Page 139 of The Boxing Baroness

She laughed weakly. “I am flattered—no, no, no,” she said, when he opened his mouth to argue. “Let me finish.”

He scowled.

“I’m beyond flattered. But can you honestly say that marrying the Boxing Baroness won’t jeopardize your standing in Parliament— and among your peers? All the causes you’ve worked so long and hard to promote?”

“It might matter to a few people, but—”

“Marrying me would destroy everything you’ve sacrificed for and worked so hard to build. The people of Staunton and—”

“What are you talking about?” He pushed himself up, until he was looming over her. “What sacrifices? And what do you know about Staunton?”

“You gave up so much for your people—you gave up the love of your life, so that—”

“Stop.” His pale green eyes were frostier than they’d been in weeks. “I can only imagine that Guy has been talking to you?”

Marianne chewed her lower lip.

He said something vulgar and then winced. “I’m sorry, darling—that was uncalled for.”

“Please don’t yell at Guy.”

“I’m not going to yell at him, I’m going to go seven rounds with him—or as long as it takes for me to beat him senseless.” He snorted. “Although I should probably aim for sense-ful in his case.”

“He only meant to—”

“What rubbish did he tell you and when?” His eyes narrowed. “Oh!” he shouted before she could answer. “That—that—meddling, interfering—” he sputtered.

She laughed at his crazed expression. “I’ve never imagined this side of you even existed.”

“When somebody meddles with the woman I love, I tend to get a bit starchy.” He glared down at her open-mouthed face. “Yes, you heard that right. I love you, Marianne. I don’t care what twaddle Guy poured into your ears—in Lille?” he guessed. She nodded. “I knew it. That’s why you didn’t come to me?” She nodded again. Sin looked like he was chewing the inside of his cheek to ribbons to keep from cursing.

“Tell me again,” Marianne said softly.

His gaze sharpened as he came back from wherever he’d gone— likely to some future where he was pummeling his friend. “I love you, Marianne,” he said without hesitation, kissing her savagely to punctuate his words. “Guy told you about Jenny, didn’t he?”

“Yes, and—”

“You are the love of my life.”

“But—”

“I loved Jenny—I always will. But she was the love of my boyhood, Marianne. I was seventeen when I gave her up. I was unhappy about it—make no mistake—but I came to terms with myself before I offered for Vanessa. And I was honest with her. I told her I wasn’t in love with her, but that I’d commit my life to her. And I would have. I came to care for her deeply.” He caressed her face, his magnificent eyes consuming her. “But you—you are the love of my life. Shh, what’s this?” he murmured, wiping away the tears she’d not known were falling.

“It would wreck your life, Sin. You would be shunned—”

He laid a finger across her lips. “All will be fine. There will be scandal—the sort the ton adores. John Lade married—”

“Lade is a degenerate baron, not Lord Flawless.”

He frowned at the title he hated. “This won’t be the first time a duke has married—”

“You are going to say the Gunning sisters. But they were the daughters of a viscount, not—”

“Not the daughter of the Queen of Sweden and the Emperor of France?”

“Good Lord, St. John! That would only make matters a hundred times worse.”

“Say that again.”