Chapter Sixteen

" W ell?" Purity asked, staring at the piano keys and not at him. "Are you?"

Matthew hated this conversation and her disappointed, saddened tone.

"I can be loyal and well-mannered," he insisted.

"You have had many associations with other women, have you not?"

Matthew had a flash of dozens of mouths and naked bodies, but they were all as one and the same — inconsequential and unimportant.

"I don't like to speak about other women with you," he said, "but I have, yes. What import to that?"

"You didn't offer for any one of them. Were you never caught before?"

Purity ought not to compare herself to any of the females with whom he'd ever been associated. How could he make her understand the chasm of difference between all those women and her? And how could he make her believe him?

"They were not the type of women expecting an offer of marriage." Apart from the angry one who was now Varley's wife. She had wanted too much from Matthew. With Purity, however, it didn't seem too much at all.

As if reading his mind, she asked, "What about Lady Varley, before she was married?"

The devil take him if Purity wasn't the most perceptive lady he'd ever met.

"How did you know?" he asked.

"I didn't," she said softly. "Now, I do."

She was also tricky! He must remember that.

"In any case," she continued, "I guessed by the way she looked at me when they discovered us. He appeared gleeful, but she wore an expression of abject jealousy."

"Nonsense," Matthew said, hoping she was wrong. A jealous woman was a dangerous one. "They are practically newly wedded."

"Her husband is no Foxford, I suspect," Purity added.

The intimation shamed him, as if she believed he had such sexual prowess any female would prefer him. Not that he would dispute such a claim, but to have her thinking him capable of cuckoldry on a grand scale gave him a nauseous sensation.

"It doesn't matter what she feels or any of the others," he insisted. "They were all purely for sport."

"You are the Fox, after all," she muttered.

At that instant, he would gladly shed the moniker to have her look at him with respect. All he could do was remind her why he was there and hope she thought better of him for doing the honorable thing.

"Your father was amenable to my suit. We have agreed to all terms, and if you are likewise willing, then we can marry at your convenience. Two months from today, if you wish."

She cringed slightly. It was a good thing he had a secure sense of self-worth. Perhaps it was merely the way she had been forced without any say in the matter. Yet despite there being no real choice, given how they'd been discovered, he would be remiss if he didn't give her the semblance of being asked.

To that end, Matthew picked up one of her hands from the piano, making her turn to him. When he kissed its soft back, she sighed.

"Lady Purity, would you do me the tremendous honor of accepting my proposal of marriage?"

Her expression was sadly one of resignation.

"It is not as if I can turn you down," she said.

That hurt. But he'd just been thinking the same thing, so he added, "I hope you wouldn't want to do so, even if you could."

She snatched her hand back without giving him an answer.

"Why?" she snapped. "Because you are desperately in love with me, vowing to forsake all others?"

Surprised at her vehemence, Matthew wondered whether to disclose that he had, in fact, more than fondness for her. He could explain how from the beginning, he had lusted for her, and no mistake, since the first time he'd seen her in the marquess's drawing room. Over the weeks, however, base attraction had become genuine partiality to her above all others, and then he'd developed a tenderness for her such as he'd never known.

Was he ready to declare himself in love? Not while she was swinging like a pendulum between melancholy, ire, and taking out her bitterness upon him. She might say something he wouldn't be able to forget.

"My feelings for you are different and deeper than I've ever felt for any other female. I assume they will continue to grow and deepen."

"What about the women you enjoy for sport?" she asked, tapping a black key, letting the sharp sound underlie her words. "Will you still want them after we marry?" Purity spoke as if the words were dragged from her lips. She wanted to know even if it pained her.

"The papers have entertained London readers with your escapades," she continued, "but I would not find it entertaining, not one bit, if I were ‘Lady F' and had to read about ‘the Fox' sneaking into some other woman's boudoir."

Poor Purity. No wonder her feathers were ruffled. She thought the worst of him. Matthew was glad he could reassure her.

"I will remain faithful to you and to our marriage bed."

At the mention of their bed, she sucked in a breath, flaring her nostrils. Her awareness of what they would do sent desire flooding his veins.

"That eases my mind," she said softly. Then after another quiet moment, she added, "I apologize for being short with you."

Matthew didn't want her polite apology.

"You haven't given me your answer," he reminded her.

She nodded, then her glance met his again. Emotions fluttered in the cerulean depths.

How her eyes could be so deep a blue, sometimes like the sky before the sun went down, sometimes like the stormy sea, was unfathomable. He knew only that he was content to look into them forever.

"I will do you the honor," she said, her voice wavering, "and I honestly hope I do not live to regret it."

Like a punch to his gut, she had said it plainly. Matthew would make sure she didn't regret accepting him. In that moment, he vowed silently to become the man Purity Diamond deserved.

At least he could already measure up in one way. Releasing her hand, he took her face between his palms and held it still, watching her eyes grow as big as saucers. She swallowed and parted her lips.

Matthew doubted she knew how tantalizing she appeared. Lowering his mouth to hers, he breathed in her rose scent as their lips touched. The familiar yet entirely extraordinary sensations sizzled through him.

