absent their support, it would be just her and James alone. A daunting proposition! It was perilous enough as it was, seated so close beside him, listening to him talk about what she’d said to him in the moments after rejecting his proposal. She puzzled over what he could mean by it.

But there could only be one meaning.

He had come back to Bath, not for his family, but for her. He wanted to find out if he had any reason to hope.

She was fully aware of the implications of giving it to him. At the same time…

She couldn’t bring herself to lie.

“Yes,” she said. “I did mean it.”

He cast her an unreadable look as the horses made another circuit down the road. He was obviously in no hurry to return her home. “Could it have been otherwise?”

“I daresay it could have,” she allowed. “If the circumstances had been different.”

“In other words, you can envision a set of circumstances under which you might have accepted me.”

Hannah couldn’t believe they were engaged in such a conversation. What could be served by it? “Possibly,” she said. “If we’re speaking of hypotheticals.”

“Hypotheticals, then.” He guided the horses past another carriage. “Perhaps if I’d made a greater effort to show you how well-suited we are.”

“I cannot believe that we are well suited,” she said. “Our personalities are so drastically dissimilar.”

“Not drastically dissimilar. We’re both loyal, honorable individuals who hold our families in high regard.”

“Yes, but that⁠—”

“We’re principled people as well. And we don’t deviate from those principles, regardless of how unpopular they might be.”

She frowned. “Yes, I suppose.”

“We take our responsibilities seriously.”

“Certainly, but…” She hesitated. “You’ve said nothing of love.”

“Love,” he repeated.

“It’s as important as any other principle. More important when one is speaking of matrimony. My own parents love each other deeply.”