Tilting his head, he slid his hands back into her silken hair and anchored her in place.

They should take their time. This was the first kiss of what he prayed was a short engagement, hopefully leading to a long and happy marriage. He intended to make it perfect.

After brushing the tip of his tongue along her bottom lip, he slid it slowly into her mouth. He didn't explore or fence, merely stroking her tongue with his. Her hands found his shoulders, her fingers digging in. After sucking gently, he withdrew.

Leaning his forehead against hers, breathing hard, he heard her doing the same.

"Whenever we touch," he confessed, "it is as if I am on fire within."

Purity didn't speak, merely nodding, which he took to mean she had a similar reaction. A long moment later, he sat back, releasing her and getting his ring, which had been his father's, tangled in her hair.

What a buffoon!

"My apologies," he said, freeing himself. "I've made a mess of your coiffure."

"I'll go upstairs and tidy myself after you leave."

They continued to sit, staring at one another. Something was different. He frowned.

"Is aught the matter?" she asked.

"I just realized," he confessed. "Again, you forgot to slap me."

A small smile appeared on her lovely face. "I shall not slap you anymore now that we are engaged. Besides, I didn't slap you at Syon House when Lord and Lady Varley discovered us."

The mere mention of them soured his mood. While the twosome had aided him in his goal of securing her hand, he'd wanted to win Purity by himself, not have her forced to wed him while he was still trying to earn her admiration.

"You didn't have a chance to slap me then, but I'm sure you would have."

She nodded. "In all probability, when I regained my senses, yes, I would have."

Her little quip infused him with jollity. He still thought they suited like a dog and a bone.

"I shall endeavor to make you as happy as you make me," he vowed spontaneously.

When her smile grew, he felt elated. And her next words made him feel even better.

"I am responsible for my own happiness, my lord, as you are for yours. However, we can do our best to bring joy to each other's lives and at the very least, not make one another miserable."

"You are a wise young lady," he said, "and that is not flattery."

Her cheeks pinkened. "You should go now. We are unchaperoned, and even as an engaged couple, this is not allowed."

Another proper rule he despised, for he would be happy to sit all day beside her. Instead, Matthew rose to his feet, took her hand, and kissed it.

"I am both honored and grateful you accepted my proposal. And now, I bid you good day, Lady Purity." He hoped he'd been formal enough considering they had just been fused at the lips.

"I am grateful you proposed, my lord. Good day."

Not the warmest of sentiments , he thought. He didn't want her gratitude, but for today, he would accept it as better than nothing.

With a last wink he couldn't resist since it made her smile again, he departed the Diamond residence and considered it a morning well spent. Just like that, he had a fiancée.

Purity watched Foxford leave as her emotions wavered between anxiety and relief. When her mother suggested they visit Clarity and tell her the news, she agreed hesitatingly. She couldn't easily explain to anyone, not even her mother, how she felt irrationally unclothed. Yet Lord and Lady Varley having witnessed her in an intimate moment had stripped her daily costume of unblemished integrity.

A part of her thought she should remain indoors until the engagement was announced or maybe until after the marriage had occurred, at which time she hoped to reclaim her status of honor and respectability.

It was a foolish thought. She could not hide indoors for however long her parents decided was a suitable engagement. Moreover, if nothing appeared in the newspapers, then no one thought any less of her than they had two days earlier.

Her older sister welcomed the unexpected visit, having left Syon Park before the scene of Purity's inglorious entrance into the greenhouse and thus was blissfully ignorant. Clarity thought it a simple social call for tea and biscuits.

Not waiting for the tea service to arrive, their mother made the abrupt announcement.

"Your sister is now engaged to Lord Foxford."

Clarity's eyes grew as big as shillings, staring at Purity who remained silent. The proclamation didn't seem possible, not about her, not with Foxford. Surely, she would awaken from a dream to find her mother was talking about someone else entirely.

"Then that is why you took a stroll along the river at Syon Park," Clarity surmised, "so the baron could ask for your hand. How romantic."

Purity bit her lip. Would everyone who'd been at the picnic think similarly once her father put word of the engagement in the paper? That would be a welcome misinterpretation of the events.

"He declared his intent for our engagement at that time," she said, glad she didn't have to lie.

Clarity gave a clap of joy. "What wonderful news! He is dash-fire handsome, is he not?"

"He is," Purity agreed, wishing she was as pleased as her sister. His handsome appearance was not in question, but how he had made use of his good looks could not be immediately forgotten.

"Foxford has charm to spare," their mother agreed evenly.

But Purity shook her head. He had charmed his way under the skirts of many females if the tales were true.

"I sense something didn't go quite as properly as it ought to for my dear sister's liking," Clarity said, finally toning down her jubilance since she was the only one expressing such happiness.

Purity waved the words away with her hand. "I'm simply being overly particular, as usual." If one could classify being caught by another couple in the throes of a passionate embrace as being overly particular.

Regardless, Clarity put her arm around her. "It will all work out."

Her words made Purity want to scream. While Clarity wasn't buffle-headed, she had an outlook that always expected the best and the happiest for everyone around her.

But things didn't simply work out , not unless one managed and arranged and kept everyone in order, including herself.

And then she'd broken all her own rules!

Jumping to her feet she began to pace.

"Me! Marrying a rake. My reputation ruined. Me!" she repeated.

"What has happened?" Clarity asked, looking bewildered. "I have heard nothing about you or your reputation being ruined.

The maid entered with the tray carrying the tea service, so they fell silent until she'd set it down and left.

"What happened," Purity said, "is that I was led away from the rest of the guests at the picnic."

Clarity laughed. "Is that all? But you know how it is when one is outside of London proper. Certain rules are relaxed, whether at Syon Park or at a country estate. I witnessed a few other people going for a walk. You mustn't be so hard on yourself," she continued. "It's not as though you were caught embracing one another while making noisy horse smacks." And she laughed.

Purity caught her breath, her glance darting from her quiet mother to her amused sister. Finally, realizing the severity of the situation, Clarity stopped herself in a last hiccup of laughter.

"Oh, dear," she said. "You were caught."

Purity nodded. Now her sister and her mother knew the truth. Not only had she been kissing Foxford, but she had also been discovered.

"Of all of us sisters," Clarity said, her tone disbelieving, "I must admit you are the last one I would think to end up in such a predicament."

Their mother was sipping her tea, watching her eldest daughters.

"Your sister may very well be correct," Lady Diamond said, looking at Purity. "Sometimes these situations do work out exactly as hoped and very well to boot. Your Grandmother Diamond, for instance, was," she coughed and cleared her throat, "shall we say, compromised by your grandfather."

"What?" both girls exclaimed at once.

"Grandmother Marianne?" Clarity asked.

"With Grandfather James?" Purity added. "Are you sure?"

Their mother laughed. "Without a shade of a doubt."

"How is it neither of us knew about this?" Purity asked, retaking her seat on the sofa.

The countess gave a gentle shrug. "No one thinks of it now, which is the point of my telling you."

Clarity smiled. "Are you saying by the time Purity is a grandmother, the rumors will have died down entirely?"

Purity wanted to stick her tongue out at her older sister.

"Long before then," said their mother. "When I was marrying your father, he was the one who told me of the rumors of his parents' past. I promise, any unpleasantness dissipates quickly, especially if the couple is in love and has a strong marriage."

Purity's stomach twinged with worry. She was about to mention her doubts regarding both those points when her mother spoke again.

"Besides, a little scandal is practically a family tradition. Your father and I married at Gretna Green."

Purity turned open-mouthed to look at Clarity, seeing her expression mirrored. Utter speechless shock!

Their mother laughed. "I am delighted to be able still to surprise my daughters." Picking up her cup again, she leaned back and sipped with a satisfied smile.

"Mother!" Purity said at last. "Are you saying you and Father slipped over the border to Scotland for a hasty wedding?"

Her mother nodded. "If anyone ought to be shrouded in a blanket of appalled whispers, it should be us. Yet no one ever makes mention of it or even remembers."

"But why?" Clarity asked.

"Because we are the Earl and Countess Diamond," their mother said. "Most who recall, wouldn't dare bring it up in case we cut them. And the rest simply don't care."

Clarity shook her head. "No, I mean why did you elope? Did Father compromise you? Do you think our brother will behave in a similar fashion?"

"Compromise me!" their mother repeated, sounding rattled, but she didn't gainsay her daughter. Moreover, her cheeks went a pretty shade of rose. "Your brother will find his own way. And if Adam must abscond with his future lady-love, then I shall wish them well, as long as they make each other happy."

"Were Grandmother and Grandfather Chimes displeased by your elopement?" Purity asked.

"My parents were at the wedding, as were your father's. All four of them traveled to Scotland. But that's a story for another day."

"Are there any other surprises?" Clarity asked.

"I don't believe so," Lady Diamond said. "If there are, I shall save them for it is great fun not to be all out of new tales for my beloved girls. The point is that your father and I were not shunned by society, nor did anyone think any the less of us. Or if they did, it made no matter. Haven't you girls always been allowed access to the finest families?"

Purity considered. "To be honest, what you've told us does make me feel better."

"It's not that I recommend such a path, mind you," their mother continued. "In the case of your father, we loved one another, and I knew he was a good man. Hence, we took matters into our own hands. However, Clarity's wedding ceremony was truly perfect, and I would like you to have the same, just as you deserve. And so you shall!"

Purity might not become a social outcast after all. Even if she and Foxford married with no one bearing witness to any true courtship prior to their engagement — since there had, in fact, not been any.

Sniffing, she felt tears prick her eyes. Either from relief or the stressful feelings she had bottled up, Purity didn't know. Yet she did resent having strictly adhered to the rules all her life, only to have it all possibly have been for naught.

"Don't sink into a fit of blue devils," her mother said as Clarity refilled all their teacups. "Lord Foxford has done the honorable thing so far."

So far. Up until the wedding day and through the wedding night, Purity believed he would continue on the path. Especially on the wedding night . He'd made clear he wouldn't miss that.

But afterward? She had no way of knowing whether he would stay faithful or return to his wicked ways. Unlike her father, Foxford might not be a good man.